Trainer Orientation

In the lobby were a few rows of chairs, a table with a stack of wrinkled magazines, and a long front desk in front of an ominous closed door to a long hallway Miya knew hid the final trainer test for Jiro. If he didn't make it, neither did she. She didn't want either of them to let Professor Juniper down. Miya's palms were starting to sweat, and she wiped them on the inside of her pockets nervously.

The receptionist glanced up at them from beneath cropped teal-colored hair. "Here for trainer orientation, I presume?" she asked.

"Yeah," said Jiro, sliding an envelope across the desk to her. "I mean, yes, ma'am." She smiled, took the envelope, and passed them a clipboard before going to an office down the hallway. Miya and Jiro wrote their names on the paper. The receptionist returned with an officer she bore striking resemblance to. Miya blinked.

The receptionist laughed. "We get that a lot. We're cousins," she explained. Miya nodded.

"This way," the officer cousin said, and Miya and Jiro followed her down the hall to her office. She sat in the swiveling chair behind her desk, and gestured for them to take the two waiting chairs on the opposite side. A herdier sat obediently beside the desk and regarded them with vigilant brown eyes. Miya sat quietly, folding her hands neatly in her lap. Jiro sat as straight as possible.

"So…" the officer began, pulling up a file on her computer. "You're the special circumstance team, are you?"

"Yes, ma'am," replied Miya.

"And…" she turned to Jiro. "You're the one who'll be getting the trainer license today?"

"That's what I'm hoping," said Jiro lightly.

The officer smiled. "You can call me Officer Jenny," she said. "I'll be putting your paperwork through today and giving you your orientation, okay?"

Miya and Jiro nodded.

"Jiro Takata and Miya Cattano, correct?"

"Correct," Jiro answered.

She looked squarely at Jiro, very seriously. "Are you ready to take the test for a trainer license?"

"Yes."

"Okay. Miya, wait right here. Jiro, follow me, please." Both Officer Jenny and Jiro stood as she took him across the hall. The trainer license tests were given on a computer. Jiro had studied hard for this. Jiro looked back at Miya through the glass from the hall and winked at her. Miya would have returned a smile, but he was already out of sight. After a few moments, Officer Jenny came back and sat at her desk once more. The receptionist followed and stood next to the desk.

"Miya, do you have all those forms from Professor Juniper?"

"Yeah," she said, handing them over.

Officer Jenny opened the envelope and rifled through each one, checking for every signature and check box. "Ah, you make my life easy," she said, handing the forms to her cousin, who wordlessly left the room with them.

Officer Jenny folded her hands on her desk and turned her attention to Miya. "Well, that's all we can do for now. Why don't you go wait up front until Jiro gets done with the test? Results permitting, we'll get your orientation started when he's done and then you two can be on your way."

"All right," said Miya as she stood up. She sat in one of the waiting room chairs by the front door and waited. An analog clock ticked on the wall. A bisharp was in place of the 12 and pawniards replaced each of the numbers around the face. 2:08.

2:14.

2:19.

2:25.

Miya tried to stop looking.

2:29.

2:36.

Miya tried to distract herself by brushing the corner of a carpet up and down with her toe.

2:41. If Jiro couldn't go… neither could she.

2:47.

2:53.

Officer Jenny called, "Okay, Miya, come on back this way." Miya practically leaped up. Jiro was there, too, his expression neutral. "Both of you," she cracked a smile, "have been cleared to leave on your journey with the Trainer Program."

A relieved smile spread across Jiro's face and Miya's. She touched his arm in congratulations and they waited for Officer Jenny to continue. "One more stop," she said as she took them away from her office to another room, one with a long table and a projector.

"Usually," she explained as she booted up the projector from a podium at the front of the room, "we give orientations to larger groups. I'm sure you all have heard about this in your classes."

"All about it," said Jiro, unable to keep a grin off his face. Miya smiled inwardly at this. All his hard work had paid off and she was lucky enough to ride in the wake.

Officer Jenny opened a presentation on her laptop and the softly whirring projector splayed it onto the screen. The image brightened as it warmed up. It was a slide show, and the title slide read, Unova League's Official Pokémon Trainer Licensing Program: Orientation.

"You two can read, I'm sure," said Officer Jenny, as she clicked through to the introduction.

Our world is full of Pocket Monsters, called Pokémon for short. Pokémon possess miraculous power, come in all shapes and sizes, live in all kinds of locales, and we humans live together with them in peace. We're always there for each other, the both of us. But joining forces to help each other can often be a difficult task. From the moment you choose your pokémon partner for the journey ahead…that is when the tale of your own adventure begins! On this journey, you will meet countless pokémon, and many people who think in different ways. Through all these meetings, I deeply hope you will find something that you alone can treasure… Right! As you come into contact with people and pokémon, you will mature as a person. And that is the greatest goal of your adventure! So, let us be off into the world of pokémon.

Officer Jenny said, "Okay, so yeah, basically welcome to the Trainer Program. I'm sure you guys are eager to get started, so let's keep going." She clicked through the slides, commenting on many of them, and clarifying them. Miya knew she had an official script she could read off of. Officer Jenny seemed to be trying to keep the presentation interesting and not robotic. Lots of Unova League proceedings were so stale and formal, so Miya was glad of that.

You will be issued by the Unova League:

· One Pokédex, a high-tech device that will automatically record the pokémon you meet

· One authorized cross-tranceiver, designed to communicate with other trainers, league officials and representatives, emergency teams, teachers, and other contacts you make along your journey

· One GPS to aid with navigation

· One starting sampler pack of nutritional pokémon supplements in accordance with your registered starter(s)

· One Official Unova League Guidebook

· One Unova League Trainer account to allow access to Unova League computers and battle boxes from any pokémon center in the region

· One starter pokémon, if required

The next slides detailed Jiro's assignment in the Trainer Program.

Current students are required to write a final paper at the conclusion of their journey (due exactly one week prior to their projected graduation date). Prompts will be issued by a teacher, principal, or other Unova League certified individual.

Students will be assigned a partner for their journey, with whom they will write this paper. Partners will be determined by personality test results, which the applicants take six months prior to selection. Partners may choose to join with other teams on their journeys, or journey separately. There is no limit on how many students may travel together, but each individual must work with their partner to complete the final project.

Other official-looking slides detailed more rules. Miya wondered how many of them applied to her and Jiro, since she wasn't actually a trainer.

A few more slides talking about laws in various towns regarding battling publicly followed.

Jiro sucked in air in excitement when the next slide came up: Catching Pokémon: The Basics. The slide detailed procedure for battles with wild pokémon and when the best opportunities to use a poké ball were. The next slide explained how poké balls worked.

Other slides explained pokémon centers, gym operation, and battle clubs.

The final slide was a brief conclusion, only saying We hope to see your name etched into the Hall of Fame!

Officer Jenny shut off the projector. "Any questions?" she asked. Miya and Jiro shook their heads. "Well, I think that's it then. Let's get you your sampler package and you guys can be on your way! Oh, and your poké balls, of course."

Miya and Jiro exchanged excited looks as they followed Officer Jenny to a storeroom.

"Sorry this is kind of unofficial," she said apologetically. "Usually we have big groups and we have a whole room set up for all this crap. There's also an 'Unova League certified individual' there to bore you to tears with all the fine print. Not that you heard that from me," she added with a wink. She reached into a box and pulled out three plastic-wrapped packages of various powders and pellets. "We had to submit your order as fast as we could, and we've got this." Officer Jenny handed Miya the bag in her left hand.

"Thanks," said Miya.

"Okay," Officer Jenny explained. "Since you've got a tirtouga, you've got some tirtouga supplements in there, and a few days' worth of powdered meals, and a few dehydrated poffins." She turned to Jiro, giving him the other two bags. "Here's for your feebas and gallade. They're both labeled. Same deal.

"Now, as I'm sure you guys know, this is no supplement for food. These can only be regarded as a main source of food for probably a maximum of one or two days. You have to do your own research and feed your pokémon responsibly. Natives shouldn't have much of a problem foraging or eating local food. Pokémon originating from other regions," she raised her eyebrows slightly to Jiro, "might have a bit more difficulty, so plan accordingly. Okay. Ready to get your poké balls?"

"Please!" said Jiro excitedly, and they followed her back up the hall to the front desk.

Officer Jenny reached into a drawer next to her cousin and pulled out two boxes. "There's five in here for you, Miya," she said, extending the slightly heavier one to Miya. "And four for you, Jiro, since you've got two starters."

"Got it," he said.

"And that's it from me," said Officer Jenny. "I now defer you two to my cousin Jenny, who will take your pictures and print out your licenses."

"Thanks a lot, " said Miya, and Jiro thanked her as well.

Officer Jenny saluted them jokingly. "In all seriousness, best of luck, you two. Learn lots and have a great time." She retreated to her office.

Receptionist… Jenny? wondered Miya, took their pictures and printed their licenses. Miya took hers and ran her finger along the smooth lamination. Hers was orange, a limited battle license. Jiro's, the official trainer license, was green. They thanked the receptionist and headed back to their bikes outside.

"So that's it, then?" asked Miya as she turned the key in her bike lock.

"I guess so!" said Jiro. They slapped high-fives.

"Ready to go to Accumula Town?"

"I am so ready. Goodbye Tidewater. Goodbye Nuvema. Hello Unova!"

A/N: I haven't seen many of the Best Wishes episodes... so I'm hoping Officer Jenny is still there and still called that. I think on Bulbapedia I remember seeing a picture of a lady with a khaki uniform and short teal hair and a caption of Unova Jenny so I'm rolling with that haha... correct me if I'm wrong.