Chapter Two

Jade huffed as she watched the other trainers battle for the right to go to Battle Academy. She so wanted to go down there and battle right now. But since she had a long history of health problems, she had had to take her test yesterday with a small group of people who also had a similar history. The difference between these examiners and the people who'd been testing her yesterday was that these people were actually trying to see the trainers skills and weaknesses.

"So, J, how does it look?" Chazz asked, walking up to her. His Snivy, who could have evolved but didn't want to yet, was sitting on his shoulder.

"Horrible! The examiner I faced the day before didn't put up a fight, yet most of the trainers here are getting a real good battle! It's not fair," Jade whined in anger, visibly upset.

"You know that's not what I meant, but I'll let it slide since you're upset. Come on, let's get something to eat. You're usually happier after you get something to munch on," Chazz said. Jade huffed and crossed her arms.

"Pichu!" Jade's Pichu jumped from the railing and climbed onto her shoulder, being mindful of the mini-blue and red surfboard that was being held in place on his back by a shoulder strap, a pair of mini-goggles perched on his head.

They went to the small café beside the examination room and ordered fried shrimp while Snivy and Pichu each munched on an apple. It was one of their favorite foods. The only other people in the room were the cashier, an older boy with long black hair and his back towards them, and a blue-haired boy who was carrying a Mudkip in his arms had just come in and was now ordering.

"Um, excuse me?" a tiny and nervous voice asked from their right. Both turned to see the blue-haired boy that had entered just a minute ago. He was now holding the Mudkip with one arm and held a wrapped burger in the other. "Um… Do you mind if I sit with you?"

The two looked at each other quickly before Jade turned back to him with a small smile. "Sure you can. Don't be upset if we're not really talking much though. CP had to grow up to be jerkish to other people because of his brothers and I'm in a bad mood because of the test."

"O-oh… I'm Syrus, by the way. Syrus Truesdale." Chazz 'hmph'ed and went back to eating his food. Mudkip wiggled his way out of Syrus's arms and walked up to Snivy and Pichu before plopping down to take a nap. Syrus sat down next to Jade and began to eat as well. When he saw that the two of them were done with their food, he realized something. "Um, this may sound like a stupid question, but… are you two talking without words?"

Both blinked at him in surprise. It was Jade who answered. "Yeah, we are. I'm surprised you noticed. Most people would think we're just fidgetting. CP and I practically grew up as siblings until he moved."

"So you're like brothers? That's nice," Syrus said, but after he saw their blank faces he felt that he had said something wrong. Just as he was about to ask them what was wrong they both broke out into strong, almost uncontrollable laughter.

"Wahahaha! Yes, I see him as a brother, but it would be hard for him to see me as a brother since I don't have the right parts 'down below', if you know what I mean," Jade laughed.

Noticing that Syrus still didn't seem to get it, Chazz smirked. "J is the closest thing I have to a sister."

Syrus's eyes went wide and a large blush painted his face. "I-I'm so sorry!" The two continued to laugh.

"Nah, it's fine, Sy. I've been told many times that I could pass off as a pretty boy. My name's Jade Yuki, but I'm also called Tech or J. Maybe if I had told you sooner, this could have been avoided."

"Name's Chazz Princeton, and don't worry about the mistake. I thought she was a boy at first, too. Of course, she was bald from her medical treatment at the time. It's a thing that the women of the Yuki family go through. Their bodies stay cute and short until the first summer vacation of freshman or sophomore year when they grow into tall, womanly figures."

Jade groaned. "Why did you have to bring up the family curse? Why?" Both boys sweat-dropped as Jade glumly rested her head on the table. "I swear, it's nearly as bad as the test for the 'Special Needs' people that I took yesterday. I can honestly see why most kids who pass that test don't even go to Battle Academy."

"Why, what's the problem with that test?" a voice asked.

"The examiners treat the examinees like they're five-year-olds… Really stupid five-year-olds… They also don't even try to put up a fight during the battle. It's very insulting. It's also insulting that if we do pass, we go straight to the blue dorms without letting us prove our worth. Go-ma threw a fit when I showed her the video recording of my battle and of the ones I watched. It also had footage of the battles between a group of us, many of which were very good. Go-ma and Don got into contact with the parents of the other exminees, and they're all sending in formal complaints to the school and Mr. Kaiba. Along with Don's ideas to fix the problem, I just wish I could have a real battle before I go to the academy, just to prove my strength."

"Well… Maybe I could arrange that battle for you."

Jade snapped around and looked at the person with hopeful, starry eyes and a small smile. "Yes, please do!"

The older boy, who had long black hair and purple eyes, chuckled and patted her head.

…With the Examiners, 5 minutes later…

"All the battles are coming to an end, Dr. Crowler," an examiner said.

"Good, soon we can finish up and prepare Battle Academy for the new students," Crowler said.

"Actually, Dr. Crowler, you're going to have to put that on hold for a little while longer."

"Wha- Deary me! Mr. Kaiba. I wasn't expecting you to be here to see the exams," Crowler said nervously.

"Call me Mokuba, Mr. Kaiba is my brother, and you wouldn't also be the head examiner for yesterday's exam, would you?"

"Yesterday's exam? …Oh, you mean the entrance exam for people with handicaps, long medical history and severe allergies? No, I wasn't. Someone else does that. To tell you the truth, I've never learned that man's name because I don't like the way he treats the students that actually do go to the academy after passing the exam. He treats them like… like…" Crowler scratched his chin, trying to find the right words.

"Like stupid five-year-olds?" Mokuba asked.

"Yes, that's it! Now, I'm tough on Entei Reds, but that's because I know that they could do better and I try to make them work harder. But the way he treats them is more demeaning. He said, 'I treat the examinees like they should be treated and make sure the other examiners do the same as I would.' Ha! The kids deserve better… Oh, sorry. I'm rambling."

"No, actually, I'm glad you said that. Listen, I have a person waiting in the Café that wants, I quote, 'to have a real battle', unquote, before going to the academy. Apparently, those exams were worse than we thought, and it looks like Brother will have to fix them. Anyway, could you have someone battle her?"

"Hmm… Ah! I've got it. I have a Pokemon that's a little over the level of an examiner's Pokemon, but close, and I've wanted to use him in a battle against some other opponents. So I guess I'll battle her at the end, if that's all right."

"Sounds good. I'll go tell her," Mokuba said before leaving.

…Just Before the End of the Exams…

"Now that the battles are done, we will be having a battle between Professor Crowler and a new student. Everyone has the choice to stay and watch or to leave. Congratulations to those that passed, and we hope to see those that didn't try again next time," an announcer said.

"It's Dr. Crowler," Crowler yelled out in annoyance.

"R-right… I apologize," the announcer said nervously.

About a third of the crowd left, but the rest stayed to watch the battle. A kid of about fifteen and wearing a brown wig(which many thought that was Jade's actual hair) practically skipped to the field. Nearly everyone in the stand decided that she was a particularly feminine boy.

"Are you ready?" Crowler asked as he grabbed a Pokeball from his coat pocket.

"You bet I am!" Jade said happily.

Crowler nodded before releasing a sharp Dark and Steel-type Pokemon.

"Sweet! A Pawniard," said Jade, evaluating her team to decide who should be its opponent. She knew that Charmeleon would have the biggest advantage in battle against the Pawniard, but Pichu had been wanting to test his skills in a battle against someone he didn't know. "Let's go, Pichu!"

"Pichu!" Pichu jumped off Jade's shoulder and onto the field.

"The battle between Pawniard and Pichu will now begin!" shouted the announcer.

"Pawniard, Metal Claw!"

"Protect, then Iron Tail!" The sound of the Metal Claw hitting Pichu's Protect echoed through the arena, but it wasn't as loud as Pichu's Iron Tail hitting Pawniard's steel body. Pawniard was forced back a few feet.

"Don't take that, Pawniard! Use Arial Ace!" Pawniard recovered quickly and the Arial Ace landed with impressive accuracy.

"Chu!" Pichu cried out in pain but also recovered quickly.

"Pichu, use a Surf and Iron Tail combo!" Pichu quickly swung the mini board off his back and stood on it as a wave of water appeared, earning many gasps from the audience. Pichu charged an Iron Tail but, instead of swinging it at its opponent like a normal attack, dipped it into the water and used it to steer.

Jade's friends were watching supportively from the stands.

"Wow, J's good! That's an abnormal combo," Syrus said, and his Mudkip made a noise of agreement.

Chazz snorted. "J is practically royalty when it comes to abnormal plans," he said. "One time we were training- Oh, there you are Gaurdain. I was wondering where you went."

Syrus turned and saw that Chazz was now looking at an Arcanine that had come to sit on his other side with a slightly worrying grin. And apparently, he wasn't the only one to think this way as Chazz's next words were, "Okay, I know that smile. Either you've robbed a hot dog cart of its food, spent some time with a pretty Poke-lady, or done something that will surprise the hell out of J and I later."

Gaurdain's grin only got wider.

"Okay, I really don't want to know."

In another part of the stands, another pair of students were watching the battle a little more intently.

"This is a really good battle, huh, Zane?" Alexis Rhodes asked. Her Treecko was sitting on her shoulder, playing with her long blonde hair.

"Hmm." Zane and his Blaziken silently continued to watch the battle.

In another part of the stands a boy smiled at the battle taking place. " Well Chimchar I do believe we found one interesting trainer." Bastion said to his starter who made sounds of happy agreement in return. " Oh, blast it all they never gave the boys name. Oh well I'll just have to find out later."

And things weren't getting any less exciting down on the battlefield.

"Pawniard, Faint Attack!" The Dark-type hit Pichu.

"Pichu! Are you okay?!"

"Pichu!" Pichu got up and shook his body rid of its aches and pains.

"All right, Thunder Shock!"

"Dodge!" Crowler said, but Pawniard didn't move and was hit by the attack. "What? Oh no! Static!"

"That's right, teach. Finish this with Iron Tail!" Once again, Pawniard was hit by the attack, and this time, it was knocked out. Jade and Pichu let out a happy call before Pichu sat down on the ground, tired out. Jade picked him up and he returned to his Pokeball.

Unbeknownst to them, they were also be watched by someone else in a hidden area of the room.

"Hmm… She grew up strong, just like you, Karina. I think this calls for a reward."

Next Time: Island, First Test! …New Dorm?

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