Three: Who's That Pokémon?

The mother and daughter had barely finished their episode when a knock echoed from the front door. "Yo, Elaina, let's head to the lighthouse!" Elaina leapt from the couch and opened the door. "Come in, Nemona." The door opened to reveal the girl, enthusiastic as ever. "This place is quaint and cozy. I like it." While Nemona was looking around, Elaina slipped on her shoes, grabbed her bag, and returned Sprigatito to his Pokéball.

"So, you're the famous Nemona." Elaina's mom had stepped forward. "And you live in the house at the other end of the street?" Nemona didn't miss a beat as she swung around to talk. "Yep, Nemona, student council president and champion of Paldea, at your service." Elaina saw her mom blink incredulously a few times before simply replying "Wow." Nemona started to rock back and forth on her heels as Elaina stepped forward.

"Alright, got my shoes, got my bag, and got my phone. Sprigs is tucked away in his ball. Let's bounce." Elaina moved to begin rushing Nemona out the door before her mom stopped her. "Here, take lunch." She handed Elaina a sandwich wrapped in paper. "It's the one you like." This caused a smile to creep onto Elaina's face as she tucked it into her bag. "Awesome, thanks, mom!" And with that she turned to join Nemona as the two headed out of the house.

The two girl fell into step quickly as they made their way down Poco Path on their way to the lighthouse. They talked about Pokémon, Paldea, and Elaina was able to steer the conversation away from her dad. Nemona knew he'd been a gym leader, but maybe the whole story would be a bit much for her so soon after meeting. As the two walked, the view of the seaside grew more and more beautiful. I think Paldea is starting to grow on me... Came Elaina's thought as she took in the majesty of the view. Then she paused. "Hey, Nemona. Are those, Pokémon down there?" Nemona paused. "They look like they're hurt." Elaina continued as she moved to get a closer look.

"Be careful, 'Layna. Don't fall off the…" She started as Elaina lost her footing and tumbled over the edge. As she fell, Rotom jumped into action, grabbing her hand from inside her phone and slowly lowering her to the ground. "Please be careful, zzzt." The phone flew back into her back pocket and as she caught her breath, she took stock of the two Pokémon that seemed to have washed up on the beach. One was red, and appeared to be adorned with wings and feathers, the other purple, with a shiny, sleek body. "It almost looks like metal."

Elaina heard Nemona from atop the cliff. "Yo, 'Layna, are you alive?" Elaina wasted no time in answering the girl, then turned back to the injured Pokémon. They looked like they weren't hurt per se, just passed out from exhaustion. The red one stirred first, then the purple. They looked up at her from their position slumped on the ground. She paused and thought for a moment as the two seemed to sniff the air around her.

"So, you're hungry?" She looked at the two Pokémon in front of her and pulled her mother's sandwich from her bag. "I hope you like pickled Wishiwashi." She tore the sandwich in two and gave a piece to each of the Pokémon. Elaina blinked incredulously as the two leapt up, seemingly back to their old selves. They shook the sand from their bodies and looked to one another, then back to Elaina. Then they walked past her toward a cave in the cliffside. She shouted up to Nemona that she was going to see if the cave led back up to the path when Nemona shouted down to her. "That cave is home to some rowdy Houndour. Be careful, 'Layna!"

Elaina shouted her affirmation to Nemona and headed into the cave behind the two Pokémon. They seemed to work well as a team, with the Red one frightening away the cave's Pokémon while the purple one shattered the rocks that blocked the path forward. As the three walked, Elaina thought about letting Sprigatito from his Pokéball, but after seeing a Houndour start charging a fire attack before getting scared away, she thought better of it. "If these two can't keep me safe, guess I'm dying in this cave…" the red Pokémon turned and looked at her, almost seeming insulted.

They had almost reached the upper mouth of the cave by this point, and as the purple Pokémon shattered the last rock in their path, the three strode out into the sun. The two Pokémon leapt down from the ledge and landed on the road next to Nemona. Elaina quickly followed suit, sliding off the edge to shorten the drop. "See, not dead." She said to Nemona. "Mostly thanks to these two." The two Pokémon let out a cry and turned and began walking toward the lighthouse. "Guess we should follow them?" Nemona shrugged and fell into step.

"You're going to be the talk of the academy if people find out that you fell off a cliff looking for rare Pokémon before the term even started." She chuckled as the two continued. "Anyway, I'll keep it to myself, so you'll get to move in in peace." Elaina raised an eyebrow, then sighed. The two had reached the lighthouse by now, and as they approached the two Pokémon, they heard a voice call out. "There you two are!" Elaina turned to see a long-haired boy in an academy uniform standing there. He quickly made his way forward and started examining the red Pokémon. "Are you alright, Koraidon? You don't look hurt. Thank Arceus for that." He paused and looked over to the purple Pokémon. His voice got flatter as he spoke. "And Miraidon, you look alright too. Good." The boy sighed and turned to Elaina and Nemona. A look of resigned recognition passed over his face.

You're Nemona, right? From the student council?" He then turned to Elaina. "And I'm not sure we've ever met. I'm Arven." He reached into his pack and pulled out two Pokéballs. "Let me bring these two back really quick." He pulled the red Pokémon into its ball without any trouble, but the purple one protested before making its way over to Elaina. Arven looked stunned but just sighed. "You want to go with her? Your loyalty can be bought with a light snack?" He tossed the Pokéball toward Elaina, who caught it clumsily. "Here, since that one is a flake and wants to run off, you can have him. We'll just have to get together every so often so the two of them can reconnect."

Elaina looked at the Pokéball, puzzled, but shrugged. "If people keep giving me Pokémon, I won't need to catch any." She snickered as she withdrew Miraidon and tucked the Pokéball into her belt. "Anyway, I'm Elaina, or just, "Layna, if you ask this one." She tapped Nemona on the shoulder. "Based on your uniform, you're a student at Uva Academy too?" Elaina took stock of the boy. He wore a warmer uniform than Nemona, with long pants and a yellow vest, but the most standout feature was his big backpack he carried. It had some small cooking supplies strapped to the side. Elaina noted a small pot and a couple of spoons. Arven spoke.

"Yeah, I'm going for culinary." Elaina nodded. "I'm personally still undeclared, but I'm excited to try out for that advanced battling course they added." Nemona piped up. The three trainers paused. "Actually, 'Layna, you might try out for it too." Elaina sighed before responding, "Nemona I've done a single Pokémon battle in my life. I don't understand how you keep forgetting that." Nemona just smirked. "Your first battle and you beat a champion. Try out for it. Also, I don't understand how you keep forgetting that."

"Was, was that sass?" Elaina felt something stir in her guts.

Fuck, right I'm a lesbian...

Nemona shook her head. "I kid, I kid. Anyway," She turned to Arven. "What are you taking this term?" Arven paused for a second before pulling out his phone.

"Monday and Wednesday I have Culinary Arts at 11:00, Then I have Battle Strat 151 at 1:00, Tuesday and Thursday I have Intro to Statistics at 9:30 and Sinnohnian Literature at 2:30. Then Friday I have the culinary arts lab from 10:00 to 4:30. What about you?"

Nemona pulled her phone from her pocket. "Monday Wednesday, and Friday at 11:00 I have Advanced Battle Strat 351 with Mr. Vaughn, really eager to see that play out. Then at 3:30 on Monday and Wednesday I have Bio 203, and after Bio I have Food and Nutrition 263 from 5:30 to 8:30 on Wednesday, then Tuesday and Thursday I have History of Paldea 201 at 8:00 AM, which is kinda gross, but it was the only section with seats open." The two turned to Elaina. "Have you had time to build your schedule yet, 'Layna?"

Elaina blushed a bit, then muttered "no." Before looking to her shoes. "I was kinda busy picking a partner Pokémon, and then falling from cliffsides." Arven blinked at her statement. "Did… Did you make that last part up?" Elaina shook her head. "Anyway, since you have a late admission," Nemona said. "your schedule will be overridden, so you'll be able to pick from most of what's on offer. Are you going to try to place into Vaughn's class with me?" Nemona inquired.

Elaina shrugged again. "The test is online, so you can just take it at home tonight or tomorrow." Arven piped up. "I took it like two weeks ago and placed into the section I'm in now." Elaina made a note in her phone to take the test later, for shits and giggles. Maybe her dad being distant and her studying battle strategies to feel closer to him would pay

I'm beginning to think I have issues.

"Yeah, I'll take it when I get home tonight. What section are you in, Nemona, just so I can make sure I'm in the right one?" She took down Nemona's section number and smiled. "Today's been a pretty good day, I think. I should probably head home. I have a class schedule to build and a placement test to take." She shouldered her bag and double checked the Pokéballs in her belt. "It was great meeting you, Arven." She said as she turned to head down the street toward her house. Nemona turned to follow. "Yeah, see ya', Arven." As the two headed back down Poco Path, they fell into a companionable silence, with Nemona only speaking up with a simple "Night, 'Layna." When they reached the fork in the road. Elaina headed into her house, said hello to her mom, and went to take the placement test. As she finished, she blinked twice when she saw the results.

Student Name: Elaina Plowman

Placement: Advanced Battle Strategies 351

Recommended Courses for Academic Year 2043-2044: Advanced Battle Strategies 351, 352, 354.

Well, shit…