Here's another chapter, sorry for the delay. I was working on a lot of other stuff.
Duskzilla: Well, they are idiots.
Wildlian: Well, he is smart, so yeah.
Darkhammer: Exactly, they're idiots.
Daozang: Yeah, Blake knew exactly when the time to leave was.
Tambry96bj: Don't worry, Kitty will get more confidence, for better or for worse. Kanone and Casey are around 25.
Jay Hayden: Hey, welcome back.
Guest: Thanks!
Anonymous: Sorry, not accepting OCs right now.
Guest 2: Sorry, not accepting OCs right now.
GrumpyDragon: Thanks!
Pokemon Academy: Beginning of Beginnings
Chapter 23
The sun was setting over Viridian Forest, and the wild pokemon were abundant.
"Charizard, use flamethrower!" a trainer ordered his Charizard to unleash a blast of flames, hitting a wild Pidgeotto, badly burning it. The trainer tossed out a pokeball, capturing the flying type.
"Awesome! Way to go, Charizard!" the trainer said, patting his large dragon-like pokemon on the head.
Rustling grass was heard deeper in the forest. The trainer slowly moved towards the noise, being careful not to startle the pokemon.
Suddenly, a large, dark shadow jumped out from the brush.
"Whoa, what kind of pokemon is that?" the trainer asked, shocked. "I've never seen it before…!"
The trainer's Charizard opened its mouth, releasing a blast of flames at the shadowed pokemon.
The pokemon's jaws ripped open, firing a blast of flames far larger than the Charizard's. Its flames overwhelmed the fire type, pushing it backward.
"What-?" the trainer gasped.
Large red wings spread open, and the pokemon took to the sky. It shot towards the trainer and pokemon, long claws extended, electricity crackling through them. It struck the fire/flying type in the chest, the Charizard opening its mouth in a gasp, collapsing to the ground.
The black pokemon's maw opened wide, and it let out a fearsome howl, lunging at the trainer.
"Blake, BLAKE!" Cynthia exclaimed, knocking on his door rapidly. The minute Blake opened the door, Cynthia grabbed him by the shoulder and pulled him inside.
"What?" Blake asked, yawning.
"Look at this!" Cynthia exclaimed, pointing to her television set. Sango and Julia were already watching, tense expressions on their faces.
"-the strange pokemon was described by trainers as being something they'd never seen before, at least not in the Kanto region," the reporter declared. "Half a dozen trainers and their pokemon have already been hospitalized, and fortunately there have been no deaths. However, the Viridian City and Pewter City gym leaders have declared it too dangerous to travel through the Viridian Forest until further notice. We have no idea if the pokemon is likely to migrate from its current location, or where it came from originally. We've contacted the lead authority on pokemon, Professor Oak, but he has been unable to identify the pokemon based on descriptions."
A picture of a blackened shadow appeared on the screen beside the reporter. The figure had large wings and a slender, bipedal frame, with wicked claws and a long mouth, with glowing yellow eyes.
"This picture has been made by compiling witness reports on the strange pokemon. However, witness have been unable to agree on several issues, and how representative this picture may be is up for debate. However, if anyone has any information about this species of pokemon, has seen a pokemon resembling this before, or encounters one like it in the future, please call the station at XXX-XXXX. Once we learn what pokemon this is, we'll be able to figure out how to restrain it. The only question left remaining is who IS that pokemon? Again, if you have any information, call-"
"Whoa…" Blake said, shocked.
"A wild pokemon that actively attacks trainers?" Cynthia said, frowning.
"Some of the trainers had very powerful pokemon," Julia said, frowning. "What kind of wild pokemon is strong enough to do that?"
"This is really bad," Sango said. "It looks like the Pokemon Rangers will have to step in."
"Yeah, this seems rather dangerous…" Cynthia said, frowning. "But someone has to step in to do something."
"I'm just glad we're nowhere near Viridian Forest," Julia said.
"Great…" Sango sighed, looking up from her phone. "I just got a message from the sarge, it turns out that the ranger cadets have to attend an emergency seminar on wild pokemon defenses. I gotta go."
Sango rushed out, everyone else staring warily at the television.
"So Blake, what are you going to do about only having 5 pokemon?" Cynthia asked. She and Blake were walking to class. "Did Serefina help you catch a new one?"
"No, she had something to do after classes were over," Blake said, shaking his head. "We rescheduled to meet up this afternoon."
"Oh, awesome!" Cynthia said, her eyes twinkling. "I can't wait! What pokemon are you going to catch? Any ideas? What about typing?"
Cynthia listed off half a dozen questions in a storm, Blake rubbing his head.
"I'll ask Serefina for help," Blake decided. "Who knows what kind."
"Maybe we should look at what types you currently have, and figure out what pokemon type you need to complete your team."
"Well, I do need a fire type, but there aren't a lot of those in the wild, and I don't think there are any wild ones on campus," Blake sighed.
"Oogh, yeah, I don't really use fire types either, because my Ruby is afraid of them," Cynthia said, nodding. "Maybe Serefina knows where to catch one."
"Yeah, I hope," Blake said, nodding.
"Well, I want to meet up with you guys," Cynthia said, nodding. "I bet I'll be able to help. Maybe I'll find a new pokemon myself!"
"Huh? But don't you already have a full team?"
"Yeah, but a new pokemon couldn't hurt. I need a little more offensive power, you know? Tristan just isn't enough in this tough environment."
"I guess."
"Oh, I can't wait!" Cynthia cheered.
After class, Blake and Cynthia met up with Serefina out on the Floette Fields.
"Okay, so sorry for having to cancel yesterday!" Serefina said, clasping her hands together apologetically.
"No, it's fine," Blake said, shaking his head. "as long as we can find one today, okay?"
"Yeah, no problem!" Serefina said, nodding. "Any ideas on what kind of pokemon you're looking for?"
"I was thinking about getting a fire type," Blake mused, "but I also thought that an electric type would be good, too."
"Well, unfortunately I don't think we have that many good fire types to catch, but there are a few," Serefina said, nodding. "Still, there are some electric types to catch as well."
Serefina clapped her hands.
"Okay, come with me!"
Serefina led Blake and Cynthia through the field, and they arrived at the plateau near the base of the large mountain just outside campus.
"We aren't going to have to climb that thing, are we?" Cynthia asked, already feeling sore.
"No, don't worry," Serefina said, laughing. "Look, over there."
She pointed at a small crack in the base, about the size for a person to slip through.
"The mountain has a strange electrical current in it, which draws electric pokemon. A lot of them enjoy spending time in the caves inside of it."
"Oh, cool!" Cynthia said, smiling. "Now we just have to get in there, huh?"
"Yeah, good luck," Serefina said, smiling.
"…You're not coming?"
"…" Serefina looked down.
"…I can't really fit."
"…" Cynthia and Blake both fought the urge to say something, simply nodding.
"Okay, let's go!" Cynthia ran over and began to move into the crack, Blake following after her.
"…Wow, Serefina wasn't kidding, this space is tight," Cynthia said. "Not only that, I can't even see where I'm going…"
Finally, the crevice opened up, and the two fell out into a larger cavern. The cavern was lit by several strange rocks that seemed to be crackling with electricity, the smooth walls reflecting it.
"Cool…" Cynthia said, excitement brimming in her voice. "Damn it, this place is so cool!"
Blake looked around, surprised at how bright the cavern was. There was something funny in the air as well, almost like…
"Oh!" Cynthia jumped back, Blake turning towards her.
"These rocks, they… ow!" Cynthia shook her hand, her hair standing on end.
"It must be the current Serefina was talking about," Blake said. "It's like static electricity."
"Yeah, I guess," Cynthia said, nodding. An evil smile crept onto her face as she reached towards Blake.
"Hey, back off!"
"Oh, come on, it doesn't hurt that much!"
Cynthia ran after Blake and grabbed his arm, Blake gasping in shock.
"Can you be serious for once?" Blake asked, shaking his arm.
"Come on, it's fun!" Cynthia giggled. "Don't pretend it isn't!"
"Yeah, whatever you say," Blake said, nodding. He began rubbing his hands together.
"Hey, come on, Blake, it's all for fun! I got shocked, you got shocked, we're good, right?"
"Yeah, we're good," Blake said, grabbing her arm.
"Gyaah! Jerk!"
The two exchanged shocks for a few minutes before facing off against each other, glaring, rubbing their hands fiercely.
"Wait, why did we come here again?" Cynthia asked, confused.
"To catch electric pokemon."
"Yeah, let's get back to that, shall we?"
"Sure."
"Okay then…" Cynthia began looking around for electric types, but none were seen.
"See anything?" Blake asked, placing his hand on the nape of her neck.
Cynthia cried out in pain, falling to the ground.
"I thought we were good!"
"We're good now."
"The hell we-"
"Wait, look."
Blake pointed at movement in the corner of the cave.
"Oh, like I'm falling for THAT."
"I'm serious, shut it."
Cynthia stood up, pushing past Blake, looking around the cave. Something brushed her leg, sending a small shock up it.
"Blake, I told you, cut it-"
Cynthia whirled around, only to see Blake a few feet away, and something still on her leg.
She looked down, a furry yellow pokemon latched onto her, blue eyes staring up at her.
Cynthia screamed and kicked the pokemon off, the electric type landing on the ground.
"Awesome, thanks Cynthia!" Blake tossed out a pokeball, which Tara emerged from.
"Tara, vine whip!"
A vine of grass shot out from Tara's wrist, swinging at the electric type.
The yellow pokemon opened its pincers, spitting a web at Tara, covering her.
"A bug type?" Blake asked, shocked. The web, still attached to the pokemon by a thin string, surging electricity through the thread and electrocuting Tara through the webbing.
"Tara, leaf blade!"
Tara sliced through the webs with blades of grass, and charged at the spider pokemon. She held her hands up and created a tornado in front of her, sending it forwards.
The spider pokemon was launched into the air, holding its pincers up, creating a sphere of electricity in front of it.
The electric ball shot towards Tara, who jumped out of the way, swinging her vine and hitting the spider in the side, knocking it into the wall.
The bug type spit more webbing at Tara, tripping her up, covering her in a cocoon of threads. The webs were then electrocuted, shocking Tara.
Tara broke out of the webs, trembling, and fell to the ground.
Blake returned Tara to her pokeball, and sent out Rogen.
The electric pokemon skittered around the rock type, and fired an electrified web at him.
Rogen pressed his claws on the ground, stones jutting out around him and shredding the webs.
Spikes of rock shot from the ground towards the spider, who dodged around it.
Rogen held his pincers up, creating a large stone, flinging it at the electric type. The spider jumped out of the way, but the ground around it opened up, stones trapping it in place.
Blake tossed out a pokeball, capturing the spider pokemon.
"Awesome!" Cynthia cheered, Blake picking up the pokeball.
"Okay, good," Blake said, returning Rogen to his pokeball as well. "We should probably get going."
"Really?" Cynthia sighed in disappointment. "But this place is so cool! Can't we stay for a little longer?"
"Why?" Blake asked.
"Well, a boy and girl alone in a cave, cut off from the rest of the world?" Cynthia said playfully, slightly lifting the hem of her skirt. "Anything could happen…"
"…Nope."
"Oh, you're no fun."
Blake and Cynthia squeezed out of the cavern entrance, the sun was setting.
"Wow, you guys were in there a while!" Serefina said, surprised. She noticed their messy hair.
"Oh, you guys weren't doing anything naughty, were you?" Serefina asked, smirking.
"Not for lack of trying," Cynthia sighed.
"Oh, shut up," Blake said, shaking his head, Cynthia nudging him in the side, grinning.
"So did you catch one?"
"Yup," Blake said, releasing the spider pokemon.
"Oh, a Joltik!" Serefina said, smiling.
"Yup, he's pretty energetic," Blake said, nodding. The Joltik looked up at him, nuzzling against his leg. Blake returned it to the pokeball.
"So, what about you?" Serefina asked, turning to Cynthia. "You catch anything?"
"No, not yet," Cynthia said, shaking her head. "And it's getting pretty late. Maybe tomorrow."
"Sure," Serefina said, nodding.
Serefina headed back to her dorm, Cynthia and Blake heading off as well.
"Still enough time left to get dinner, what do you say?" Cynthia asked.
"Sure, sounds good," Blake said, nodding.
The two headed out to the Snorlax Commons and got some dinner, sitting out on the veranda.
"Ah, how nice," Cynthia said, staring out at the sunset. "Kinda makes it seem like a date, huh?"
"…Seriously?" Blake asked.
"Yeah, you know, the atmosphere, it's late, two close people sharing a nice meal?"
"So, would you like to consider this a date, then?"
"Are you asking me out? On a REAL date?"
"I don't know, you're the one who's always acting so direct, aren't you?"
"Oh, what a pity," Cynthia said, shaking her head. "You see, actually-"
"Hey, what's up, guys?" Cynthia and Blake turned their heads, noticing Sango walk up to them.
"Oh, Sango," Cynthia said. "What's up?"
"Just came for a late meal," Sango said, sitting next to them, placing her tray on the table. "So, what were you guys talking about?"
"Cynthia was just asking me out on a date, weren't you?"
Sango turned to Cynthia in shock, Cynthia shaking her head.
"You know, Sango, you really know how to ruin a mood."
"Oh. Sorry."
"No, no, it's fine," Cynthia sighed. "But you did ruin a perfectly good sunset, you know that? I could have had Blake eating out of my hand."
"I would have turned you down anyway."
"No you wouldn't."
"Sure I would. I don't have time for dating right now, I have stuff to do."
"Well I didn't want to ask you out anyway."
"I guess that works out great then, huh?"
"Yeah, sure."
The two resumed eating their food in silence, Sango regretting showing up when she did.
"Well, joke's on you, Blake, I'll just go out with Sango instead."
"Um, wait, I don't like girls…"
"Well, maybe I'll ask Sango out instead."
"Wait, seriously?" Sango and Cynthia looked at Blake in shock.
"You just said you didn't have time for dating!" Cynthia said, frowning.
"Um… Blake, I… I don't think…" Sango desperately searched for words, before realizing that Blake wasn't actually serious.
"Well, maybe you're just a bigger hassle to date."
"Oh, is that so?"
"Yeah, you're a pain in the ass sometimes."
"Well, fine. Date Sango all you want, I don't really care."
"Well, I'm not that interested in her to be honest, it was just a joke, relax."
"Thanks Blake. That really makes me feel good," Sango interjected.
"What, it's not like you were interested, right?"
"…No…"
"Blake I didn't know you were so stupid," Cynthia giggled.
"What?"
"Sango clearly has the hots for you, don't you realize that."
"No, I don't," Sango said, glaring at Cynthia.
"Yeah, well, I-" Cynthia looked out over the veranda, pausing.
"What?" Blake asked.
"Look at the sky…" Cynthia said, staring out at the starry sky.
"So beautiful…" Sango said, smiling.
"…" Blake looked at the sky, nodding.
"This feels pretty good," Sango said. "Friends hanging out together like this?"
"Yeah, I know what you mean," Cynthia said, nodding. "Friends with benefits hanging out together."
Sango and Blake slapped her across the head in unison, sighing.
The three continued talking late into the night, before returning to the dorm.
So, nice to see friends getting along so well.