Of all the academies to go to, Hoenn was the best choice, according to national statistics. It was famous for molding some of the greates fighters in the land, such as Feldspar the Immovable and Riddea the Swift. Important historical figures, such as the Alakazam Durstein, who debunked the Faith of Three Gods after the legendary Seige of Tyrants, and Hoenn's own Prime Minister, the Abomasnow Jill Pera, graduated from the Academy. Those who graduated from Hoenn were expected to do great things.

Which was what terrified Gage. It was nearly impossible to those standards, those expectations. The Girafarig was terrified that it would crush him; all he wanted to do was graduate and leave Hoenn behind.

He sat up and gazed at the grounds. Hoenn Academy also served as capital of the Hoenn state, giving it the feel of a metropolis rather than a school. The city was divided into concentric rings, with the main school building and Prime Minister's office being in the direct center. Shops, restaurants, and other buisnesses surrounded the school, creating multiple circles around the pristine white structure. The third ring was a massive apartment complex, half of which was dedicated to the students, dubbed the Dorms, and the rest to the citizens, dubbed the Homes. Past that circle was a large ring of unshaven grass, dubbed "The Field", which had the occasional gentle slope, like the one Gage sat on. The entire perimeter was surrounded by the "Great Wall of Hoenn", which was gray due to years of use and age. As far as he was aware of, Hoenn was the only state to be set up like this.

Gage brought his knees to his chest, resting his chin on them. Eight years had changed him. He was taller, but thinner, which irked him. Gage had also conformed to Hoenn's fashion trends; his hair was longer and shaggier, being held back by a white headband so he could see. A yellow hoodie covered his torso, and the hoodie had gray spots going down the side. Black pants adorned his legs, and he had a gold chain hanging from his pocket.

In his mind, Gage saw this "change" as useless. He simply had new clothes and expirienced a growth spurt. He was no stronger than he was eight years ago.

If only Grace were here. The Gabite would've made him so strong it would've defied logic. His mind drifted back to their last day together, three years ago. He was only twelve.

"Why are you leaving?" Gage look at his best, and only, friend with a pain filled gaze. Her golden eyes were pained, yet the scowl that all Dragon Types were cursed with never left.

"I was accepted at Kalos, Gage." While, Hoenn made the best fighters in technique, Kalos created the best fighters in power. The relatively new Academy was famous for unlocking moves in students that they didn't even know they had. It was also in Kalos that Mega Evolution could be achieved. It was Kalos that created soldiers.

In other words, Grace's dream.

Gage shook. "But I need you here! What am I going to do without you?!" He stomped on the grass, flattening it. When they came to the Field, it was quiet and peaceful. Not this time.

"I'm sorry Gage." What she did next surprised him. She began to cry. She wasn't weeping, but tears hugged the corners of her eyes. All the anger that Gage was holding onto disappeared. His shoulders dropped in defeat. Grace never cried. A Dragon was strong. A Dragon showed no mercy. A Dragon was made to kill. Those were the words she lived by. A soldier's words.

"When do you leave?" His savior, his friend, was leaving him. Everyone important to him always left him; was he meant to be alone?

"An hour from now."

Gage released a breath, unaware that he was holding it. He let the tears fall as he looked at the clear blue sky.

"It's raining really hard huh?"

Grace wiped her tears away and nodded.

Gage looked out at the Field again. "Come back soon…" He whispered, though he knew she wouldn't. He rose and took a single step before the ground nearly swept him off his feet. "What the hell?" He searched the field, catching the smoke with his eyes. A fire? Gage quickly regained his bearings and rushed towards the black pillar's source. Proud and reknown for his speed, he arrived in no time.

There was a fight.

Fights were common at Hoenn. Battle Skills was required class among all the Academies in Nihon, though Hoenn started them earlier. But those fights were usually safe and closely watched. This fight wasn't. The combatants were going all out.

The female was small, with tan skin that contrasted with her shoulder length, snow colored hair. Her eyes were large, blue, and burning determination. She wore a white shirt with puffy sleeves, with a white overall dress over that. Blue and red triangles covered the skirt and her sandals, which were over knee high socks. Ribbons that were shaped like wings were around her waist, and they seemed to be helping her levitate. Gage had never seen a Pokémon like her before.

The mystery Pokemon's opponent was obviously a Gligar. He was short but had long arms. He had scruffy black hair and thin, stunningly blue eyes. He wore a pink hoodie and shorts, with pink bat wings and a scorpion tail ruining his otherwise timid look. Gloves shaped like pincers adorned his hands. The Gligar was smiling, showing his sharpened canines. The pincers were shrouded with a red energy, and he leapt towards the mystery Pokemon, bringing his pincers down. "X Scissor!"

The mystery Pokémon was flung back, tearing down stalks of grass. She recovered quickly and jumped up, her lips curling into a smile. Her body glowed with white light. "Dazzling Gleam!" She holds her arms out, the light intensifying without warning; Gage had to look away. Gligar crossed his freakishly long arms over his face in an attempt to protect himself. The intensity of the light increased as the Gligar dug his heels into the ground. Scratches appear all over the Pokemon's body as he was bathed in the light. Just when it seemed the Gligar would be thrown, the light died down, letting him drop to his knees. Minor scratches dotted his arms, while a long laceration extended across his cheek. Gage frowned. What kind of move was Dazzling Gleam?

Gage approached the fighters, lifting his hand in greeting. "H'llo." He examined the scene, pretending to have just arrived. "What's all this?"

The mystery Pokemon turned suddenly, her eyes locked on the Girafarig. "Oh hello!" The bright and cheery greeting Gage got surprised him; he didn't expect it from a Pokemon who nearly knocked someone out with light. The Gligar stood up, wobbling slightly. "We were just need to improve," The female answered easily, her eyes flicking towards the Gligar. "Badly, as you can see."

Gage stood up straight, exhaling heavily. From the smoke, which was slowly clearing, he had expected a foreign attack; when he saw the combatants, he expected mortal enemies.

All he got was two allies training.

Gage had messed up. But he still had time to fix it. Locking his gaze with the mystery Pokemon's, he let his arm rise effortlessly, as if it didn't matter. "If you want to improve, fight me."

Damn it.