"I'm going to die."
A boy with dark brown eyes was pacing in his cabin room of the S. S. Aqua. He had a phone in one hand, with another running through his spiky dirty blonde hair.
"Damion, don't exaggerate," A girl could be heard laughing on the other side of the phone call at which Damion rolled his eyes at.
"I'm not, though. There's a bunch of strangers out there that I don't know."
"Well, you know what Lance always says, 'Strangers are just friends you haven't met yet'." He mouthed the saying mockingly along with her.
"Ezra, Lance is your trainer. Not mine."
"Alright, well then you promised Clair you wouldn't be so shy." Damion stopped pacing and laid down on the cabin bed. "Come on, she was so happy when you finally agreed to go to Trainer High." He sighed and looked at ceiling knowing Ezra was right.
"Fine, I'll go out later and try to talk to people..." He stated hesitantly.
"Good." Damion could practically hear her smiling. "Well, I gotta go. Looks like there's an intense match between a Leafeon and a Jolteon on the Upper Sun Deck."
"Ugh, the S. S. Anne sounds a lot funner than this ship."
"Well, you'll never know if you never leave your room Damion. And funner isn't a word!"
"Alright, jeez. I'm going!"
"Okay, cya later! Kisses!" And with that, the lovely Ezra Vovin hung up. Damion sighed as he got up and released his Altaria from her Pokéball. The Humming Pokémon landed on a perch that was set off to the side of the room just for her.
"I'm going to change and then I'm gonna walk around the ship after if you want to join me." She chirped as Damion entered the bathroom. He changed into a pair of blue swim trunks and a white t-shirt but by the time he came out, Altaria had fallen asleep.
"I guess not." Damion rolled his eyes as he threw a blue towel over his shoulder and left the room.
Damion decided to head to the swimming pool that he spotted earlier on Lower Sun Deck of this ship. He figured that he wouldn't look as awkward if he was doing something and swimming always relaxed him. On his way there, Damion passed by the occasional trainer but he couldn't tell if they were part of the Pokémon Association Trainer Program or not so he didn't attempt to greet them.
When Damion finally reached the pool, he found that it was already in use by a girl in a purple swimsuit and a guy in blue trunks just swimming casually. Damion took off his shirt and put his towel on a deck chair nearby and his black sandals under it. Walking over to the deep end, he dived in so he could get accustomed to the water quickly. He came back up for air and he noticed the girl and the guy weren't doing much except talk to one another as if they were anxious to be in public or to talk to anyone else. 'Maybe they're just as shy as me,' Damion thought to himself, 'Well, Clair said to make friends right? Hopefully, they're part of the Program.' With that in mind, Damion swam over to the silent duo.
"Umm... hey." 'Wow, great beginning Damion.' "Are you two part of the Trainees?"
The voice startled the girl in the pool as she didn't see Damion approached but the boy sitting at the edge of the pool just slowly nodded. "First years," The boy simply stated.
"Me too," Damion said while trying to think of something else, "... I'm Clair's trainee, Damion. How about you two?"
"Whitney's trainee, Kaede." He seemed to be of below average height with a small build. Damion probably could have mistaken him for a girl with his features had he not been wearing swim shorts. Kaede had dark blond hair that trailed past the base of his neck as well as dark blue eyes that contrasted his fair skin.
"Morty's little sister, Penny." Her soft voice was hard to hear but Damion concluded she was just shy. Penny was similar to Kaede in height and appearance. The difference was that she had lighter blond hair and light blue eyes.
"So a Normal type specialist and a Ghost-type specialist, that must make for an interesting relationship," Damion chuckled.
"Oh, we aren't– we only..." Penny trailed off and blushed.
"We only met today," Kaede explained, "She was trying to get into her room but was unknowingly carding my door instead of hers." He lightly chuckled and Penny just smiled bashfully.
"Ahh, I see," Damion laughed lightheartedly at his mistake, "Sorry for my assumption." He then went on to ask if they knew any of the other Trainees.
"Hmm, well if I think about it, I'm sure Whitney mentioned that there were two other first years next to Goldenrod City," Kaede said thoughtfully, "That would mean that both Falkner from Violet City and Bugsy from Azalea Town have incoming Trainees like us. What about you, Penny?"
"Morty said that the Olivine Gym and the Mahogany Gym had trainees enter last year; a girl and boy."
"That only leaves the Cianwood City Gym unaccounted for, along with the three Elite Four Trainees," Damion concluded but Penny looked at him confused.
"Only three?"
"Yeah, Bruno's Trainee was the first to graduate from the Program," said an unknown voice which startled the trio, "Sorry, I heard my hometown and gym mentioned so I couldn't help but listen in. I'm Curtis Shepard, Chuck's Trainee." A lean, blond guy with black swim briefs and a black towel thrown over his shoulder was towering over them. He opted to sit down next to Kaede at the edge of the pool.
"I'm guessing you guys are First Years?" Curtis asked to the trio who nodded, "Oh, you guys will love Trainer High."
"Excuse me," Penny said quietly, "But what do you mean that Bruno's Trainee already graduated? I thought this was only the fourth year the program was on."
"Well, you see, Princess," Curtis said, as Penny cringed slightly at the pet name, "The whole Trainee Program started because Bruno was having difficulty holding a position in two different Elite Four regions. So he asked the Pokémon Association if he could have a trainer of sorts to help him with that. The Association agreed as long his elected trainer attended four years at the prestigious Trainer High and passed the final exam outlined for him in the end.
At the end of Bruno's trainee's first year, so many other Elite Four members, even Gym Leaders, liked the idea that the following year, 16 more students were admitted to the school besides the regular students. This being because Elite Fours and Gym Leaders liked the idea of someone they chose and trained personally to take over their positions. Also, the added bonus that if, Arceus forbid, something happened to them that someone can quickly take over the lost position. From then on, the rest of the Pokémon League participated in the Trainer Program and this is the final year to join."
"Wait," Kaede paused Curtis' explanation, "Did you mean to say that Trainer High has other students? You made it seem like the school was around before us."
"Of course, Trainer High is a private school, actually. Fueled by rich parents for their rich children to learn more about Pokémon. But fortunately, the school also allows other kids from the regions to attend as well. Some of the students are here for the type specialist program and some for the career programs, like Coordinator and Breeder. Others are here on the Trainer scholarship, they got in on pure skill. Still, this is all really more for the rich kids' benefit. If the school didn't let more students attend then Trainer High wouldn't get as many instructors and professors for the programs."
"So then there will be other first years besides us?"
"Bingo kid! But you won't always have classes with them. We get certain electives that they don't get to have," Curtis explained, "It's just stuff that gets you prepared to take over the position."
"Well you make Trainer High sound fun," Damion stated wryly.
"Oh well it is, the trainers make it fun!" Curtis confirmed, "Especially me, I'm loads of fun." 'I'm sure you are.' Damion thought sarcastically in his head.
"Although not everyone at school is as nice. You got your rich classmates who are so snooty and stuck up of course. Try not to cross them because they get offended quite easily and tend to hold grudges."
"Noted," Kaede stated warily.
"Well it was nice meeting you newbies but I want to get some swim in before my battle later." With that, Curtis stood up and dived into the pool.
"A battle?" Penny asked more so to herself, "Already? The school year hasn't even started yet."
"So this battle is between Hershel Wile and Curtis Shepard," announced a girl with blue eyes and thick, light blonde hair. She was standing on an elevated platform on one end of the Upper Sun Deck. On the opposite side of the deck were stands that Damion, Penny, and Kaede were currently occupying after changing into clothes along with others that were watching. There was a girl with straight, long black hair talking to a somewhat muscular guy off to Damion's right while a guy with short purple hair sat in the corner of the stands. A shy guy with blond hair sat in the front row and to the left of Kaede and girl with black, bobbed-cut hair sat in front of them. From what Damion could assume, all of them were Trainees.
"I am Willow Knight and I will referee this match," said the girl on the platform, "You know Shepard, you can end this if you just apologize." Curtis, who was on the Damion's right side of the field and on the end of the ship, chuckled.
"So I made fun of his hat, so what? It's not my fault that Hershel's so easily offended." Curtis had changed out of his black swim briefs into grayish-blue jeans and an open blue flight jacket with a green bandana adorning his neck and chrome colored shoes on his feet. Curtis' opponent glared at him at the mention of his hat.
"Maybe you shouldn't go around insulting people's outfits," Hershel stated coolly. Damion couldn't help but agree with Curtis though. Hershel was decked out in all formal wear which confused him. Hershel was wearing a black dress shirt, white tie, white dress pants, white waistcoat, white suit coat, white dress shoes, white top hat.
"Maybe you shouldn't wear bad outfits then," Curtis retorted at which Hershel grew visibly angrier at.
"That's it, let's settle this already!" Hershel threw a Dusk Ball into the air and it released a green, bipedal Pokémon. Damion felt like he should know it with all the studying Clair put him through. He guessed it was a Grass-Type Pokémon based on its thorny look but that didn't seem to be Hershel's specialty nor was there a Grass-Type trainer in the Johto League.
"A Cacturne I see," Curtis stated with a smirk, "This should be an easy win then. Make this a quick battle Monferno!" He threw out a Great Ball releasing a primate-like Pokémon with a flame at the end of its tail. Damion knew this one better as it's the evolution of a beginner Pokémon.
"Curtis should have a clear type advantage with Monferno being a Fire/Fighting Type and Cacturne being a Grass/Dark Type," Kaede observed quickly.
"Yes but Hershel Wile has been training under Karen for years and she's the top trainer in all of Johto besides the champion," Penny countered knowledgeably, "It'd be a bit foolish to count your Torchic eggs before they hatch."
"Ehh I still bet on Curtis, he seems strong," Kaede decided while Penny just shrugged, "What about you Damion?" He was surprised by his question.
"Uhh... I'm not sure. I don't know either's skills and I wouldn't want to assume," Damion finally stated after awhile even though in his head Damion was rooting for his new acquaintance.
The battle had been well underway while they were debating. It was obvious to see the years of training both battlers had in the way they commanded their Pokémon and how in sync they both were with them. Both Hershel had a quick lead by taking the first attack with Cacturne's Sucker Punch but Curtis was catching up with Fire-type moves.
"Monferno, use Blaze Kick!" The end of the Monferno's leg burst into flames and he kicked Cacturne in the face and then jumped backward to get some distance. Hershel then commanded to use Cotton Spore as a counterattack. Cacturne released multiple fluffy, white cotton balls from its mouth that floated around the Playful Pokémon making it anxious.
"What does that move do?" Damion asked his friends.
"It clings to the opponent which severely slows them down," Penny answered. Sure enough, when Monferno tried to use Mach Punch it was too sluggish and let Cacturne sneak in a move. His dark, green thorns had glowed white and extended into huge needles. Cacturne then hit Monferno directly with Needle Arm which knocked him on his back.
"Quickly, use Leech Seed!" Hershel called out to the Scarecrow Pokémon. Cacturne immediately fired a brown seed from its mouth to Monferno. The seed dug into his opponent and sprouted vines which wrapped around Monferno and drain his energy.
"Hershel might just win this battle if he can keep Curtis and Monferno off their feet," Kaede grimaced, "Hershel keeps hitting them again and again before they can even counterattack." 'Damn, if he can just get one attack in Curtis can start beating him back!' Damion thought. "Come on Curtis! You can do it!" Damion cheered which surprised him but smiled when he saw Curtis smirk. Curtis shouted for Monferno to use Flame Wheel.
Monferno's body became enveloped in a fire which rid itself of the Leech Seed. It then somersaulted into the air and started to roll towards Cacturne. The Grass/Dark Type jumped away and then countered with Poison Sting. Cacturne fired multiple purple darts from the middle hole of its mouth at Monferno but it was able to escape quickly using Mach Punch again. Monferno's fist turned blue and punched Cacturne repeatedly, knocking it to the floor.
"Come on, Cacturne," Hershel yelled, "Get up now and use Sucker Punch!"
"Monferno counterattack with Double Kick!"
Cacturne got up and launched itself at Monferno with one of its arms surrounded with a black aura. Monferno waited until Cacturne got close to be able to swing one of its legs up and knocked Cacturne's Sucker Punch out of the way. Then the Fire/Fighting Type spun and quickly kicked the other Pokémon in the face with the other leg. Cacturne was knocked to the floor by the attack and it struggled to get up.
"Quickly, Monferno, end it with Blaze Kick now!" Curtis commanded and Monferno's leg again burst into flames. His Pokémon jumped into the air and slammed down its leg onto the weakened Cacturne, successfully knocking it out.
"Cacturne is unable to battle. The winners are Monferno and Curtis!" Willow announced, raising her left flag to indicate Curtis. Damion, Kaede, and Penny cheered as both trainers returned their Pokémon to the respective Pokéballs.
"You've won this time, Shepard," Hershel sneered, "But expect a rematch at Trainer High." With that, the Dark-type specialist left the top deck. Willow jumped down from the platform and walked over to Curtis as did the trio.
"So you have a Monferno now," Willow stated to Curtis and then looked over to Damion and the others, "And a fan club. When did all this happen?" Curtis laughed at the joke. "These kids? Nah, I met the at the pool actually. They're the trainees of Clair, Bugsy, and Morty," Curtis explained and pointed to each respectively. "The Monferno on the other hand, I met on a month long trip in Sinnoh to meet with the Fighting-Type Gym Leader there and her Trainee."
"Hmm alright," Willow said before turning to the trio, "So you guys are the newbies. Excited for the new year?"
"Yeah, ecstatic," Kaede stated sardonically.
"Dreading it actually," Penny whispered.
"I was actually forced into it," Damion explained.
"Well aren't you guys an exciting bunch," Willow sweat dropped.
"I just don't do people well but Clair convinced me I needed people skills and sent me off to this school," Damion elaborated and then gestured at Kaede and Penny, "At least I met these guys. Maybe Clair will take that as enough and I wouldn't need to meet anyone else."
"Ahh okay then." Willow nodded in understanding and took it as an explanation for the other two as well. "What about this one? I know you didn't become friends with him by choice." Willow thumbed at Curtis which made the trio laugh at her comment.
"Hey! I take offense to that!" Curtis childishly stuck his tongue out at her.
"Well, we were talking at the pool and then he interrupted our conversation," Kaede said still chuckling, "He then invited us to his match and now we're here."
"Yeah, you actually gathered a crowd," Penny sounded surprised as she looked at the other trainers talking in the stands. The purple haired boy was gone but now the girl with black hair and her friend were now talking to the blond boy and the girl in a bob haircut.
"Yeah, that's Koji and Yuna. Hmm… it seems as if Mikage left. A bit of a loner, that guy. Although I don't know the other two," Willow pointed out, "We're gonna meet them eventually so might as well say hi." And with that, Willow stalked off with Curtis following as well as the others.
'Yay, more people to talk to,' thought Damion as he brought up the rear. When he got there, Willow had already hugged her friend Yuna and greeted Koji, who just nodded.
"So guys," Willow started introducing, "This is Yuna of the Mahogany Town Gym, our resident Ice Expert," which made her smile, "and our class clown, Koji of the Olivine City Gym."
At this the boy smirk and asked, "Speaking of: Why did the Wailmer cross the road?" He was met with silence so he proceeded, "To get to the other Tide! Ba-dum PSH!" Damion could've rolled his eyes till the world spun.
"I never said he was a good one," Willow stated, "Now who are your friends?"
"Hi, I'm Valerie Zorach," The girl with the bob-cut said easily. She was wearing a black tee with a red, unbuttoned shirt over it and a pair of denim shorts. "I'm Falkner's cousin and specialize in Flying types."
"I'm Tony Ma-Miller," The other boy stammered, "Bugsy's trainee." He was wearing a purple beanie, a blue long-sleeve, and a pair of denim jeans. Damion noticed he seemed as shy as he felt. 'Guess I can go next.'
"I'm Damion Herrell, Clair's trainee, and Dragon-type specialist."
"Penny Olano, Morty's sister, and Ghost trainer."
"Kaede Tsukuda, Whitney's trainee."
"Great," Willow smiled, "And I'm Willow Knight, the resident Psychic type enthusiast. I can tell this will be a great year with our group already."
'I sure hope so,' Damion thought to himself. It was at that moment that the ship's horn blew signaling their arrival at the island. 'Well, too late to back out now."