Blake got angry! He was about ready to attack Olivia! But thankfully, her explanation has calmed him down a little. This is a really tense situation, and it makes sense he's not sure what to do. What's going to happen now? Will he ever find out the truth? And what exactly has Olivia been up to, in the meantime? I suppose we'll have to find out from her!

KedharS: Blake can get mad at the drop of a hat, but thankfully he can be calmed down by tomboys. I think that's something we can all relate to.

Hyphenman: He's been pretty mad before, to be fair. But yeah, this was definitely one of his worse outbursts.

Pokemon Academy: Beginning of Beginnings

Chapter 1273

"What are you talking about?" Blake asked, narrowing his eyes suspiciously.

"You may not know this, but early in April we have something called the Caretaker Contest at this school," Olivia explained. "We had to postpone it this year, however, due to the junior/senior trip." She made a sympathetic face. "Normally, it's not supposed to be as long as it was scheduled, you see. The Caretaker Contest is meant to take place right after spring break ends."

"…Okay…" Blake said, still not sure where she was going with this.

Olivia continued, "But since we couldn't hold it this year, and the trip got cancelled prematurely due to everything that happened, well… I figured that there's a lot of gap time between events now, you see," she explained.

"I guess that's right," Blake mumbled. He glanced at Sango. She didn't seem surprised by any of this, so he figured that she was involved somehow. Personally, though, he couldn't care less about some contest for students in the Caretaker Course, he was more concerned about his sister.

"And so I figured, 'why is the Phantom the only member of the Daevas who gets to hold his own event?' you see," Olivia smiled. "That's what I've been doing, practically since I got back. I've been discussing with the faculty the possibility of sponsoring an event myself."

"A caretaker event, I'm guessing?" Blake asked, sensing a general theme to this conversation. "Sorry, but I'm not interested."

Olivia narrowed her eyes in an amused smile, like she was still hiding something from him. "Something along those lines… think about it for a second, would you, Blake? Am I the type of girl who would hold an event like this without standing to gain anything?"

Blake thought about it for a second, and shook his head. "I suppose not," he admitted. "So what's your point?"

"It's not going to be the usual Caretaker Contest, where students are graded on how well they take care of their pokemon," Olivia smiled, touching her finger to her chin. "No, this contest… is going to be a simulated Pokeathlon event."

Blake gasped, and immediately the pieces fell into place. "So wait, you're suggesting…"

"That's right," Olivia nodded. "I told you guys a few days ago that I was working on a strategy to bring back Aya's memories. I've been formulating this idea since I realized that Aya's memories were flashing back to her when she was in familiar environments. Just think about it! What could be more familiar than an event like this, hmm? Getting her to compete in an actual Pokeathlon competition, it's the perfect trigger to bring her back to her old self!"

"That's what Olivia wanted me for," Sango explained.

Blake looked at her in confusion.

"I'm a member of the Appeals Course," Olivia reminded him. "It's not exactly as though I have clout with students in the Caretaker Course. I needed to coordinate the event with people who do, or else it wouldn't work. And of course, going to Aya would be futile. This is for her benefit, after all, I can't just rope her into setting it up with me, it must come as a surprise."

Blake still had no idea what she was talking about. Sango had nothing to do with the Caretaker Course, she was aiming to be a ranger. He stared at her and she blushed, averting her eyes.

"She, uh… she needed me to be a go-between for her and Marion," Sango admitted, feeling embarrassed that the Empress was basically using her as a messenger.

"I have no intention of hosting that fishing freak in my dorm," Olivia said simply, taking out her phone and typing something. "Sango will be coordinating on my behalf."

Sango looked a little sulky and Blake couldn't exactly blame her.

"Are you sure this is going to work?" Blake asked. "I mean, Ayame's memories are mostly intact, aren't they? The only thing she can't remember is me. I don't think an event like this will have any benefit for her."

"It will if you're in the event," Olivia shot back. "Think about it. You'll be interacting with Aya in a controlled, competitive environment where she feels like she has the upper hand. It's the perfect thing to relax her and open up her mind to the possibility of dating you again. A situation like this would allow you to connect with her on her own terms, and get her involved with you. Think about it, Blake, isn't that an excellent opportunity?"

Blake could see the possibility. But he still wasn't sure.

"You want me to compete? But I've never participated in anything like this, my pokemon aren't exactly ready to join a Pokeathlon," he reminded her.

"Most people's won't be," Olivia admitted. "But it won't be something as complex as a Pokeathlon. We'll be developing our own events, it will be more like a school-wide sports day, or something along those lines."

She muttered under her breath, "that old man Magnus is rather litigious, after all, we can't connect our event to that…"

Blake turned to Sango for clarification and she just shrugged.

"I have a meeting with Professor Reese in about an hour," Olivia said, explaining why she was so dressed up for something this early in the morning. "It's mainly just logistical stuff. Leanne's going to be helping me put it together, you see."

Blake nodded. Leanne Reese was probably the best professor to go through. "I'm surprised you got permission so easily," he said.

Olivia smirked. "That was the easy part. I'm sponsoring the event, after all, so it won't affect the school's coffers in the slightest. And a fun event like this where the students can enjoy themselves without worry is the perfect distraction from the nightmare that was the Orre Region trip. Plus, with all the students coming back from their gym leader practicum, it may end up being rather crowded."

"Oh, that's right!" Blake remembered. The sophomores who'd been studying with gym leaders were due to come back in a few days.

"The announcement for the event will be this afternoon," Olivia informed him. "And the games themselves will take place five days after that, hopefully giving the students enough time to practice. We want to get this done fast, after all."

Blake nodded, understanding the logic in that. But still…

"I'm not sure if I'm ready," he admitted. "At my current level…"

"Just do your best," Olivia smiled. "No one is telling you that you need to beat Aya or anything like that. I hope that just competing with her will produce the desired result."

She narrowed her eyes.

"But I think you'll find that… should things go as planned… and should you be fortuitous… you may end up learning everything that happened with your sister in Agate Village."

Sango gasped and Blake tensed. He scowled.

"You'd really hold that over my head, huh?" He frowned.

Olivia shrugged. "I am here for a specific purpose," she calmly replied. "I desire to help Aya using whatever means I can. If getting your help this way can accomplish that, then I'm happy to do so, don't you think that's for the best?"

Plus, she silently added, it will not be me who will tell you.

Blake didn't think it was the right thing to do, but at the same time, he could understand the logic she was working with. He was still scowling.

"Fine, then," he agreed. "I'm expecting to get an announcement about the event soon, then."

"Brilliant," Olivia clapped her hands. "Then if you wouldn't mind leaving, I have much to prepare for, does that sound good?"

Blake nodded, begrudgingly, turned, and left Olivia to her own devices. Sango followed after him, feeling a little uneasy herself. She could sense the frustration coming off of Blake, and she didn't know whether or not she should reach out a hand to him.

By the time they left the Empress's dormitory, the silence between the two of them had grown intolerable.

Sango glanced at Silver. She really wanted to say something, but she didn't know if she could. Her Castform stared worriedly back at her.

Maybe I'd just make things worse… she imagined. Her hand was still hot from where she'd slapped him, and she could see his cheek reddening.

"Sango," Blake said, resolving the problem instantly. He turned to her and frowned. Sango winced.

"Y-Yeah?" She asked warily.

"Thanks for calming me down back there," Blake smiled. "I really needed someone to talk some sense into me. I wasn't thinking clearly."

Sango sighed in relief. So Blake wasn't upset with her! Thank God. She didn't know what she'd do if Blake was going to get mad.

"Blake-"

"I'm going to need your help with this," he said. "I'm not used to training my pokemon or anything like that, and it seems that's something you're experienced with. If you'd like, I could really use your help in order to-"

"Blake Harker."

Blake and Sango turned in surprise to see Alcea. She had a solemn expression on her face.

"Alcea?" Sango asked, shocked that the Grass type trainer would come this far, to the Empress's dormitory, of all places. The two of them loathed each other, after all.

"Alcea, what can I do for you?" Blake asked. He seemed ambivalent, which was good. Sango feared that he might get angry with her due to the fact that she was also concealing things about his sister from them.

"I came to invite you to tea," Alcea said, and the look in her eyes was insistent. This wasn't some invitation like the ones Kate had delivered in the past. (Although Kate wasn't around to do that anyway right now)

Blake swallowed. "Okay, sure," he nodded.

"Can…" Sango swallowed as well, just as uneasy. "Can I come, too?" She asked hopefully. This wasn't any of her business, but if Blake got upset again, then she wanted to be there in order to calm him down.

Alcea looked surprised at the suggestion, but she acquiesced with a nod. "Oui," she agreed, turning away and heading for the rose garden. "Come."

Blake and Sango followed after her towards the territory of the Gardening Club. When they got to the rose garden, Blake's blood went cold.

Kanone Harker was sitting in the gazebo sipping tea with a smile on his face. Rin stood at his side, cold as always.

"Hello, little brother," Kanone said, setting the tea cup down. "I think we have quite a bit to talk about, don't you?"

Blake glared at his brother. He felt exactly the same.

"How brazen," Blake growled. "You, coming here, using Alcea of all people as your messenger? That's rich, Kanone."

"I didn't want to make a big fuss out of things," Kanone replied. "Not until we had a chance to have a proper discussion. Don't you agree that's important, Blake?"

"Sure, I can understand that," Blake nodded. He hadn't shifted away from his glare, though. "In fact, I'd say you owe me an explanation."

Sango was confused. "How did you get here so quickly?" She blurted out. "I mean, Blake just realized what had happened a little while ago…"

She glanced between Kanone and Alcea, her voice trailing off as she got nervous.

"Well, that's simple," Kanone replied. "Rin and I already came here, actually. We were planning on having this discussion with you today. There were just a few issues to deal with in Orre, so I couldn't come immediately."

He glanced at Alcea and sighed. "Unfortunately, I was about a day too late, it seems."

"Olivia texted me," Alcea explained. "While you were having your discussion, is it? So I came to retrieve you."

"You and Olivia text?" Blake asked, raising his eyebrow in surprise. Sango was just as shocked. She thought the two girls despised each other.

"Is that a problem?" Alcea asked, crossing her arms and narrowing her eyes into a glare. "Oui, Olivia and I text."

Both first-years felt an intimidating wave roll over them, and they glanced at each other.

"That's fine with me," Blake mumbled.

"Yeah, texting is how the teens interact these days," Sango swallowed, nodding.

"While this is all fine and good," Kanone said, not amused by what was going on, "I thought that it would be important to discuss things with you, Blake. I owe you that much."

"You owe me a lot more than that," Blake growled. "You couldn't give me a phone call, tell me what's up? You just had everyone try to conceal your little secrets?"

Alcea winced.

"The school put pressure on them," Kanone defended Alcea and the others. "…But I think you realize who put pressure on the school, don't you?"

Sango was caught off-guard by that statement, but Blake wasn't.

"Dad, right?" He muttered, rolling his eyes. "Of fucking course. It would be just awful if information about Gwen got out into the world. It could affect the company. That's why he locked her away in the first place, after all."

"You don't know what you're talking about," Kanone said, narrowing his eyes. "There's a whole lot about our family you're still in the dark about. Dad put Gwen away because he cared about her, because he was worried about her."

Blake scowled. "Well, he's got a funny way of showing it. And I could say the same about you, big brother. You wanted me to learn the truth about what happened with Gwen from you, but what, you couldn't come until almost a week later?"

"It was necessary," Kanone said through gritted teeth. "And I don't remember saying I was going to tell you, either."

Blake froze. "…What?!" He finally exclaimed. "Why the hell not?!"

Alcea also seemed shocked by this revelation. "Kanone, this is NOT what we agreed to!" She exclaimed. "You promised that-"

"Stop talking," Kanone said, turning his cold eyes towards Alcea. Then, for the first time Blake and Sango had ever seen, Alcea was cowed. She tensed and backed down, overwhelmed by Kanone's intimidating glare.

Kanone then turned back to Blake. There was no trace of brotherly love in his expression, he was completely serious.

"The reason I'm wary of telling you the truth about what happened in Agate Village is because, frankly, I'm not sure if you deserve it," Kanone coldly replied. "You're an excellent trainer, Blake, but if you must know… I lost."

Blake took a second to process that.

"You… lost?" The idea of his brother losing a pokemon battle was a foreign concept to him.

"To be clear, I battled with Gwen in a one on one fight," Kanone clarified. "Sammy went up against her Gallade, Lancelot. I believe you're familiar with him? He's the evolution of the Ralts that your Scizor saved all those years ago."

"I'm familiar," Blake scowled.

"Then you know how powerful of a pokemon he is," Kanone continued. "And of course, you know how strong Sammy is. So for Sammy to lose against him… it's quite a problem for our goals. If we mean to bring Gwen back by force, then we need to overpower her, and break her free from their control. I hope you can see the rationality in this."

"Yeah, I get it," Blake nodded, still scowling. "So what do you want from me, huh?"

Kanone shrugged. He fucking shrugged.

"I want you to prove to me that you have the strength to fight against our sister," he said calmly. "While I've never doubted that you can connect with her on a level that I'm not capable of doing, that doesn't mean you have the strength to save her."

"Wait, you want to battle Blake?!" Sango exclaimed. As strong of a trainer as Blake might have been, there was no way he could win against Kanone.

"In a manner of speaking, yes," Kanone nodded. "But it doesn't need to be a full-on pokemon battle. Consider it more of an exhibition match."

Blake was confused. "An exhibition match?"

"I've been discussing things with Olivia as well," Kanone said, glancing at Alcea, "using her as an intermediary. And the plan is that I will be holding an exhibition match the day before this little Pokeathlon of hers will begin. Something to excite the students and get them prepared for the event, you see. And I'd like you to be my opponent."

"What's the catch, then?" Blake demanded. "Because I might be good… but we both know you're better. I don't have a chance. This is just you telling me that you're not interested in revealing the truth?"

"Not at all," Kanone said, shaking his head. "I promise, I have every intention of telling you about what happened in Agate Village, Blake. But you have to earn it. This is a serious situation we're dealing with, and I need to know you're ready. So to that extent… I want you to choose six pokemon. The strongest you can think of. And I'll fight them. With just Sammy."

Alcea gasped. "S-Six pokemon… against one?"

"I'd say it's an adequate handicap, wouldn't you?" Kanone asked, narrowing his eyes. He didn't look away from Blake for an instant. He was adamant that Blake understand he was seeing him as a possible equal. "Your six strongest pokemon against my Samurott. If you can beat Sammy under those conditions, then I'll tell you about what happened in Agate Village. I'll leave helping Gwen completely in your hands. But if you can't do it… even under these circumstances… then my hands are tied. Because if you can't defeat Sammy in this scenario, then you won't have a chance against our sister, I can promise you that right now."

…Either of our sisters, he added silently.

"Blake, that's a little…" Sango could see that there was a significant handicap there. She just didn't know if it would be enough.

But Blake wasn't deterred.

"I'll do it," he said, narrowing his eyes. "In fact, my pokemon are ready to fight right now!"

"Blake?!" Sango gasped.

"Reckless as always, is it?" Alcea sighed, shaking her head and rubbing her temples.

Kanone laughed and shook his head. "No, no, it doesn't work that way. I want you to prepare, little brother, because this fight will take more than you can imagine."

He stood up from the table and took a pokeball from his belt, flinging it towards the field. It burst open and Sammy emerged with a roar, though she wasn't the Samurott Blake remembered.

"SAMUROTT!" Sammy showed off her new black and blue coloration, flexing her muscles and drawing her curved swords. Blake took a step back on instinct.

"Sammy isn't the same as you remember her," Kanone warned.

Well, things are taking quite a turn! It looks like we have two major events ahead of us! The special Pokeathlon event that I've been subtly alluding to these last few chapters, and then Blake's match with Kanone, as well. But there's a third thing to look forward to: Sylvia will soon be returning to the Pokemon Academy!