Chapter 8: A Tutor's Test
KS90: And we are back once more Trainers!
MM014: Trainers?
DD23: Do you ever get tired of being random?
KS90: Why are you guys being so mean today?
MM014: I didn't do anything! ...Yet...
KS90: WHAT? YET?! Now hold on just a-
DD23: Let's move on everyone! Hope you enjoy this chapter!
KS90: Short author's rant much?
MM014: Quit your bellyaching!
KS90: Q_Q
The Way of Life (ZnK Evolution):
rifujin de mujun darake no yononaka
hekondari kujiketari mo suru sa
dakedo tada fuman kazoete itatte
omou you ni kawaru koto wa nai sa
nakitaku natta yoru wa namida kareru made nakou
kabe ni buchiataru toki wa betsu no michi yukeba ii kara
itsuka wa tsukiru inochi da kara ima o akiramezu ni agake
ikite'ru sono imi o sagashitsuzukeru
sore ga ikiru koto sa kitto
Translation:
In this world full of fallacies and contradictions,
of course we'll cave in or be crushed from time to time.
But, if we only keep count of our dissatisfactions,
then the winds will never change in our favor.
When we feel like crying at night, let's cry until our tears run dry.
When we run into a wall, we just need to try a different path.
Since our life is limited, let's keep fighting without giving up.
We keep on searching for the very meaning of our existence,
and that is precisely how we have to live our life.
And so, the long-awaited final exam has begun. Professors began to approach student pairs calmly and asked them questions about Berries. Though the Professors would have preferred to discuss Pokemon with these Students and Trainers. But berries will have to do.
"It's very... chaotic." Willow said. "And noisy... Is it always like this?"
"I don't know. I'll try bringing one of the Professors over here." Dese said. "Hey excuse me-" She called to a Professor walking by. But then another group was starting to approach said Professor. "Oh no you don't!" Dese barked at the group.
"Um... I'm just gonna walk this way... OK." Willow walked in the opposite direction Dese was charging over towards.
Meanwhile, Elijah and Willis had been asked several questions by Professor Rowan. "Pleasure to make your acquaintance Professor Rowan." Willis shook the Professor's hand.
"It's awesome to meet you Rowan!" Elijah said, a bit more loosely than Willis. But also shook his hand.
"My, what fine and polite gentlemen you are." Rowan complimented. "Now onto the reason I am here-"
"Just a second!" Willis declared. "I have a question for you Professor."
"Isn't it supposed to be the other way around?" Eli asked his partner.
"Is it true those who score score the highest on this Final Exam get to be a Pokedex Holder?" Willis asked bluntly, fixing his glasses.
"Well, I don't have to answer that." The Professor stated rather bluntly surprising the two boys. "This is not my test. Yours."
"Right of course. Forgive me asking." Willis said.
"My first question is..." Rowan began.
And last but not least, with Jeremiah and Kathy...
"No way! You're Professor Oak!" Kathy exclaimed.
"Indeed I am. I see you've heard plenty about me."
"Heck yes! You're Radio Show 'Pokemon Talk' is what I listen to everyday! It's how I passed some of my classes!"
"Glad you enjoy the show. And it's a pleasure to always meet fans." Oak commented.
"So are we gonna start this test?" Jeremiah asked the obvious.
"Alright. First question... Plants need plenty of what to grow big and healthy?"
"Oh that's easy..." Kathy said. Pretty much this was how the first two parts went. (KS90: I mean c'mon. You guys really don't want to sit here and have me describe a paper test would you?)
Time Skip about 2 hours or so...
Finally, after all that book work it was finally time for the most interesting part. Well, it was called the most interesting part because it's what all trainers look forward to. "Great," Dese said in determination. "Time to show everyone our skills."
"What skills?" Willow asked, "You became a Trainer 2 days ago." 'This girl thinks that she's suddenly great just because she's got a couple Pokémon...' Willow mentally sighed.
"Hey, I've been in a battle or two and it just so happens I'm good at it!" Dese argued. 'This girl doesn't want to see me pissed!'
'How can Jeremiah live with you? I'd attempt to escape... or worse!'
'I don't get what her problem is? Just because she's Ms. exemplaire doesn't mean she can say what she wants.'
While the two argued and through other mental vulgarities, the other pairs were doing more constructive things. Like Eli and Willis. "Hehe... These other groups are no match for my superior IQ." Willis scoffed.
"Let's all pray you can put those skills to battle." Eli mumbled, trying to not be heard. But his attempt ended in failure.
"But of course." Willis replied coolly. Opposed to Sycamore's chosen kids, they all would reply in sort of shock or anger save for Willow and Rika. But Willis's reply was something that caught him off guard. "I've had many practice battles with many different combinations of Pokemon and strategies. I've developed the ultimate team strategy in many scenarios: Single battles, Double battles, Triple battles, Rotation battles. Even in that newly developed battle style." Willis explained.
"Oh. That's very... interesting." Eli said blandly, obviously uninterested but Willis paid no mind to his 'ignorance'. 'Why am I the one stuck with the ego-maniac? Oh well... I just hope the other teams are doing better-' Eli heard a shout from somewhere and he could've sworn it was Dese's voice. 'Not turning around. Not turning around. Oubliez cette merde!' Eli's thoughts panicked but on the outside he remained perfectly cool. Willow's voice was also heard. Even though he wanted to help his friend out, him dealing with Dese was probably not gonna end pretty. (A.N.: Full out french argument in 3...2...1...)
"Je l'ai eu avec vous!" Willow's voice shouted from an discerned location.
"Même ici idéale!" This time it was Dese who shouted.
"Ecoutez ici princesse arrogant! Vous êtes la personne la plus insupportable que j'ai jamais rencontré!" Willow shouted back.
"Je ne suis pas la princesse ici! Vous êtes!" Dese retaliated.
From another location, Jeremiah and Kathy could here the argument perfectly. "Oh gosh... She's speaking French!" Jeremiah exclaimed. He couldn't believe his sister would get so angry over one test. She always spoke French when she was angry or too excited or sad. And Dese wasn't the latter two.
"Yeah? And?" Kathy asked.
"Let's just say things are gonna get loud until someone, heck anyone, can step between them." Jeremiah sighed.
"Aren't you gonna do something? And how do you know that fact?" Kathy asked in shock.
"The one with the brown hair, Dese, she's my sister. We're both Pokedex holders and so is the girl she's arguing with." Jeremiah said pointing to both girls, who still kept bombarding each other with shouting in French.
"And you're not gonna do a thing?"
"Last time I did 'a thing' I wound up with a bruise so big on my forehead I needed ice." Jeremiah told her. "Not gonna end pretty for whoever breaks it up. And I don't know if Willow gets very serious either..."
At the rate of their argument, Dese had gotten very loud. Willow remained at a controlled yelling, showing that she wasn't angry with Dese, just peeved. Then all sound suddenly ceased as the double doors opened. Standing there was someone in a white lab coat. He had a blue dress shirt tucked into black pants which were held up by a yellow belt. He had black hair that was rather flamboyant and those dark blue eyes were stunning to most people. Well, most people would say that about the Professor of Kalos, Augustine Sycamore. Even Eli turned to see the Professor walking in.
"Sycamore..." Kathy muttered to herself. Jeremiah let out a surprised gasp when Kathy said that.
'That's Sycamore? He looks really young for a Professor. Almost as old as Juniper!' Jeremiah thought as he made mental notes in comparing the Pokemon Professors.
A pathway was made for the Professor, like how people do for a king, and approached the two girls. His eyes didn't show any signs of anger or rage, but rather a sad and disappointed look. "My my... Quel gâchis que nous avons ici..." Sycamore sighed in French. "My own pupils I hand picked... I never would have imagined they'd fight like this..."
"Desole..." Dese sighed. Willow remained silent, a distraught look on her face.
"But there are solutions. Come with me. Your test continues this way." Sycamore said with a soft smile on his face.
"H-hold on!" One of the Professors exclaimed. Professor Elm, is who it was. "We have to stay here remember? And you showed up late! You can't just-"
Sycamore let out an exasperated sigh. "As you can imagine, these two are far more important than students graduating." And with that he walked out and the two girls followed him. There was a long pause of silence for what had just transpired. "Were those girls really Sycamore's pupils?" one student asked.
"I thought that was just a rumor. There was no way it could be true!" another student said.
"Oh Sycamore is so dreamy..." a different student sighed.
"Those girls are luck to have been chosen by him!" a female student exclaimed a bit in envy.
"Hmph. Such immature girls." Willis scoffed, "They got booted out before they could finish their exam. How unprofessional."
"Don't you dare say that about my friends." Eli hissed harshly. He had his back from Willis in order to view Sycamore's 'entrance' if you will. He suddenly turned his head to face Willis with a glare that possibly rivaled the actual Pokemon Attack. "They may not be perfect to you. But they're perfect the way they are." He continued. Willis was a little scared now, he had no idea his partner could be so... menacing. Suddenly Eli had a really big toothy smile on his face and said in a very upbeat fashion, "So I hope we're on the same page now~."
'This guy is insane!' Willis flipped out in his mind.
Back with Jeremiah and Kathy. "Wow. Those girls are definitely Sycamore's pupils. He wouldn't have blown this event off otherwise!"
"I guess so..." Jeremiah said in a bit of confusion. 'Why would a Professor do such a thing and skip out on an event like this? Not that I don't even know what they're here for in the first place but still. And what exactly was he doing that was so important?' Jeremiah kept thinking and thinking... He just kept finding more questions rather than a solution. "Well, whatever the case is, he had to have a good reason. The only way is to ask him ourselves." Jeremiah deduced out loud.
"'Ourselves'?" Kathy quoted. She was thinking for a moment until it struck her. "You mean... Both of us go to Lumiose?! Together?!" She was surprised and taken aback. She wasn't sure how to react to his sudden proposal.
"I didn't mean it like that!" Jeremiah said, "I meant the other kids. B-but that doesn't mean you still can't go with us!" Jeremiah was having a hard time talking to this girl as opposed to his countless conversations with Rika. 'Are they just... different?' He thought.
"Well... that was... Onix-pected." The Headmaster made the pun which received a few chuckles from the crowd and Professors but also a groan here and there. "But nonetheless, let our Final Exam's 'final' portion begin."
"Can it with the puns already!" Someone shouted.
The Headmaster went on unaffected by the shout-out and directed everyone's attention to the outdoor courtyard through the panoramic window where there was a battlefield was. "Here we will watch you battle out there. Of course it will be one at a time so you each have to wait your turn. Remember, whether victor or loser, the battle will be judged on effort and performance." The Headmaster produced a fishbowl with names in it and reached in. (DD23: IS THIS THE HUNGER GAMES OR POKEMON?!)
"Here's to hoping to not being first..." Kathy sighed to her partner.
"Katherine Kanade and her partner Jeremiah Cruz-"
"Dang it..." Kathy muttered.
"Will face off against Willis and his partner Elijah... C.R.? What does that translate to exactly?"
"Nothing important sir!" Eli told him as the two teams went outside.
On Route 22, also known as 'Detourner Way', Thomas was standing there watching in silence as the Rhyhorn practice race with Dusk still out of it's Pokeball. There were somethings on his mind.
'A yen for your thoughts.' Dusk said.
"... Well," Thomas sighed, "I've got too much on my mind."
'I can see that. Mind saying what's on your mind?' Dusk asked. Thomas remained silent, not wanting to confide in his partner on the matter. 'I see... It's fine. You don't have to. But is there anything I can do to help you?'
"Well, you can start by at least changing the subject." Thomas suggested. But unfortunately, Dusk didn't know what to say exactly.
"Thomas?" A familiar voice asked. Thomas turned around and found Rika standing behind him.
"Oh it's you... um... Iwasaki right?" He asked.
"Rika Iwasaki." She answered. "You seem down..."
"Not really down. More lost in my thoughts." Thomas said.
"Well, what's on your mind?"
"Not much." He answered blatantly. "But at the same time it's too much." Thomas then redirected his attention back to the Rhyhorn racers.
"Well..." Rika had to think for a moment before coming up with an answer, "Some things aren't gonna be easy. But if it's to try something out then you should try it. You might like it. If it's relation trouble, just be the middle man and admit both sides are neither right nor wrong..." Rika kept spewing all forms of advice to Thomas. He didn't budge nor turn back to face Rika. He wasn't really paying attention anymore to the Rhyhorn racers nor Rika's words. He was now in his thought bubble again, trying to appropriately organize the advice.
"Thank you, Rika." Thomas finally blurted out. "I think I know what to do now!" Thomas then took off back to Santalune City.
Rika was left there to think about what just happened before finally sighing. 'You are one crazy dude, Thomas. I just hope you can answer your problems... Unlike me...' Rika had a brief flashback of the ocean out of the window... She then could hear piano. 'Mama... Papa... I'm sorry.' Rika had a look of melancholy on her face before she noticed Willow and Dese were approaching her with someone else. She returned to her usual stoic expression once she saw them.
Once the trio approached her, the man asked "Are you Rika Iwasaki?"
"Yes. I am." She answered bluntly.
"Good. Now that I've got the three of you here... I can finally do what I've always meant to..." The three girls were a little confused by his statement.
Back at the school, Jeremiah and Kathy were ready to face off against Eli and Willis. "And... Begin!" The Headmaster said through a microphone.
"Go Fennix Flare!" Eli threw out a Pokeball and out came his Fennekin, ready to battle.
"C'mon Magnemite!" Willis sent out a Pokemon that looked like a metal sphere with an eye and magnets for hands. Willis smirked since he knew Kathy had no Pokemon that could damage this one badly... Or so he thought.
"Let's go Meowstic!" Kathy threw her Pokeball and came out a white feline-like Pokemon with blue fur on it's paws and folded ears. Willis's smirk faded and replaced with a pout.
'Minor complication. Nothing I can't get passed.' Willis thought, his cocky grin returning.
"Alright, let's do this Kip!" Jeremiah threw his red Pokeball (Cherish Ball) and out came a a blue Pokemon with orange 'whiskers' and fins on it's head and tail. It was a Mudkip and the Pokedex entry read:
'Mudkip, the Mud Fish Pokemon. This Pokemon uses it's head fin as a radar to determine what is going on around it and if in a pinch, Mudkip can summon enough strength to crush rocks.'
"Pfft. A water type vs and electric type? Please." Willis scoffed.
"Arrogant..." Kathy sighed. "Let's start this off right! Meowstic use Disarming Voice!" Meowstic did as it was told and opened up it's ears and mouth to emit pink waves that hit both opponent Pokemon but it didn't do too much.
"Heh. Only a fool would use a Fairy move against fire and steel types." Willis once again scoffed, "Magnemite, use Thunder Shock on the Mudkip!" Magnemite created a spark of thunder with it's two magnets and fired the electricity directed toward Kip.
"Kip, dodge it and use Tackle attack!" Jeremiah instructed. The Mudkip managed to jump out of the way in time and charged forward. Kid made contact with the metal surface, it didn't scratch the Magnemite but it did knock it back a bit. "Huh? It didn't work?!"
Willis then laughed wholeheartedly. "Don't you know? Normal attacks don't affect Steel-types too much."
"Jer," Kathy whispered, "Magnemite has a twin typing of Electric and Steel."
"And Eli has a Fire type. Why hasn't he have Fennix Flare attack already...?" Jeremiah began to ponder.
"Fennix Flare, Scratch on Meowstic!" Eli suddenly blurted out. The Fox Pokemon wasted no time in showing it's claws and scratching at Kathy's Pokemon which couldn't evade in time and took some claws to the face.
"Oh no!" Kathy practically shrieked, "Meowstic, get back up and try using a Shadow Ball!" The Meowstic got back up rather quickly and opened it's ears again and began to create a dark ball of energy and she launched it at Fennix Flare and the Pokemon took the direct hit and became shrouded in a cloud of smoke. "Alright~!" She cheered.
"Fennix Flare, use Scratch! This time on Kip!" Fennix Flare darted straight out of the smoke cloud and with it's claws out leaped toward the Mudkip.
"Kip, counter it with a Water Gun!" The Mud Fish Pokemon quickly took in a breath of air and fired out a stream of water from it's mouth.
"Forget the attack for now and dodge it!" Eli called. Fennix Flare quickly halted and jumped out of the way. However, the Water Gun kept going and it splashed Willis in the face.
"Whoops my bad." Jeremiah chuckled, "My attack seems to have missed." Kathy and Eli were trying to suppress a laugh.
Willis let out a frustrated groan. "You like to play around huh? Magnemite, use Thunder Wave on the Mudkip!" The Magnet Pokemon emitted waves from it's magnets and they were directed toward Kip.
"Meowstic, use Safeguard!" Meowstic then opened her ears once more and created a light barrier just in time and prevented the Thunder Wave from affecting there Pokemon.
"Alright Kathy! Nice thinking!" Elijah complimented, of all people.
"Whose side are you on?!" Willis asked inn frustration.
"Being a good sport..." Elijah sighed.
"Hmph. Fine then. The Safeguard may be able to protect them from Status Effects but not actual attacks-"
"You take too long to explain stuff we already know. Fennix Flare, Ember on Meowstic!" The Fennekin spat out a burst of flame which caught the Meowstic by surprise and managed to hurt it a bit.
"You alright?"
"Meow~!" The Meowstic cried. It was OK.
"Kathy, you should try using another Shadow Ball on Fennix Flare. I got an idea." He told her.
"Alright. Meowstic, use Shadow Ball again on Fennix Flare!" Meowstic did as told and fired a Shadow Ball at Fennix Flare.
"Quick dodge!" But the Fennekin was too slow and it was impaled once again by a Shadow Ball and surrounded in the smoke of the explosion.
"Now use Water Gun!" Jeremiah cried. The Mudkip let another Water Gun fly and it hit the disoriented Fennekin pretty hard. It had become incapable of proceeding with the battle.
"Oh poo. Looks like I lost." Eli said but he had a bit of a smile on his face.
"And I'll leave the honors or defeating Magnemite to you Kathy." Jeremiah said.
"With pleasure. Meowstic, Psybeam!"
Like most packaging labels on certain products say 'Results may vary.' the same could be said for this instance. Everyone was now looking at the Test Score Boards, and a lot of the grades were different. You had the overachievers and then you had the reasonable students to the not so bright bunch.
Now outside in the late afternoon, Jeremiah and Elijah were talking while sitting at a table in the Cafe and they had all their Pokemon out. and all were eating dinner and then some. "Good battle Jer." Eli complimented, "You really showed us up I guess." His friend had remained silent however. Not because he was crestfallen, but because he was looking at Eli with a pensive stare. "Eh? Is something wrong?"
"Actually, yes." Jeremiah spoke. "Why'd you do it?"
"Do what?" Eli chuckled.
"You and your Pokemon threw the match." Jeremiah declared with a bit more of a serious look on his face. Eli was a bit taken aback, then it became a bit of a chuckle. Which lead to him wholeheartedly laughing.
"You weren't meant to catch on so soon!" He exclaimed. He then bit into a croissant, chewed and swallowed. "You see, I knew Willis was a smug guy. I wanted to knock him off that high pedestal, ya'know? He may rule in school, however that doesn't mean he'll be good in the rest of the world's fields unless he gets rid of the attitude and begins to accept the fact he isn't so great." Eli explained.
"So this was all carefully planned out by you?" Jeremiah asked not too surprised but more inquisitively.
"You don't seem so surprised. Unlike most people when I come up with good plan. Why?" Eli asked, not really answering Jeremiah's question.
"Well," Jeremiah huffed out, a bit annoyed at how Eli managed to avoid his question but Jeremiah knew he was right, "I was told never to underestimate what a person can do. Also, you looked as though you had no interest in winning. In fact you were trying to lose and humiliate Willis a bit."
"Yeah. Kinda." Eli smirked with his eyes closed.
"There you are Jer. I was looking everywhere for you." A familiar voice said. Both boys were surprised to find a girl approach them. She wore a yellow and white ruffled shirt tied with one shoulder strand connected to a neck scarf. She had a white hat with a pink flower in it. She had white skinny's and some white sneakers on. She had long reddish orange hair, some soft brown eyes and on her other shoulder she had a white bag. With her was a brown Dedenne with yellow cheeks.
Eli remained in shock as he looked at her smiling face. "Hello Miss. Can we help you?"
"K-K-K-..." Jeremiah studdered. But Ches knew who it was and wasted no time in pouncing on the Dedenne and begin to chase it around. Meanwhile Kip went and began gently cuddling the girl's leg. "KATHY?!" Jer exclaimed.
"Yup. How's it going partner?" Kathy laughed as she winked and pointed to nowhere in particular. (Typical pose)
My Wind will Blow Tomorrow
Chotto matte mite dare datte
Kinou to maru de chigau
Chotto mite mite
Yokogao no shiruetto mo otona sa
Chotto kimi kimi
Iiwake wo shitai kimochi mo wakaru
Datte yo no naka kore ja
Maru de natte nai jan
Da ne! kimochi ii kuuki wo
Ima! suitakute
Shou ga nai shou ga nai
Ashita wa atashi no kaze ga fuku kara ne
Sekaijuu no doa akete oite hoshii
Ashita wa atashi no kaze ga fuku kara ne
Kimi no sono yowamushi wo
Mouretsu ni fukitobasu yo
Goojasu na jinsei wo!
Translation:
Try to wait a while, anyone is
Totally different from yesterday
Try to look for a while
Even the silhouette of the side of your face is mature
Wait [you],
Your wish to make excuses can be understood
Because if the world is like this,
Nothing's is going to get done
Right! The good breeze
Now! want to breathe
Can't be helped, can't be helped
Tomorrow my wind will blow so
Keep the doors in the world open
Tomorrow my wind will blow so
Your cowardice
Will [be] be blown away completely
A gorgeous life!
KS90: That wraps up the Final Exam. If you're wondering what their scores were, let's just say Elijah scored the highest with Kathy as a close second. Willis unfortunately flunked for reasons unknown. And an important note, the characters will speak French from time to time since Kalos is the equivalent of France. And if you're wondering their Pokemon Parties so far...
Jeremiah: Chespin(Ches Male), Mudkip(Kip Male), Bunnleby(Bunne Female), Shinx (female)
Rika: Toku(Zigzagoon Male), Panpour, (Female), Charmander (Not shown yet)
Thomas: Dusk (Froakie Male), Fletchling (Female)
Willow: Shadow(Eevee Male), Scatters (Scatterbug Male), Bulbasaur (Not shown)
Elijah: Fennix Flare(Fennekin Male), Serenity (Ralts Female)
Dese: Glameow(Female), Caterpie(Female), Lightning(Pikachu Female), Azure(Azurill Female) Squirtle(Not shown), Torch(Torchic Not shown)
Kathy: Meowstic(Female), Sparkle (Shiny Dedenne), Jigglypuff (Not shown), Vulpix(Not shown)
...Yep. I added Kathy to their group and this is only covering the major OC's that the story follows. And although I didn't directly say it, I hinted that some of the 'Not shown' Pokemon are on their teams. But they'll all make an appearance. I know Dese has the most but she has a habit of catching a lot of Pokemon and using them. Another and final note, Elijah and Willow so far have all the Pokemon in the area but they only prefer to use a select few Pokemon that they like. See you all next chapter everyone!