It was hot.

That was usually the case when it came to the academy during the fall… at least in the early part of the semester.

This was something that Gary and the rest of the professors knew when they created the academy long ago but damn it was still an annoyance to deal with.

Gary soon banished these thoughts from his head as he saw a private jet soon appear from the distance and landed on the airstrip as Gary and few of the freshman professors, including Dawn stood a few feet away.

Soon the doors of the plane opened as Ash Ketchum and Serena Yvonne soon stepped outside the plane and made their way to them.

"Serena! It has been such a long time! And it is great to see you too Ash." Dawn said excitedly as she went to hug her fellow coordinator friend.

Serena soon hugged Dawn back as Ash stepped up to Gary and hugged his childhood friend and former rival.

"Hey man it has been a long time." Ash said to him.

Gary had to agree. Running the academy had left him tied up for some time, meaning he had to miss a lot of his friend's great accomplishments and events.

Like Ash and Serena's engagement party.

"Yeah but I am glad you are safe, I assume you know the professors from the Freshman class." Gary said to him.

Ash nodded as he went to greet the rest of the professors saying hi to Nikandr, reuniting with Solana and Goh and soon stopped in front of Dahlia.

"Dahlia."

"Ash."

The two of them stared each other down before… giving each either a big hug.

"Oh I have missed you my friend!" Ash said with a smile as he ruffled her hair.

"Same thing, you wouldn't believe the amount of work I have been given this year." Dahlia said with a smile.

Soon however Ash's expression soon turned grim.

"By the way Dhalia, I should inform you that he is coming soon." Ash said to her.

Dahlia's face soon turned from a smile to a frown.

"I see… well I suppose that I couldn't avoid this forever." Dahlia said.

However, before they could continue this conversation Gary cleared this throat.

"Perhaps it would be better if we continued this conversation in my office and not in the blazing heat?" Gary said to them.

They all agree as they went inside the academy while a Caturne watched from a distance before leaving.

"So what has Geeta said?"

The question permeated from Gary's lips like a Quick Attack from Ash's Pikachu. And like the attack, it nearly caught everyone off-guard who were enjoying some delicious iced coffee.

Ash sighed as he set his drink down.

"When I talked to her she said it was clean, obviously she had her worries especially after what happened in Circhester she is worried about the security at Uranja Academy." He said to everyone.

That was troubling to hear. The group that attacked them in Circhester seemed to be pretty powerful and they didn't know if they had other divisions stationed in different regions.

"But overall, she says the coast is clear and that she and Director Clavell are still up to do the collaboration with academy after me and Serena's visit there."

Gary smiled, this was something that he wanted to do for a long time: a collaboration with Uranja Academy with Pokemon Trainer's Academy so that their two sets of students could meet and talk with each other.

It was something he had been working on for the past three years and thankfully it seemed like things were going to be paid off.

"Well that is lovely to hear. I suppose we are still doing the tournament here as well?" Nikandr asked with his usual level of seriousness.

"Of course, this is something we have planned for a long time. And now that our guest of honor is here we aren't just going to abandon it now." Gary said as he finished his drink.

Dawn soon clapped as she hooked Ash and Serena's arms intent on giving them a tour of the academy while also asking them about their romantic trip to Kitakami.

Soon one by one they all filed out leaving Gary by his lonesome.

He soon sighed as his Blastoise came out as if he could sense his trainer's distress and looked worried for him.

"Don't worry Blastoise, I got everything under control." Gary said to his starter as he petted him.

Though even as Gary Oak said those words, even he couldn't help but feel like things were slowly going out of control for him.

Meanwhile, while this was going on, both Kazuma and Felix were having a training session as Kazuma was using his Corviknight while Felix was using his Heracross, Atlas.

"Alright Atlas use Brick Break."

"Corviknight use Steel Wing."

Soon both Pokemon rushed at each other as Atlas' arm glowed white while Corviknight's wings also glowed silver as the two of them made contact.

"Now use Brave Bird!"

Corviknight soon wrapped itself in flames before diving down and spreading it wings as it was filled with energy and barreled towards Atlas.
"Alright Atlas use Protect!"

Atlas soon generated a blue forcefield as the attack slammed into him. There was a huge impact as Atlas was sent flying while Corviknight was also sent flying and suffered from Brave Bird's recoil.

However before the both of them could continue they were stopped by someone.

"Wow having a battle without my? Have you boys forgotten your manners?" Lilian asked with a smile as she went up to them breaking their concentration.

"What is it Lilian? We are kind of in the middle of something." Kazuma said to her.

Lilian soon smiled as she brought out her phone.

"Oh really I thought you two would have been interested in this then?" Lilian said as she swiped to something on her phone.

Soon Kazuma and Felix as well as their Pokemon came over to her phone and widened their eyes at what they were seeing.

It was a flyer for the Pokemon Trainer's Academy Monarch Invitational Tournament.

Kazuma soon looked up to the sky and smiled sinisterly as he uttered a single word.

"Finally."