The sun was shining brightly over the docked Rising Volt Tacklers airship, the hum of its engines barely audible as the crew gathered for their morning routine. However, Roy's voice echoed through the ship as he jumped up and down with boundless energy.

"This is gonna be so awesome! Paldea, here we come!" Roy exclaimed, practically bouncing in place. "And Liko's coming too! We're all gonna learn at Naranja Academy together!"

Liko blinked in confusion. "Wait… how do you know about that?"

Roy grinned smugly, pointing toward Friede, who was leaning casually against the railing with his Captain Pikachu perched on his shoulder.

"Friede told me!" Roy said proudly.

Liko turned her head slowly, narrowing her eyes at the airship captain. "You knew? How?"

Friede chuckled, raising his hands in mock surrender. "Guilty as charged. Your mom gave me a heads-up when she sent the letter. She wanted me to make sure you'd have a smooth transition if you decided to go."

Liko groaned, pinching the bridge of her nose. "Of course she did. Mom and her Squawkabilly know everything."

"Not everything," Friede teased with a grin. "But enough to keep me in the loop." Before Liko could retort, Friede added, "Oh, and by the way, Dot's going too."

Liko's expression brightened. She turned toward Dot, who was standing off to the side, fiddling with her Rotom Phone. "Dot, you're coming too? That's great!"

Dot flinched slightly at the attention and avoided Liko's gaze, pretending to scroll through her phone. "Yeah, I guess," she muttered.

Liko smirked, stepping closer to her friend. "Oh, this is going to be so much fun! I hope we get to be roommates."

Dot's eyes widened, and she looked up sharply. "Let's not get ahead of ourselves," she said quickly. "There are probably lots of dorms. We don't have to, you know, share one."

Roy burst out laughing at Dot's reaction. "What's the big deal, Dot? Liko's a great roommate. Besides, you two get along so well!"

Dot glared at him. "That's not the point!"

Liko giggled, enjoying the rare opportunity to fluster Dot. "Aw, come on, Dot. It'll be fun! We can train together, study together, and talk about… oh, I don't know, Ash Ketchum?" She winked mischievously.

Dot groaned, burying her face in her hands. "Why did I agree to this…"

Captain Pikachu let out a playful "Pika-pika!" as if laughing along with the group.

Friede clapped his hands together, drawing everyone's attention. "All right, you three. Save your energy for Paldea. You've got an exciting adventure ahead of you, and who knows? Maybe you'll all come back even stronger."

Roy pumped his fist in the air. "You bet we will! Fuecoco and I are gonna crush it at Naranja Academy!"

Liko smiled. With her friends by her side, the journey ahead felt less daunting and more like the adventure of a lifetime. Even Dot's grumbling couldn't dampen her excitement. Paldea, here we come.

The Rising Volt Tacklers' airship hovered gracefully above the sprawling city of Mesagoza, the heart of Paldea, as Friede and his crew prepared to bid farewell to the trio. Below, the grand gates of Naranja Academy loomed. Roy, Liko, and Dot stood at the base of the ship's ramp, dressed in their respective student uniforms. Liko adjusted her tie nervously, Dot fidgeted, and Roy tugged at his blazer with a groan.

"Man, why do we have to wear these?" Roy complained, puffing his cheeks. "It's so stiff! I can't move around properly in this."

Friede chuckled with his Captain Pikachu mimicking his laugh with a cheery "Pika-pika!" "It's all part of the academy experience, Roy. Besides, you look sharp."

Liko couldn't help but giggle. "Come on, Roy. It's not that bad. You'll get used to it."

Dot remained silent, keeping her gaze on the ground. She still wasn't thrilled about this new chapter, especially since she'd have to interact with people face-to-face more often.

Friede stepped forward, placing a hand on Liko and Roy's shoulders. "You three are gonna do great here. Remember, if you ever need anything, the Rising Volt Tacklers will be nearby. Just give us a call."

"Thanks, Friede!" Liko said with a bright smile.

Roy grinned and gave him a thumbs-up. "Yeah, thanks! We won't let you down!"

One by one, the crew stepped forward to offer their farewells. Orla, the ever-reliable big sister of the group, ruffled Roy's hair affectionately. "Keep that fire burning, Roy. And don't forget to watch out for these two, okay?" She winked at Liko and Dot.

Roy beamed, though he tried to fix his now-messy hair. "You got it, Orla!"

Mollie approached next, her arms crossed and a sly smile on her face. "And don't think being far away means you're off the hook, you two. I'll still find ways to make you run my errands." Her teasing tone earned groans from both Roy and Liko.

"You're impossible," Liko muttered, though her smile betrayed her amusement.

Murdock stepped forward with his trusty Rockruff at his side. "Make sure you eat well and try new foods while you're here! And don't forget to tell me all about Paldean cuisine when you get back."

"We will, Murdock!" Roy said, grinning. "I'll even bring you a recipe or two!"

Finally, Ludlow shuffled forward. He placed a weathered hand on Liko's shoulder and gave her a kind smile. "Trust in yourself, little one. The sea of knowledge is vast, but you'll navigate it just fine."

Liko nodded, feeling a wave of reassurance from his wise words. "Thank you, Ludlow."

With all the farewells said, Friede gave one last nod to the trio. "All right, time to make some memories. And hey, don't forget to have fun!"

"Got it!" Roy and Liko said in unison. Even Dot managed a small smile as she adjusted her bag.

As the airship lifted into the sky, the trio turned to face the gates of Mesagoza. The city was alive with activity, students and Pokémon bustling about, and the grandeur of Naranja Academy towered above them.

"Ready?" Liko asked, glancing at her companions.

"Always," Roy said with a grin, his Fuecoco by his side.

Dot gave a small nod.

"Whoa…" Roy's voice trailed off as he, Liko, and Dot wandered through the streets of Mesagoza. It was nothing short of breathtaking—an expansive city alive with energy, Pokémon, and students. The trio passed colorful storefronts, each brimming with life. Cafés served treats to trainers and their Pokémon, clothing boutiques displayed the latest fashions, and Poké Mart kiosks lined the roads. Several Pokémon trotted happily alongside their trainers—Growlithes barking cheerfully, Eevees darting playfully, and a stately Arcanine keeping watch over a group of chatting students.

"This place is huge," Liko said, her wide eyes darting from one sight to another. "It's like nothing I've ever seen before."

Dot nodded silently, keeping a close eye on her surroundings while staying in the trio's shadow. She was a little overwhelmed but couldn't deny Mesagoza's charm.

"Look at all the shops!" Roy said, pointing to a stall selling fresh berries. Fuecoco perked up at the sight in excitement. "We're gonna have to try everything before we leave, right, Fuecoco?"

Fuecoco growled in agreement.

As they strolled further into the city, the trio found themselves at the base of a massive staircase that seemed to climb endlessly toward the sky. At its peak, the grand gates of Naranja Academy stood proudly, overlooking the entire city.

Roy froze in his tracks, staring at the stairs with his jaw slack. "What… is… that?"

Dot's lips formed a slight frown. "The stairs. They go to the academy."

Liko blinked, trying to comprehend the sheer height. "You mean… we have to climb that? Who in the world thought it was a good idea to put a staircase like this in the middle of the city?"

Roy groaned dramatically. "This has to be some kind of joke. How do they expect anyone to get to class on time?"

"It's… impressive," Liko admitted, though her tone was more nervous than anything else.

Dot let out a small sigh. "Stop whining. The sooner we start, the sooner it's over."

"Easy for you to say!" Roy shot back. "You're not the one carrying Fuecoco."

Fuecoco blinked up at him, its cheerful expression undeterred. It let out a small squeal, as if ready to take on the stairs itself.

"Well," Liko said, adjusting her bag and glancing at the staircase, "we'd better get going. Otherwise, we'll be late for orientation."

Roy sighed dramatically but began the ascent, Fuecoco at his side.

Liko followed.

Dot trailed behind.

As they climbed, Roy muttered, "Worst stairs in the world… I don't care what anyone says."

Liko couldn't help but laugh. "It's definitely a workout."

As the trio finally reached the top of the infamous staircase, they collapsed onto the ground, utterly exhausted. All three were drenched in cold sweat as they tried to catch their breath. Roy sprawled out on the stone pavement, arms spread wide as Fuecoco flopped beside him. Liko leaned back on her hands, gasping for air, while Dot sat cross-legged, wiping sweat from her forehead with a trembling hand.

"That was… the worst experience… of my life," Roy groaned.

"I can't feel my legs," Liko added weakly, tilting her head back to stare at the bright Paldean sky.

Dot muttered, "Why is this a thing? There's no reason for a staircase to be that long."

Just then, a random student walked by, casually munching on a sandwich. Spotting the trio's state, the student paused and tilted their head. "You know," they said, pointing upward, "you could've just used a Flying-type Pokémon to get here faster. Everyone does." With that unbothered comment, the student shrugged and continued on their way, leaving the trio in stunned silence.

Roy was the first to react, bolting upright with an incredulous expression. "Are you kidding me? None of us have a Flying-type Pokémon! How were we supposed to know that?!" His shout echoed dramatically across the academy courtyard.

Liko buried her face in her hands, groaning. "Why didn't we think of that? I mean… we could've borrowed one."

Dot shook her head in disbelief. "Let's just accept that we've suffered for no reason and move on."

Fuecoco let out a weak growl, trying to cheer up its trainer, but even it looked slightly annoyed at their lack of foresight.

Roy flopped back onto the ground, throwing an arm over his face. "Worst. Stairs. Ever."

Liko, trying to stifle a laugh despite her exhaustion, muttered, "At least we made it…"

Dot, finally standing, looked down at the other two. "Come on. We have orientation to get to. Unless you want to explain why we're late."

As the trio approached the academy, they noticed a large crowd of people and students gathered in front of the school entrance. The noise of excited chatter and the general energy of the gathering immediately caught their attention.

"Hey, what's going on over there?" Roy asked, craning his neck to try and see past the throng of students.

"Not sure, but it seems like something major," Liko replied, equally curious as she scanned the crowd.

"Hope we're not missing the opening orientation," Dot muttered as her eyes darted toward the clock tower in the distance.

"Let's check it out," Liko suggested, already starting to lead the way.

As the trio moved closer, they found themselves stuck at the back of the crowd. The sheer number of students made it nearly impossible to see what was happening at the front.

"Ugh, this is ridiculous!" Roy groaned, bouncing on his toes to catch a glimpse.

"Shh," Liko hushed him, tilting her head to eavesdrop on snippets of conversations around them.

"Can't believe he's actually here!" exclaimed a nearby male student.

"Too bad Nemona's probably going to hog him all to herself," groaned a female student.

"Yeah, that sounds about right," another girl chuckled nervously. "As soon as the news broke that he was staying at the academy for a year, Nemona was the first to jump at the chance to meet him."

"That's the battle-crazed student council president for you," said another male student with a knowing smirk.

Liko exchanged a puzzled look with Dot. "Who's he?" she whispered, but Dot shrugged in response.

"I don't know, but I'm not waiting to find out!" Roy said. He pushed forward, nudging and weaving through the tightly packed crowd.

"Hey, watch it!" grumbled a student as Roy bumped into them.

"Sorry!" Roy called over his shoulder, completely unapologetic as he forged ahead.

Liko let out a sigh, sharing an exasperated glance with Dot, who rolled her eyes. "Guess we're doing this now," Liko said, reluctantly following after Roy. Dot hesitated before trailing behind them, muttering under her breath about the unnecessary chaos.

After much shoving, apologizing, and sidestepping angry students, the trio finally reached the front of the crowd. As they emerged, Liko gasped at the sight before them. Standing near the academy entrance was an impressive group of people. At the forefront was Director Clavell. Beside him stood Geeta, the chairwoman of both the academy and the Pokémon League committee in Paldea. Behind them were the Elite Four—Rika, Poppy, Larry, and Hassel. In front of this imposing group was Nemona, practically vibrating with excitement. But all of their eyes were fixed on one person: the figure standing in front of Nemona.

Clad in a customized academy uniform was none other than Ash Ketchum, the reigning Monarch. Pikachu perched proudly on his shoulder as it scanned the crowd.

Liko's eyes widened in shock. "It's… Ash!" she whispered.