In this chapter, Blake will officially join a club, and we get to see Reiner take the "Aptitude Test" to join the club. What will that entail?
Wildlian: Yeah, of the six "main freshmen" Nick is kind of the least interesting, sorry. I was going to include more, but this chapter was already long and juggling several plots. But don't worry, that's why I put him in the same club as Cynthia and maybe Blake, to help the two of them develop his character.
Arcana of the North: Most likely.
Duskzilla: It does indeed help, as being part of a good club will help find a better path for a career.
BloodStarGeneral: He deserves that.
Sonofthetrigod: We'll have to see, won't we?
Daozang: No, slacking is not allowed.
Regiinator: Well, he will end up fighting them at some point. We'll have to see what will happen, won't we?
Darkhammer: Thanks!
Pokemon Academy: Beginning of Beginnings
Chapter 16
"So what is it you wanted to meet with me about?" Blake asked.
"Two things," Andre said, smiling.
"What?"
"For one, 'she' will be transferring to this school next semester."
"…What?" Blake asked, his face going pale.
Andre gestured for Blake to sit.
"Yeah, I heard it myself. She managed to pass a special test that lets her join next semester. Thankfully, she won't be coming until then, so the 'Brown Hurricane' will be away for a little longer."
"I don't believe this…" Blake said, shaking his head.
"As I recall, you and her got along okay."
"No, she got along with me. I did NOT get along with her."
"Yeah, this is all too confusing for me, anyhow. Still, I thought I'd tell you."
"That's it? You called me here to terrify me?"
"Not quite," Andre said, shaking his head. "I've got a little information."
"Information?" Blake asked.
"On 'that person' you're looking for?"
Blake's eyes widened.
"Sinnoh," Andre said, a serious expression on his face. "That's where you'll find them."
"How do you know this?"
"Your brother asked my sister to look into a rumor. It turns out that rumor panned out. My sister couldn't get ahold of Kanone, so she asked me to reach out to you."
"And you're sure?"
"She's positive."
"Great."
Blake stood up, Andre grabbing him by the hand.
"As your upperclassman, I'll have to advise you against what you're about to go do," Andre said, smiling. "Don't worry."
"But…"
"Remember why your brother sent you here," Andre said. "You told him you wanted to become stronger. Here, you'll become stronger. My sister will keep tabs as a favor to Kanone, and I'll let you know as things change. When you meet up again, you'll be ready. Just keep training, and wait until when the time is right."
"Thanks, Andre."
"Don't thank me, just tell your brother that we're even."
"Thanks. I will."
"And I think that Professor Reinhart will want to know, don't you?"
"…Probably."
The second day of clubs, things were still going great.
"Oh, Blake, you're going to join?"
Serefina was at the stand now, a bright smile on her face.
"You aren't handing out fliers?" Blake asked, surprised.
"Yeah… Eli said it wasn't a good idea for me to keep doing that…" Serefina said, smiling sheepishly. "Plus, that outfit was kind of… revealing."
"That's for sure," Blake said, making a mental note to later buy copies of the pictures Dakota had taken of Serefina and Cynthia.
"Still, it's good that you're joining," Serefina said, smiling. "Eli refused most of the applicants who wanted to join…"
Yeah, cause it was a bunch of perverted guys… Blake thought. "So how many members do you have?"
"With you, Cynthia, and Nick… we have eight."
"Eight?" Blake asked, surprised.
"Yeah, I know…" Serefina said, looking down, sighing. "Still, there's enough to do with just eight of us! …Although, one of our members doesn't come to meetings… And our president doesn't come that often either…"
Meanwhile, Reiner was part of a large group of people who had been led to two large stadiums set up in the woods behind the school. Standing in front of the stadiums were Elle, as well as a boy Reiner didn't recognize.
Gerard, who had led the group, stepped up to them. He turned with a flourish, pushing his glasses up.
"Now then, all of you… You all have applied to be members of the Gym Leader Training Club. As you may know, many of the students who are members of this club eventually become members of the Eight Gym Leaders of the school. However, we can't just let anyone join. Because of that, there is a certain number of freshmen who can enter each year."
Gerard coughed, and then moved his hand to reveal a smirk.
"Two. Out of the number of you here, no more than two of you will have the opportunity to join this club."
Everyone gasped out in shock.
"Allow me to explain the rules for this application test."
Gerard held his arm out, and feathers rustled overhead. An Archen landed on his arm, a sheet of paper in its mouth.
An Archen? And it can fly? Reiner asked himself in shock. Archen were ancient pokemon revived from fossils, and were known among experts as flying types that could not fly. For an Archen to be able to do so… What sort of training must it have had?
Gerard took the sheet of paper from the bird pokemon.
"Now then, we will divide you into two brackets. When I say your name, go to the stadium I point to."
After he finished reading off the names, the students were divided into two groups.
"Now, time to explain the rules. You see, each of you will face off against another trainer, chosen at random by a lottery. The rules are simple, you can each use your full party of pokemon. When all of your pokemon have fainted, you are disqualified. If you pass, you will take another number, and this will continue until all but one person in each block has been eliminated. Furthermore, no use of items or anything of the sort between fights."
Reiner went slightly pale. With how is was described, there would be no healing between battles.
"How well have you trained up your pokemon individually? How much endurance do they have? As a gym leader, you will be facing waves of trainers. If your pokemon aren't resilient enough for that, then we have no use for you."
"So the two trainers who pass the test get to enter the club?" Someone from the bracket Reiner wasn't in asked.
Gerard's lips curled into another smirk.
"Of course not. Being able to defeat groups of trainers of your level wouldn't mean a thing if you all are weak. No, the two trainers who pass the test, they will face one of our members in battle. Blue Block will face off against Elle, our vice president, while Red Block will face off against Austin, the strongest sophomore in our club."
"What?!" Blue Block shouted. "That's not fair!"
"Why not?" Gerard asked. "Gabrielle and Austin will each use one pokemon, against however many of your pokemon are still standing. If you can prove your strength against either of them, we will have no trouble admitting you into the club. Don't worry, while Austin might not be one of the Eight Leaders yet, his pokemon will be strong enough to match up with Elle's."
Can I do this? Reiner asked himself, staring at Austin, the student he would face if he could win. He was tall and slender, with brown hair down to his collar. He wore brown glasses, and cold green eyes. His face was as expressionless as Elle's. From what I heard, Cynthia, Julia, and Blake couldn't lay a hand on her. Not only that, she's one of the Eight Leaders… like that woman, Alcea… and this guy is as strong as her?
"Now, come and draw lots, all of you," Gerard said.
Everyone began drawing lots and getting paired up. There were only 18 people in Reiner's block, so things would go pretty fast. His number was "3".
Pretty quickly, things started to go wrong for everyone. A lot of trainers lost most of their pokemon in their first round, and Reiner was no exception, his Zangoose and Treecko both fainting, while his Anorith was exhausted. However, there were also trainers who had lost all but one of their pokemon due to fighting strong opponents.
This really does come down to luck of the draw… Reiner thought, frowning.
It seems they're starting to realize the hidden challenge of this test… Gerard thought to himself, smirking. It isn't just about whose pokemon have more endurance… Some people may be paired up with trainers who are much weaker than they are, and can clear through an entire team with barely any losses… Or two trainers could be in a different league from everyone else but end of fighting, bringing the victor down to one injured pokemon and all but guaranteeing his lost next round… A trainer could have the perfect counter to a single team, even if he is weaker… In the end, it will come down to who has the most luck…
For Reiner's block, in the end, only 8 people managed to make it, one pair having a double knockout.
Reiner's next opponent was very strong, but only had two pokemon left to work with, and both were very weak. Reiner used the two of his pokemon he hadn't yet used, his Electrike and his Metang, and managed to pull out a win without any more losses.
The next opponent was ridiculously easy, having only a single pokemon left that was badly poisoned. Invictus skillfully dispatched the flying type, and Reiner made it to the final round for his block.
"I've only got one pokemon left…" the girl said, frowning. "But I won't give up! I've come too far!"
Her one pokemon left was a Grotle. It was slightly worn down, but still stood strong.
"Invictus, go!" Reiner said, tossing out a pokeball, his Metang emerging. It was a little worn down, but still very strong and ready to fight.
"Seed! Use earth power!" the girl shouted. The Grotle stamped its front legs on the ground, pillars of magma shooting out around Invictus.
"Invictus, use double team!" Reiner ordered. Several copies of Invictus appeared, getting struck by the pillars. Invictus then shot forward like a bullet, hitting the Grotle with a barrage of bullet punches.
"Seed, use crunch!"
Seed bit down on Invictus' arm, the steel pokemon crying out in pain. Invictus swung its arm, sending the Grotle into the air, as energy surged through its body. The energy coated Invictus in an aura of psychic power, and the psychic type flew towards the Grotle.
Invictus hit Seed head on with a zen headbutt, managing to knock the pokemon out.
"No!" the girl cried, returning Seed to its pokeball. She left the stadium in tears, Reiner feeling a twinge of guilt in his heart. He turned his head to see the other battle, where Will was fighting against a trainer's Lairon. Will's pokemon was a Lapras, whose recovery moves had kept Will afloat through most of his battles.
"Ness, use surf," Will ordered. The Lapras raised her head, summoning a tidal wave of water, that crashed down on the steel type and knocked it out.
"Return…" the dejected trainer said, returning his Lairon to its pokeball.
"Well done," Gerard said, clapping. "Both of you showed marvelous effort. However, it's not over yet."
"No…" Will said, frowning, glaring at Elle. Elle slowly closed the book she was reading and stood up, frowning. She walked up onto the stadium and looked at Will.
"I'm ready for my rematch," Will said, frowning.
"…Alright."
"And you are my opponent."
Reiner turned his head to see Austin standing in the stadium, frowning.
Reiner was a little worried. None of his pokemon were in perfect condition, he was just lucky he'd only lost two of them.
"Invictus, you up for it?" Reiner asked. The Metang nodded its body up and down to confirm it was.
"Froslass, go."
"Whisper, go."
The two trainers released the one pokemon they would be using for the round.
Reiner became more than a little worried.
The pokemon was a Chandelure, a pokemon the shape of… well, a chandelier. However, it was also a fire/ghost type.
Not a Metang's strongest matchup.
"Heatwave," Austin ordered. The Chandelure fired a wave of hot air at the Metang.
Invictus disappeared, reappearing behind Whisper and preparing a bullet punch.
A blast of flames erupted from the side of the Chandelure, pushing it out of the way of the attack. Whisper spun around and fired a shadow ball, hitting Invictus head on, knocking it backwards and nearly causing it to faint.
"I watched your pokemon's movements," Austin declared. "It's fast, but my Whisper is still faster."
"Well, how about this?" Reiner asked. Invictus began glowing with blue light, as Whisper did the same. It was frozen in place by the psychic attack, unable to move. Invictus increased the power of the psychic, injuring the Chandelure a little, but not doing any major damage.
Dark energy swirled around Invictus' arm, and it struck Whisper head on with a pursuit attack. However, as it did so, fire began swirling around the ghost type.
"Flame burst," Austin ordered. Flames shot out from around the Chandelure, badly burning Invictus. Invictus collapsed, unconscious.
"Return," Reiner said, returning Invictus to its pokeball. "Okay then… Orion, go!"
Reiner's Electrike emerged, growling at the Chandelure.
"Flamethrower," Austin ordered. Whisper fired a blast of flames from his body, headed straight for the electric type.
"Orion, use light screen!"
The Electrike opened his mouth, a barrier of light appearing in front of him, protecting him from most of the effects of the flames.
"Elec!"
Electricity crackled around Orion, and he released the electricity into a wave around the light screen, hitting the Chandelure.
With Whisper paralyzed, the flames dispersed, and Orion charged around the light screen, covering his body with electricity.
"Not so fast now, are you?" Reiner asked.
"Flamethrower," Austin responed. Whisper fired another blast of flames at Orion, who leapt right into the center of it.
"Electrike!" Orion shouted angrily, glaring through the flames at the Chandelure. He hit Whisper head on, electrocuting him, Whisper falling to the ground.
Orion, however, couldn't withstand the power of the flames, and hit the ground as well, fainting. Even worse, Whisper, injured, slowly floated back up.
"One left…" Reiner said, frowning.
"Scipio, go!" Reiner tossed out his Anorith, injured and exhausted, but still ready to fight. The two pokemon were weakened, but neither one would give in.
"Amusing…" Gerard said, smiling. "What will happen next, I wonder…?"
"Heatwave," Austin ordered. Heat shot out from the Chandelure, but before it could hit the weakened Scipio, he was protected by a barrier of light.
"Awesome, Orion's light screen is still active," Reiner said, grinning. "Now Scipio, use rock polish."
"Anorith!"
Light began shining around the Anorith's body, as his speed increased. As soon as the heat wave attack let up, Scipio scurried towards the Chandelure.
"Your Anorith is fast, but it won't be enough," Austin said. "It can't take another hit."
"Chan!" Whisper fired a shadow ball at the rock type.
"Anorith!" Scipio shouted, refusing to give in. A barrier of green energy appeared in front of it, the shadow ball hitting it head on, and shattering against it.
"Nice use of protect, Scipio!" Reiner said.
"Anorith!" Scipio said, nodding. The protect disappeared, and Scipio immediately took action. Rocks of energy fired at the Chandelure, who, while paralyzed, still managed to avoid them. However, Whisper was not nearly fast enough to avoid the boosted Anorith charging for it.
"Smack down!" Reiner ordered. Scipio jumped up, his claw charging with energy. Scipio hit Whisper in the torso, sending him crashing into the ground. The fire type twitched, before finally losing consciousness.
"…A pity." Austin said, frowning. "Still, it was a good match. Don't worry, I will take what I learned today, and prepare myself for my next battle with you."
Austin returned Whisper to his pokeball, and off the stadium.
Reiner, exhausted, fell to his knees.
"Wow, that was way too much work…" Reiner sighed.
"An!" Scipio scurried up to him, waving his pincers in the way he did when he was excited.
"You have a lot more energy than me, buddy."
It had been a long day, and the sun was starting to set. Everyone who had lost had already returned to their dorms, and Reiner was exhausted.
"It was a good match."
Reiner turned his head to see Gerard walk up to him.
"Really?"
"Indeed," Gerard said, nodding. "Perhaps you didn't have the best matchup, but you still managed to pull through. Not one of your pokemon was defeated without purpose. It would be an honor to have you join out club."
Gerard knelt next to Scipio, and placed his hand on the rock type's head.
"Your Anorith… He's quite full of energy."
"Really?" Reiner asked, surprised.
"Yes," Gerard said, nodding, pushing his glasses up his face. "In fact… I wouldn't be surprised if it would evolve soon."
"Huh…" Reiner turned to look at the excited pokemon beside him, who did seem to be shivering with energy.
"Gerard."
Elle's icy voice caught Reiner's attention.
"We're done here."
When Will fought Elle, he had four pokemon left. By the end of it, the only pokemon still capable of fighting was his Umbreon, who was nearly out of energy.
"Well, not bad, not bad…" Gerard said, smiling. "It seems that we'll have two new members joining. This year… should be quite an enjoyment."
Indeed, Gerard, indeed.