NSO Chapter 7
I don't own Pokemon.
Cleo gasped in amazement as she entered the room. Even though she had been in Kingdra High for quite some time, she was always amazed by the existence of this subject, since it had first originated from this school. Battle Class had always been a new concept for her, one never offered in her previous school, and she couldn't wait to see what more this lesson could offer. Zenith, on the other paw, was the polar opposite of Cleo. The Umbreon was trembling, and his gaze travelled around the room apprehensively, as if expecting an attack from someone.
I'm gonna die I'm gonna die I'm gonna die…
Zenith jumped as Cleo placed a paw on his shoulder, careful not to flip her this time.
"Hey Zenith… you okay?"
"Y-yeah. I'm fine… just worried about the bullies here. They've always bullied me when I was, well, 'normal', nut now that I'm a 'Shiny'..." Zenith shuddered at the thought.
"Don't worry, Zenith. I've saved your life, you've saved mine, I'm pretty certain that we've got each other's backs!"
"Uh…"
"Look, if you need help, just ask, okay?"
Cleo's reassuring words seemed to do the trick. Zenith's fur, which was originally standing straight up due to anxiety, lay flat again as he relaxed, nervousness dissipating partially.
Zenith stared into Cleo's care filled eye, her confident smile, and he felt his heart flutter. A strange emotion rose up in him, one that was completely new to him in the entire sixteen years that made up in his life.
Wh-what am I feeling...?
It's called love, you idiot. You like Cleo.
Blunt much? But even if I am, I don't know if she feels the same about me…
Sure. Ignore the fact that she's had eyes on you for the entire time she's been in this school.
Did you say something? Zenith returned back from to his mental conversation, distracted by the arrival of more classmates bursting through the double doors of the room.
No. Why not just ask her?
I've only interacted with her for a day! I… I need more time for this.
Whatever helps you sleep at night, loner.
At this point in time, Mrs Sal raised a claw, descending silence upon the once noisy class. Towering at an impressive height of 2 metres, Mrs Sal was not a Salamence one would want to mess with. Her prowess in both physical and special moves, as well as the ability to guarantee a quiet class, was the reason why out of all other Pokémon that applied for this job, she was hired instead to teach these special school-only lessons, where accidents and injuries occurred the most.
"Okay class, today I have a special treat for all of you," Ms Sal announced. She stepped to her right to reveal an odd-looking machine that was previously hidden from view by her large frame. It looked like a palm scanner connected to a printer by a bunch of wires. "As you all know," Ms Sal continued, "Each Pokémon has its own level, which starts at 1 when you all hatch from your eggs. Whenever you train, the experience you gain allows you to 'level up'. The higher your level, the stronger, bulkier or faster you get, and you increase the range of moves you get to learn. This is the reason you have gym, also known as PE. Now this-" Ms Sal gestured at the machine. "- is a level sensor. You put your paw, claw, tentacle or whatever appendage you have on the sensor, or scanner. The machine will find out what your level is, then print it out here." Ms Sal pointed at the printer slot. "The level sensor is very accurate, so there's no need to check twice. Everyone line up in a straight row and use the machine one by one."
The class hastily formed a line, with Cleo in front and Zenith being shunted roughly to the back. The line shortened quickly, with the printer printing out results as soon as each Pokemon touched the scanner. Finally, it was Zenith's turn. Even though students were free to start battling once they had used the sensor, Zenith could still feel eyes on him as he stepped forward, placing a paw on the scanner.
Wow, for a Shiny-hating school, your classmates seem real concerned about you! Look at their worried gazes, all directed towards you!
I really wish you weren't so sarcastic about this…
In the short time frame of a few seconds, the machine had done its job. With a soft 'ding', a little slip of paper lay in the printer slot. Zenith snatched the paper out of the slot, checking it quickly before hurrying back to where Cleo stood, his ears flattened to try and block out the snide remarks from the other students.
" Look, the freak got his level checked!"
" What level do you think he is?"
"I think around 20, at most..."
Zenith's face flushed red with embarrassment as he heard peals of laughter sound out behind him, and he quickened his pace to reach Cleo's side, where she was waving at him to come over.
"So, what did you get?" Cleo asked in a whisper.
Zenith showed Cleo his piece of paper, eyes silently pleading for her to keep her voice down.
"Forty-two? I'm only level thirty-eight!" Cleo exclaimed in a soft scream.
Zenith stared at the ground shyly. With his mother barely around most of the time, he was not used to receiving so much attention from any Pokemon, especially one that was female.
"Thanks… I guess. I...I've been training a lot recently..."
Cleo was about to reply, but was interrupted by a jeering voice from Zenith's morning tormentor, Kurt.
"Hey, look! The freak's talking to the fish-dog!"
Zenith couldn't care less about being called a freak, but he could tell that the fish-dog insult had struck a nerve in Cleo, judging from the way she was looking at the ground, face red with either embarrassment or anger.
White-hot fury seemed to course through Zenith's veins when he saw Cleo's reaction. The Vaporeon was one of the few Pokemon in this school that accepted him as a 'Shiny'. She respected him for who he was, and Zenith was not going to let her be insulted like that.
"Leave her alone!" Zenith's voice reverberated throughout the Battle Room, over the conversations of other students. Many of the students, including Ms Sal, turned towards the sight that was Zenith walking towards Kurt, interested in how this would play out.
"What did you say, freak?" Kurt growled as he watched the small Umbreon walk towards him.
"I said leave Cleo alone," Zenith replied. There was a hint of menace in his steely tone that Kurt had never heard before.
"I meant what I said, freak! If you're so compelled to defend the fish-dog's honour, then face me in the ring, one on one." Kurt gestured to one of the many wrestling ring-like battle arenas that were set up all over the Battle room. Kurt blinked in astonishment as Zenith silently leapt into the arena without hesitation, before looking at him expectantly, waiting for him to do the same. Cleo stepped forward to enter the ring as well, but stopped in place as Zenith held up a paw.
Kurt hesitated. He could feel an aura of confidence that surrounded Zenith, replacing his normal timidity. Would he be able to beat the Umbreon this time? Kurt dispelled the thought with a grunt. He was a level forty-five Nidoking, for Arceus' sake! He could definitely take on a weak little Umbreon. As soon as both Pokemon were in the arena, Ms Sal pressed a button on the side of the battle arena. Blue hexagons formed over the battle arena, encasing it in a dome-shaped shield. Their function was to prevent stray or missed attacks from exiting the arena and accidentally hurting someone. The dome was translucent, so it still allowed Pokemon outside to watch the battle.
"First to concede or faint loses. " Ms Sal announced, "Battle commencing in three... two..."
"Beep!" a buzzer sounded inside the arena, and the battle between Kurt and Zenith officially began.