Chapter 11: Choosing Enrollment
Luna Nova Academy's staff gathered at a round table inside Miranda's office. Ash and Pikachu emerged from the tower to greet the new day. Wearing the robe, Ash wondered about what he could do. "I can look into the book to see if there's a way to take us back home," Ash wondered as he opened the book. Pikachu sensed something in the air, and turned to a fixed direction "Now that I unlocked the spell's language, I might have something to-"
("Look out!") he squeaked. Ash heard and prepared himself. A fireball was hurled from the sky. Ash flicked open his tome and his eyes were aglow.
"Barrier!" he chanted. A transparent wall erected in front of Ash and Pikachu before the fireball struck. The wall held and the fireball was snuffed. That's when Ash saw a figure speeding in from the same direction as the fireball.
"Flame Arrow!" a woman chanted. She shot a blazing arrow which zoomed at Ash and Pikachu at a rapid pace. Ash closed the book and jumped to the side. The blazing arrow struck the ground and exploded, but Ash and Pikachu were clear. As they recovered, a lavender-haired woman appeared wearing a red cape over white shirt and black slacks. There were leather straps around her torso and stylish sunglasses.
("She looks familiar…") warned Pikachu. The tome opened; Ash felt prepared to defend his partner.
"I thought Luna Nova Academy only had girls attend," she voiced.
"I'm not enrolled," Ash corrected. "At least, not yet. Headmistress Holbrooke established a meeting to see about having me as a student." The woman removed her sunglasses, her teal eyes showing.
"That's why I felt a strange presence in the air," she believed. Seeing her face without the sunglasses, Ash and Pikachu gasped. To them, the woman was like the picture of Croix with his mother.
"Croix Meridies?" he guessed. The woman gawked to Ash knowing who she was.
"You know me?" she realized.
("Yeah, just last night,") Pikachu squeaked. Ash nodded to Croix's guess.
"Does Delia Ketchum ring a bell?" he questioned. Croix took a second to realize the boy's asking.
"God, it's been years since I saw Prodigal Delia," she recalled. Ash and Pikachu seemed a bit stunned by Croix's naming of Delia.
"If that was mom's nickname, it's one I support," Ash muttered. Pikachu agreed with a slight squeak. Croix awed the notion of Delia's title.
"You're Prodigal Delia's son?" she figured. Ash nodded, confirming Croix interest. This had her cackling. "Oh my god! The apple didn't fall far from the tree!" She collapsed to a kneel and reeled Ash in, hugging him. Ash became surprised with the sudden gesture. "I miss her. I can feel that she's alive." They broke from the hugs.
"What do you mean by the apple and tree?" he asked. Croix giggled to the question.
"It's alright," she sympathized. "Let's head inside." As they headed to the Academy, a closed-door meeting took place with candles strewn around the teachers.
"We have presented our cases of supporting and opposing the decision of Ash being enrolled in Luna Nova Academy," Miranda discussed. "This is a landmark case that may alter the future of the school for all we know, or it may just be a one-off affair. Nevertheless, we have an obligation to vote on this." In front of each teacher, a marble and a rock. "We'll pass this jar around. It's been reinforced so that we do not learn about each vote until I tally. The marble, smooth as it can be, tells us that you support the motion. The rock, cutting the edges of doubt, tells us that you oppose the motion. We will now grab both the marble and rock before we rule."
"Easy for you to say!" complained Pisces. "I don't have hands, let alone able to hold either one!"
"I'll help you on that, Pisces!" offered Ursula. "I have to cast my vote first, by the way."
"Just make sure that you're not whispering on her choice," Anne warned.
"I won't," Ursula murmured.
"This will be voted on anonymity," Miranda warned. "Let us begin." Ursula placed the jar up and inserted her hand inside, just pulling it out a second later. No sound. Ursula's vote came. She held the two items in one hand before pushing it in and pulling it out. After that was Pisces. A tarp was placed over her bowl and Ursula reached in to the one item and dropped it in. No sound. Anne was next to vote. She copied Miranda's and Ursula's acts, then came Nelson's turn, and Samantha came last. The jar was returned to Miranda. She removed the bottom but did not reveal the items. The teachers awaited. "Bear in mind, this is a majority decision. It is not unanimous." That's when she removed the jar. Five marbles and one rock came out. Ursula and Nelson became excited. "Five support… One opposes. Majority favours in the ruling. For the first time in Luna Nova Academy's history, Ash Ketchum will be enrolled as student of this school." Other than Anne, the teachers were elated that the boy helping out was about to be enrolled.
"This is unforgivable!" she growled. Everyone stopped before turning to Anne. "First, a newbie who has no family background, now a boy in an all-girls school!? Is there no bound!?" She shrieked, irking the other teachers.
"I feared this would happen," Ursula gulped. Meanwhile, Croix, Ash and Pikachu were in the cafeteria where they learned about each other. Pikachu felt at ease from Croix's itching of his ears.
"Italy, huh?" he said. "I can imagine some of the food from there."
"It is high in carbs," Croix giggled. "But there are ways around it." Akko, Diana and Amanda entered the cafeteria and found the other three, surprised to see the new woman.
"Whoa, Croix Meridies!" gasped Akko. Criox, Ash and Pikachu looked to find the other girls attending.
"Atsuko Kagari," Croix named. "How have your studies been going?"
"They're okay, but that's coming from a first generation," Akko sighed. "It's hard enough when you're the pioneer of the family as opposed to centuries like Diana's family had gone through."
"Yes but complaining about the learning curve will not bode well when it comes to proper magic use," Diana nagged. "Although, I am still unnerved about Ash's mother being a student here."
"How do you think the rest of the student body felt?" nudged Amanda. "And think of the timeline to now: Ash winds up on campus grounds from a major storm, becomes the Headmistress's aide, finds a tome that he unsealed after centuries, learns a bit of control, finds out his own mom attended this academy, and now the teachers are voting on him becoming a student here. This isn't breaking new grounds; this is unearthing them at a grandiose scale!"
"Not that we don't agree to that," Akko shuttered. "It's just coming at us so fast." Amanda nodded, agreeing with Akko. She approached Ash and palmed his head.
"Of course, I don't think anyone of us students wouldn't want you to join us in studying witchcraft," she offered. Ash lofted a giggle.
"I don't want to break anything that made Luna Nova Academy as it is," he softly argued. "But it would be something if I'm enrolled." That's when Ash turned to Diana. "I was also told that your mom taught my mom before she graduated." Diana gasped before she turned her head and body away. Ash and Pikachu blinked at Diana's action while the girls mulled to the reality. Amanda tip-toed to Ash, her head by his ear.
"Diana's mom died when she was young," she whispered. Ash and Pikachu gasped as Croix bobbed her head. Ash felt horrible about he news.
"Oh boy…" he gulped. Seeing tears streaking down her face, Ash came to console her. "I'm sorry, I didn't know about that. Miss Callists didn't say anything about it." Except for Croix, everyone knew about Ash and Pikachu staying at the tower. Diana turned around and hugged Ash, sobs heard each second.
"This is why I came here!" she cried. "To honour my mother! To keep the House's legacy!" Ash hugged her back, understanding her circumstances.
("There's hardly a problem Ash doesn't realize,") Pikachu briefed. That's when Anne forced the doors open with a push, causing others to turn to the teacher.
"Alright, Ash!" she scowled. "I will not let Luna Nova Academy have a boy become the next great magical master while I'm around!" Diana placed a hand on Ash's chest, wanting to hold him back from addressing Anne's tirade.
"Nice to see you too, Annie," Croix teased. Anne turned to Croix, noticing her.
"And you, Croix Meridies!" she snapped. "How dare you show yourself before anyone else!"
"Never one to let anyone get above you," Croix shrugged. "You've yet to change." Anne's eye twitched, ready to snap at Croix's remarks.
"You'll be next after I teach this upstart about what we have to deal with," she growled. "As I do not recognize the referendum to acknowledge Mr. Ketchum as a student of Luna Nova Academy!" She turned to Ash, pointing a finger at him. "I challenge you to a broomstick race! If I win, you're banished from Luna Nova Academy forever!" Ursula and Nelson entered after Anne, hearing her ranting about being outvoted.
"Hold your horses, Miss Finnelan!" voiced Amanda. She stood in front of Ash and Diana. "You mean to tell us the other teachers said yes to Ash becoming one of us!? And that you're rejecting the wishes of them!?"
"This has nothing to do with you, Miss O'Neill!" scowled Anne.
"You're right on one thing," Akko voiced. "It has to do with all of us!" Diana showed a small scowl, not wanting to offend Anne.
"This has become something to see," Croix joked. That's when Ash placed his hands on Akko's and Amanda's shoulders. A confident smirk painted his face.
"I know you're a teacher," he snickered. "But allow me to give you a lesson about us Pokémon Trainers: Good ones never back down from a challenge... and if I win, you'll also acknowledge me as a student." A fire in his eyes, Ash grinned at Anne who wasn't amused with his antic.
"Typical of a boy, always cocky until they put his money where his mouth is," she mulled. "At least you agree. We will have it tomorrow. Prepare to pack your bags." Feeling confident, Anne walked out while Ash stood firm. Akko and Amanda gawked with their jaws hanging from their mouths and Diana being a little frightened.
"Well, leave it to Ash to bring entertainment to us," Nelson shrugged.
"At the very least," Croix added. As night fell, Ursula became concerned to Ash's daring acceptance to Anne's challenge.
"What were you thinking!?" she questioned. Croix joined as she held Oshawott. "We could have simply told her that her denial of allowing you to be part of Luna Nova Academy was null and void! You could easily have been enrolled tomorrow as a new student, but you decided to go with Anne's challenge?" Ash stood firm about his decision.
"The years have taught me that if Ash is challenged," Pikachu remembered. "He's not one to turn it down. He's had it since the start of our journey in Kanto." Croix giggled to Pikachu's claim.
"First off, he's cuter without this voice, Ursula," she dismissed. "Second, it's like mother, like son. Delia was the same way, not backing down from anything that opposed her."
"Croix, you're not helping!" mulled Ursula.
"How so?" wondered Croix.
"Ash is still new to magic!" briefed Ursula. "Ash could easily get himself hurt doing this! Imagine me telling Delia about what Ash did and how furious she'll be to Anne!" Ash didn't budge, maintaining his confidence.
"Pikachu, you forgot to mention how people have underestimated me in those years," he remarked. "No one believed I'd be as far as I have without you and the Pokémon helping me." Croix smiled at Ash, believing her claim.
"Delia raised such a strong kid," she believed, making Ursula hesitant. Then, a knock at the door. Opening, Ursula found Akko and Diana with broomsticks.
"Girls?" gulped Ursula. "What are you doing here?" Akko and Diana let themselves inside.
"We're concerned about Ash and the challenge," Akko briefed.
"So, Akko and I offered ourselves to prepare Ash for the contest ahead," Diana volunteered. Ash blinked to the idea.
"I just want to slap Ash upside the head for his response," Ursula mulled as she palmed her face. "If he didn't accept the challenge, we would've told Anne that her outburst would've voided her vote. She really didn't have any ground to challenge our vote, let alone him. Now, our voting is meaningless." To Pikachu, Ash felt cornered.
"It's not like Miss Finnelan would accept Ash denying the challenge and kicking him to the curb," he brought up. Ash pondered for a second before facing the girls.
"I could use some more practice before the race," he accepted. Akko and Diana awed Ash's choice. Outside, Ash and Akko occupied one broomstick while Diana had another. They took to the skies as Ursula, Croix and the Pokémon watched on. Unfezant flew up to join as well as Alcor. Those with wings and broomsticks flew high into the air.
"One thing to keep a feel for are pockets of magic bursts!" warned Diana. "You won't see them, but when they come by, your broom will feel the burst and you'll spring ahead! Follow me!" Diana led Ash and Akko upward.
"Unfezant won't feel the magic bursts, but Alcor will," Akko advised. Ash nodded as they flew. Diana kept her hand in front of her and her eyes closed. She swayed the broomstick to the left, sensing a force.
"Here!" she urged before her broomstick crackled with electricity. She had a sudden zip across the air. Ash gawked to the sudden speed burst from Diana.
"Whoa, that's fast!" he gulped.
"But it may help in your race," Akko advised before wrapping her arms around Ash's body, her chest pressing his back and making her jump a bit. 'I'm touching his back! Oh god... I got to concentrate.' She grabbed Ash's hand and interlocked their fingers, Akko's palm over Ash's knuckles. She became excited again. 'God, his back and his hand!? Please, let me stay this way!' "This way, you can feel it as well." Both closed their eyes as their heartbeats synchronized. The two began ascending slowly. That's when they felt a pocket. "There!" Hitting the invisible pocket, Ash's broomstick gained a good speed burst. They flew faster and for a little while, catching up to Diana.
"Good work!" she praised. "Let's continue!" She raced ahead.
"So, what's wrong with you and broomstick flying?" asked Ash.
"I'm not very good at it, honestly," Akko admitted. "You haven't been on broomsticks at all before coming here and you're a natural."
"Well, hang on… We're going after Diana with style!" Ash's words made Akko worried.
"Style?" Ash had his broomstick fly, flipping upside-down as Akko held on for dear life. Diana saw the two approach as she waited. Ash stopped his broomstick before turning to Diana.
"You're pretty good, Ash," she complimented. "You might have a chance against Miss Finnelan."
"Thanks," Ash nodded. That's when a thought came to Diana's mind.
"Perhaps if you win and become a student," she started. "I might be obligated to take you on a date." Ash and Akko gawked to Diana's proposal.
"A… date?" he repeated.
"No way!" denied Akko. "I get first dibs! After all, I'm the one who kissed him first!" Ash sighed, not sure about the idea.
"Perhaps, but maybe this may understand my feelings for now," Diana urged as she came to Ash and kissed him on the cheek. "My first kiss to a boy." Ash's cheeks became red, blushing from the tender lips of the Cavendish. Akko seemed rather ticked about Diana's kiss.
"I… may… need some time…" he stuttered. "Anyway, let's give Akko some lessons as well." Akko and Diana nodded.
"Still doesn't beat my kiss to your lips!" teased Akko. Ash sighed as they landed. Ash has work ahead of him, but will it be enough for the race?
TO BE CONTINUED...