Pokémon Eclipse II - Light of Harmony

Chapters

Chapter 2 - To a World Unknown
Chapter 3 - Stringshot
Chapter 4 - Year 2 Day 1
Chapter 5 - The Immeasurable Generosity of Rosanna Sixsmith
Chapter 6 - Love Again
Chapter 7 - Knight and Queen
Chapter 8 - Checkmate
Chapter 9 - The Weights of Wins and Losses
Chapter 10 - Battle Night
Part I: Poniose Town - Chapter 1 - A Skater and His Bronzong

Chapter 2 - To a World Unknown

A knock on the door prompted Mikael to spring from the kitchen table and answer the door, weaving around the backpack and fully-stuffed duffel bag he had laying in the middle of the living room floor. Pulling the door open, Mikael smiled warmly to see Sam standing on the porch as expected, his backpack still on with no seeming intention of taking it off or staying awhile.

Sam nodded upon seeing Mikael’s bags. “Morning, Mikael.”

“Hey Sam,” Mikael greeted. “Or should I get used to calling you Mr. Brier?”

“Whichever you feel more comfortable with. You’ll hear plenty of variations in my classroom.”

Mikael nodded as he picked up his backpack first, prompting Ingrid and Divvy to follow him to the door. “Oh, don’t you leave me again without saying goodbye this time.”

“I wasn’t going to forget, Aunt Ingrid.” Mikael let her cup the sides of his jaw in her hands before pulling him in to kiss him on the forehead.

Mikael and Ingrid then wrapped their arms around one another in a tight embrace, Sam patiently watching on. Ingrid breathed a cathartic sigh upon letting her nephew go, allowing him to pick up his duffle bag and hoist it onto his right shoulder. Divvy then nudged into her, and with a chuckle, she petted down its side.

“And I’ll miss you too, Divvy. See ya’.” As Divvy joined the two outside, Ingrid looked to Sam. “You take good care of him now!”

“I’m certain we all will,” Sam assured her. “Thank you, Ingrid.”

As the two stepped off the porch, she waved them both off. “Bye, Mikael! Please have fun!”

Mikael could only muster a non-committing nod, but he waved back as a show that he’d promise to try. The three then began their trek downtown, Ingrid keeping the door open the whole time to watch them off before she could no longer see them.

After a few minutes of walking through the south end of the city, Mikael, Sam, and Divvy approached a glass building with a blue roof and supports. Stepping inside, they watched as a massive double-decker gondola slowly made its way at the top of the lift. Upon reaching the platform, the doors opened, allowing a couple dozen people to pour out of it and make their way out into the city that Sam and Mikael were soon to leave. With it soon empty and now glacially moving around to go the other way back down, the people waiting to board began to pour in, Sam guiding Mikael and Divvy to join them.

“I haven’t had breakfast yet,” Mikael spoke. “You said they serve it here, right?”

Sam nodded. “Sure do. Their spiced bacon is worth the ticket price alone, so hopefully we can get in line before they take it all.”

“Then you better get in line ahead of me.”

Sam chuckled, happy to see a little of the Mikael that Ingrid promised was in there glimmer through. After pulling out his two tickets from his pocket and flashing them to the uniformed woman overseeing the loading of passengers, she waved her hand to let Sam, Mikael, and Divvy inside.

As the gondola made its way down Mt. Coronet, Sam, Mikael, and Divvy all looked out and around them from the top-floor windows, watching as the snow became more sparse and the crags and grass on the mountain become more plentiful. As the gondola came to another slow point to let the next gondola that reached the bottom or top load and unload, Sam and Mikael saw this as an opportune time to resume their breakfasts. Sam’s consisted of a couple of eggs Benedict, a plate of melon slices, and some peppered Tamato berry juice. Mikael’s plate was only a small mound of bacon that others passed by with envious disdain.

Upon the gondola letting off at the base of the mountain in Celestic Town, Sam, Mikael, and Divvy departed the station as the latter two searched for their next destination. Both of their winter attires were now off and tied around their bags, Mikael now sporting a black jacket and shirt whose bright-blue trimmings matched the highlights in his corn-blonde hair. Sam kept his eyes on the billowy plume of smoke from a classic steam engine in the distance, prompting Mikael and his Pokémon to rush after him and towards the station.

By the late afternoon, the train pulled up to the platform in the Jubilife City station, serving as a stark contrast to the sleek bullet trains that sat in the other platforms or were pulling in or out. Sam, Mikael, and Divvy were the first to exit, quickly walking through into the station so as to avoid the other people getting off who began to crowd and congest the space.

That night, Mikael lounged on his hotel bed, his head propped up on a tower of pillows. With his eyes closed blissfully, he listened to music on his headphones, his head subtly bumping in time to the beat of whichever song he was listening to. With his next day’s folded clothes, wallet, Holo Caster and Z-Ring placed on the desk across from his own bed, Sam crawled underneath the covers and prepared to sleep in preparation for the busy day ahead of him. Sam reached over to the lamp on the table between his and Mikael’s beds, only for Divvy, who also sat on the floor between them, to lift one of his arms before the switch at the base of twisted by itself, putting the room in darkness save for the light of the streetlamps outside. Sam smiled and nodded to Divvy before both of them shut their eyes.

Early the next morning, Sam, Mikael, and Divvy approached the large glass building with the EarthQuestria logo adorning it, its splendor shining down over the several blocks of city that it overlooked. Mikael had his bags clutched tight, knowing that in a matter of minutes, he was about to step into a world that wasn’t his own for the very first time.

Sam turned over to look at Mikael. “You ready for this?”

Mikael shrugged uncertainly. “I mean, can Twilight find another student in time if I’m not?” Sam continued looking at Mikael, unsure if he was being serious or not, only to feel a pleasant deflation upon seeing Mikael walk closer to the building before him. “Come on, let’s get going.”

Sam and Divvy were both quick to pick up their pace to walk alongside him. Sam pulled the door open for Mikael and Divvy before swooping in after them and heading to the front desk before they could. Mikael and Divvy, however, were too enraptured by their new surroundings to go on ahead, admiring the architecture of a building he never thought he’d enter before.

Looking up, a clerk beamed to seem Sam walking up to her desk. “Mr. Brier, so good to see you again! Where were you looking to go today?”

“Ponyville,” Sam answered, “but I’m bringing a couple of…” Sam looked to his right where he last saw Mikael, only to find him no longer there. Looking behind him, he saw him and his Bronzong both looking up at the people on the balcony walkways, unsure of what they’d be doing in a place like this. “Mikael, Divvy!”

Upon hearing their names and seeing them come to Sam’s call, the clerk maintained her chipper smile. “So this is the Mikael Wallström I’ve been told I would meet! Well, great news, Twilight has provided us with all of his information, so he’s all registered already! All that’s left to do is to get his picture taken, and we can get his passport all printed out! Please, make your way inside and we’ll take care of you from there!”

“Thanks a lot,” Sam bid before heading into a large, short hallway next to the desk.

Upon approaching the large metal doors, a loud buzzing sounded out above them, allowing the doors to swing open by themselves once Sam and Mikael got close. They entered inside and found themselves in a rounded hallway that looked like it would encompass the entire building.

Upon coming inside, they were met by a man in a stylish white labcoat, who approached Mikael and Divvy in particular. “You must be Mikael! Follow me this way and we’ll get your picture taken and your passport printed in a jiffy!”

Sam stood by as Mikael was ushered toward what appeared to be a plain office door. As the EarthQuestria employee opened the door for Mikael, Divvy floated close behind to follow him in.

Mikael stopped and turned to it. “Divvy, just stay right here. I can’t expect this to take more than a couple minutes.”

With Mikael giving it an assuring pat on its side, Divvy softly rested itself down on the floor, its fixed wide-eyed grimace serving as an intimidating warning to those who would try to enter in next. After dropping his bags down, Mikael walked inside a white room with wooden floors and a machine attached to the wall that rose up into the ceiling. Above a large screen that was positioned just below eye level was a camera, and beneath it was a large slot one could easily fit their hand inside.

The man pressed buttons on a small keypad on the side of the machine until it booted up and the camera activated, showing Mikael facing away from the camera and half his face cut off as he stood away from the center. “Whenever you’re ready, stand in front of the machine, face the camera, and smile.”

Looking at his own digital reflection, Mikael jolted and did as instructed, making sure his face was front and center. After brushing his hair down with his fingers and taking a couple of relaxing breaths, Mikael looked dead into the lens and smiled softly, slowly widening it in the off chance that he looked too dour the first time.

“Alright!” the technician exclaimed. “Perfect! Want to take a look?”

“Uhh, yeah…” Mikael sauntered over to the screen and looked closely as his face was replaced by a quartet of screenshots whose smiles grew wider as they went from left to right. “Oh, you took extras?”

“I figured that the face you tried to make may not be one you like, so I took some before and after to get a more natural expression, no offense.”

“None taken…” Mikael looked at a couple of the ones on the bottom, where he really felt his smile looked more friendly and approachable. After hovering his finger between the two, he finally accepted the one to the bottom left and pressed on the screen. “I like this–”

Upon tapping the image, the other three went away as the chose one enlarged and put itself in the center, making Mikael step back in mild shock.

“So, you like this one?”

Mikael began to study the smile more now that his decision was no longer set in stone. However, as his thoughts on his picture began to subconsciously sour, he glanced to the side and wouldn’t look back until he knew it would be gone.

“Yeah, that one’s perfect,” he said.

“Alrighty, then.” The technician pressed another button on the keypad, causing the machine to whir to life.

Mikael mustered the strength to look back, partly relieved that the screen now showed a progress bar, which was already over a quarter of the way through and “Loading.” Once it quickly reached 75%, the status changed to “Printing,” causing the machine to loudly buzz. Upon getting to 99%, the machine settled down and became quiet. Finally, the bar filled up to 100%, and a thick plastic card dropped down inside the machine and into the slot.

Mikael reached inside and pulled the card out. Looking at it, he saw his chosen picture with Wallström, Mikael below it.

“Nice,” he muttered. “Even put in the umlaut.”

Beneath his name was the superimposed EarthQuestria logo, and on the top of his picture in all capital letters spelled, “STUDENT PASSPORT.” Finally, Mikael began to gyrate his card around, admiring how a different color appeared as it was caught by the light.

“Very nice.”

“Looks like it came out okay.” The technician went to the door and exited, stepping aside and leaving the way open for Mikael to rejoin Sam and Divvy. “Thank you for your patience, Mikael. You’re all set to go to Equestria. Have fun!”

Mikael stopped before stepping out, flashing the card he helped him make. “Thanks a lot. Bye.”

Mikael left, and with his return, Divvy awoke and resumed tailing its trainer. As Sam saw them coming and put his backpack back on, Mikael hoisted his own backpack up as Divvy lifted his duffle bag and put the strap over his shoulder.

“Got your card?” Sam asked.

Mikael held it up between his two fingers. “Would have been a boring couple of minutes if I didn’t.”

“Sweet. Let’s get going.”

Sam, Mikael, and Divvy returned outside into the lobby and took a right, passing by the desk of the clerk they had just met. “I just informed the technicians in the transport chamber of your destination. You should be all set to step on once you’re in.”

“Appreciate it,” Sam said. “Thanks again.”

They then came to another hallway just to the right that slightly narrowed as it led in. Save for the glass turnstile that separated the lobby from the transport chamber, Mikael got a full view of the transport pad just up ahead that would take him to a completely different world.

“Wow,” Mikael gasped. “This is really happening.”

“Care to do the honors?” Sam asked him. “I mean, this is your first time after all.”

“Uh… yeah. Thanks.”

Walking up to it, Mikael saw a red X on display on the end of the turnstile. Looking to the right, he saw a large tinted window where one or more security guards were no doubt watching his every move. He then spotted a small slot to the right of the turnstile that he knew his new passport would fit perfectly in. With it still in hand, he fed the card into the machine face-up. After a few moments, the red X turned into a green circle, and both doors pushed their way in. Mikael shuffled through the doors with both of his bulky bags while Divvy floated precariously above them.

Once they made it through to the other side, Mikael looked back at the black glass, uncertain if there was anything else to do on their end. Just then, Mikael’s passport shot out from the other end of the turnstile and stopped halfway, prompting Mikael to take it. He then watched as Sam reflexively put his passport into the turnstile and walk forward just as the red X turned to a green circle as if this was the hundredth time he had done this. Once he was through, Sam stood patiently until his passport was fed back through. Upon grabbing it, he placed it in his pocket and walked to the pad, Mikael and Divvy quick to follow him.

“Hey, so…” Mikael muttered aloud, “Sam. Obviously it’s too late to turn back now, but… what’s it feel like?”

Sam continued walking. “What? Going from one world to another?”

“Yeah.”

“Well, your feet’ll vibrate a little…”

As Sam stepped up onto the platform, Mikael couldn’t help but stop in his tracks. “Is that it?!”

“That’s it, man! Now come on up so we can meet your new teachers!”

Mikael jogged up onto the center of the pad beside Sam, Divvy quick to be beside him too.

“Sir!” one of the male technicians called out to Mikael. “Please have your Bronzong rest on the platform so that it can transport it too.”

Mikael nodded, understandingly patting his Pokémon’s side. “You heard the man, Divvy.” As if sensing Mikael’s meaning, Divvy did exactly as the technician instructed. “Also, can I put my bags on the pad?”

“Whatever you want! Just as long as they’re connected to someone or something on the pad, it’ll come with you.”

With a shrug, Mikael put his duffel bag down.

“Are you all ready?” another technician called out.

“I think so!” Sam exclaimed. “Mikael?”

“Yeah, man! Let’s go!”

“Alright.” The technician returned to his computer, speaking through his headset. “Establishing connection to Ponyville Center.” The machine turned on underneath Sam and Mikael’s feet, the two of them only feeling a mild vibration. “Connection complete. Prepare warp to platform 3.”

A railing rose up from the edge of the platform, the light fixtures upon which began to glow brightly. Soon, the platform underneath them also began to light up. Mikael’s breathing quickened as the gravity of his situation became clearer by the second.

“It’s okay,” Sam cooed. “Just calm down and stand up strong; you’ll be fine.”

As rays of even brighter light began to pierce through the floor as it turned a brilliant white, Mikael held his breath and tensed up the muscles in his legs, ready for the ride of his life. Soon, the light rose to envelop his vision, along with Sam and Divvy’s. Mikael closed his eyes tight as he felt his body get slightly heavier and heavier. Just then, he felt a massive tug down before his normal weight returned and the lights got dimmer.

Opening his eyes back up, Mikael found himself in a similar room as before, only the technicians monitoring the teleportation were primarily equine in appearance. Even with the comically-identical labcoats that they all wore, along with the companion Pokémon working beside them making it feel a little more like home, Mikael was too in awe to care. Divvy floated slowly from behind him and out, also enraptured by the sight.

“Oh my god…” Mikael gently shook his head. “We’re actually here.”

“Transportation complete,” a unicorn mare technician exclaimed, the outer railing descending into the floor of the pad. “Welcome to Ponyville, guys! Whenever you’re ready, you can step out into the lobby and exit the building whenever you wish.”

“Thank you.” Without missing a beat, Sam quickly walked down the stairs and made his way to the lobby, the hallway leading to it also secured with another turnstile.

Mikael couldn’t help but glance back and forth to each employee of every shade, species, and gender, but upon seeing Sam already so far ahead, he jogged off the platform to catch up, Divvy flying close behind.

“Thanks a lot,” he quickly, but sincerely bid to the mare. “Sam, hold up!”

As they walked through the cozy town down the grassy roads, Mikael and Divvy’s sights were virtually anywhere but forward, looking at the hay-roofed buildings with rustic architecture, along with the odd pegasus, Tailow, or Pidove that would fly overhead. Periodically, Sam would receive a kindly morning greeting from a passerby, which he was enthusiastic to return. Mikael earned mildly curious stares from the earth ponies and unicorns that surrounded him and Divvy, but neither could keep their focus on them for nearly as long, desperate to see the next amazing thing that they’d see once they turned the next corner.

“Amazing, isn’t it?” Sam’s query brought Mikael and Divvy to look primarily forward again.

“I mean…” What could Mikael possibly say? “I saw your match with Alice on TV last year, and I saw all those ponies who watched it in person, but… it’s just so much different getting to see all them in person. This is… just truly–”

“Magical?”

Mikael frowned, finding the choice of word a bit too silly. “I was thinking more ‘incredible,’ but…”

Sam chuckled. “Trust me, this place has that effect.”

Looking even more around, Mikael looked over and saw an earth pony stallion walking alongside a Midday-from Lycanroc and another Pokémon that appeared as a reddish-brown fox with tufts of black fur on its eyes and snout like a robber’s mask and a moustache.

“There are a lot of Pokémon living here,” Mikael commented. “Did you do all that?”

“Me?” Sam felt both entertained and honored that he’d even credit himself with such an endeavor. “Oh no! I mean, I helped, sure, but I certainly can’t take all the credit. Don’t worry, you’ll meet the real brains behind that today.”

“Wasn’t really worried, but alright, cool…”

After several more minutes of walking and otherwise silent observations, the three finally reached a large hill where the School of Friendship, looking exactly like the picture Twilight used in her slideshow, was nestled. Mikael seemed to know enough at this point to not stop walking, but as he continued his advance on what would be his new home, his eyes refused to leave the majesty of the building and the space it occupied.

“Just be sure to watch your step,” Sam quietly warned. “Sure, it’s a straight shot to the front door, but the walkway can still be slippery if you’re not careful.”

Mikael blew a rueful sigh, saddened that he’d have to tear his gaze away, but as they approached the pond that separated them from the front doors, Mikael was indeed mindful to watch out for the puddles both large and small that had splashed up onto the path at some point. Once they safely made it up to the large golden doors with green-stained glass, Mikael closed his eyes, both thankful for Sam’s warning and preparing himself for whoever, or whatever, he’d meet beyond them.

Sam opened his mouth to talk to Mikael, only for him to speak first. “Divvy, you wouldn’t mind, would you?”

Sam nodded in appreciation as Divvy stretched its handle-arms out at the doors, a magenta energy forming around the handles. Mikael couldn’t help but hear murmuring inside, but he simply decided to attribute the noises to the creaks of the door as Divvy began to pull them open.

Mikael and Sam continued to stand by as they began to see the massive interior of the entryway. However, the thing that immediately caught Mikael’s eyes were the eight ponies and small purple-and-green dragon that stood in a row further back along the carpet that fed into both ends of a perpendicular hallway. While Mikael felt himself seize up to see all of them eagerly awaiting to greet their newest student, Sam smiled fondly as he stepped inside to approach them.

“Sam’s back, baby!” Sam threw his arms out, welcoming the ponies to come greet him.

Rainbow Dash and Fluttershy both flew over toward him as their other six friends trotted up right beneath him. Spike, meanwhile, took off on a pair of small wings of his own, joining Rainbow Dash and Fluttershy up in the air. From behind Starlight and her Sylveon that walked beside her, a Lurantis and Salazzle both scurried ahead to come greet their former trainer.

Sam gasped excitedly to see them. “Hey, guys! It’s so good to see you again!”

Falling to one knee, Sam kept his arms open and let the two Pokémon rush into them, Sam hugging them as tightly as their smaller bodies would let him.

“Sam!” Sam looked up to see Fluttershy land on the ground and join Starlight as the two approached him first.

Lurantis and Salazzle stepped aside to let the two ponies hug their best human friend, Sam putting an arm around each of their necks and pulling them in tight. As the others awaited just behind them, Mikael and Divvy slowly walked in, uncertain at which point he’d be greeted too.

“Hey, lookie! Our new student has arrived!” Mikael dropped his bags and jumped up nearly half his height to hear Pinkie Pie’s voice behind him, despite certainly seeing her with her group of friends.

Upon landing and turning around, Pinkie Pie was surely right behind him, just as he heard. Divvy simply turned around to face the pony that made her introduction first.

Mikael slumped over with his hands supporting the rest of him on his knees. “Is… is that just something she does?”

“You’ll get used to it, sugar,” Applejack said.

“Sorry to frighten you, Mr. Meeky!” Pinkie Pie apologized. “You don’t mind if I call you Meeky, do ya’!”

Mikael turned to Sam, who only shrugged in response before he turned back to her. “I actually… prefer Mikael, if that’s okay!”

“You’re right, I kinda’ like Mikael too!” she squealed with an excited bounce. “It kind of has a neat smokiness to it, you know, like, ‘Mee-kaaaalle.’”

The extra rasp she added to the name certainly gave it the quality she assigned it, but Mikael was just a little too overwhelmed to reply at that point.

“Anyways,” Pinkie Pie resumed, “I’m Pinkie Pie. I teach the Laughter class here at the School of Friendship. Please, meet my other friends! They’ve been waiting all morning to meet you too!”

Before Mikael could say a word or make a move in compliance, he felt Pinkie Pie physically herd him over to Twilight and the others, Starlight and Fluttershy standing back in line to join them.

Twilight walked up first. “Mikael, it’s so wonderful to meet you in person!”

Reaching her hoof out, Mikael awkwardly grabbed hold of it and gave it two equally-awkward shakes. “Yeah… likewise.”

Twilight sympathetically giggled. “No need to feel anxious, Mikael. We completely understand this is a completely different change of pace for you, so if this feels a bit much and you want us to keep our distance, we’ll do whatever makes you comfortable.”

“No, it’s…” Mikael scratched the back of his neck, feeling ashamed. “Yeah it’s a lot to take in, but I mean, I came here to make new friends, so if you feel the need to break down any walls I happen to put up, please, fire away!”

“Alright! Love the attitude!” Rainbow Dash swooped out in front of him and put her hoof out at him. Upon trying to take hold of it, she pulled her hoof away and gently pounded the fist he incidentally made. “Rainbow Dash, best Loyalty teacher at the entire school.”

“You’re the only Loyalty teacher at the school,” Rarity replied in deadpan as she stepped up next. “Apologies, darling. Rarity, teacher of our Generosity class, and I must say, you looks quite fierce in that jacket of yours.”

“Uh… thanks!” Mikael felt comfortable being the one to offer his hand this time around.

After Rarity let him take his hoof, she stepped back to let Fluttershy go next. “I’m Fluttershy. I like your Bronzong.”

Mikael blinked, almost having forgotten that he even had one. Turning back, he saw as Divvy tilted out from behind its trainer and waved at Fluttershy with one of its arms, its bashful act making her giggle.

“I teach the Kindness class,” she explained, holding her hoof out, “and I look forward to seeing you in my class.”

Once Mikael looked back to her, he shook her hoof.

Applejack stepped out next. “Howdy, Mikael. Name’s Applejack. I’ll be your Honesty teacher this year, and we’re glad to have ya’ on.”

“Glad… to be on!” Mikael responded, the two reaching out and shaking at the same time.

Finally, Starlight came forward and reached her hoof out. “And I’m Starlight Glimmer, vice-principal of the School of Friendship. Fluttershy and I go way back with Sam.”

After Mikael shook her hoof, Spike stood in line and simply waved. “And I’m Spike. I’m… with Twilight.”

Mikael pumped his fist, wanting to seem supportive. “Right on.”

Spike smiled nonetheless. Twilight then stepped forward once again.

“We appreciate you coming in so early this morning,” she told Mikael. “We though it would be best to give you a tour of the school and help you know where each classroom is and where the library is. Oh! And there are plenty of bathrooms here too! Don’t worry, we installed a human-sized toilet in each one so you don’t have to–”

“Hey, Twi?” Applejack poked her on the shoulder, stopping her tangent. “I’m sure Mikael can figure out how to use a bathroom.”

Mikael couldn’t withhold a chuckle, only to grimace upon doing so. “I’m sorry, I shouldn’t have laughed.”

“Please,” Twilight said, “don’t be. I tend to get a bit high-strung when I want to make sure things go right. But even without the bathrooms, we still have a lot of ground to cover today, so please, Mikael, Divvy, follow us.”

“Oh!” Fluttershy gasped. “So Divvy’s its name? Where’d you come up with that?”

Mikael glanced left and right nervously. “It’s a long story.”

After an oddly uncomfortable second of silence, Sam walked toward the back of the foyer, Lurantis and Salazzle following him. “Hey, why don’t we give Mikael that tour now! We still have to show him the other part!”

As the six ponies, dragon, and Sylveon each muttered in agreement and began following him, Mikael and Divvy stood in place. “Other part?”

“Did Sam not tell you?” Rainbow Dash then let out a single loud whoop of a laugh. “Boy, are you in for a surprise. Come on, get your stuff and follow us!”

With Sam, the Pokémon, and Equestrians making their way inside without a sign of stopping for him, Mikael scooped both of his bags up and ran after them, Divvy hoisting itself up and soaring after him.

Chapter 3 - Stringshot

Twilight led her group back into the main hallway where they all began, Mikael and Divvy leading behind her, followed by Sam, his two former Pokémon, and the rest of Twilight’s friends. Mikael looked about his surroundings, noting and confirming with himself that this was indeed where he started.

“So,” Twilight began to ask Mikael, “what do you think of the school?”

“Hold on, that was it?” Mikael’s question left some frowns on Twilight’s friends’ faces. “I mean, you didn’t even show where Sam’s classroom is yet.”

“You’re right,” Sam replied. “My classroom isn’t in this building, at least, not anymore. Heck, it’s not even on the same world…”

Sam’s light purring on the last word left Mikael confused. “…I’m not sure I understand.”

“We’re going to take you there next,” Twilight spoke in. “We just wanted to show you around the main campus before we move on to the next one.”

“Main…” Mikael began to visibly piece it together in his head. “Wait, so… you mean…”

“Yep.” Sam nodded, already certain that Mikael understood.

Mikael’s mouth opened partly upon fully realizing it. “Whoa, okay. And by the way, I wasn’t trying to knock your school or anything; it all looks very nice. In fact, it looks a lot nicer than most places I’ve been to.”

“Thank you very much,” Twilight said with a slight bow of her head. “We know you didn’t mean any harm by what you said. Now, if you could follow Sam and I to the eastern wing, we can show you around the new campus.”

“And we’ll be heading back ourselves,” Starlight added. “We have a little more administrative duties to attend to, so we’ll let you all have fun.”

“Bye Mikael!” Pinkie Pie bounded up over her friends to ensure she could be seen. “We’ll see you in class!”

As the ponies made their way down the other end of the hallway, Pinkie Pie bounced up and down at smaller heights as she went along with her friends.

“Lurantis,” Fluttershy sweetly called, “Salazzle!”

Sam knelt down to and faced his two Pokémon. “I gotta’ run for a bit, but I’ll be back to play with you some later today, alright?”

Lurantis and Salazzle happily chattered before giving him a quick hug and scurrying back. Lurantis slowed down and walked beside Starlight and her Sylveon while Fluttershy smiled upon seeing Salazzle come up beside her. Sam gave a nod to the group before turning and making his way down the other hall where Twilight and Spike were standing and waiting.

Mikael and Divvy quickened their pace to come up beside him. “Hey, Sam, so… if your Lurantis and Salazzle are living with them now, who’s taking their spots on your party?”

Sam proudly patted the two Poké Balls on his clip that were once occupied by his Lurantis and Salazzle. “Took some time in the Galar region last summer. And don’t worry, other than mine, those two are in the best possible hands.”

“Wouldn’t that be ‘best possible hooves?’”

“Alright, Mikael,” Twilight suddenly butted in, “follow me.”

As they continued going down the hallway, Twilight kept her eyes straight ahead, their destination no doubt in the same direction.

“So,” Mikael muttered, “if this other campus is back in our world… shouldn’t we go back to the EarthQuestria center?”

“No need, Mikael!” The excitement in Twilight's voice was palpable. “You see, shortly into our first semester, I saw the impact that Sam was leaving on our students, which made me realize that we needed to begin including humans as well as the creatures of my world into the School of Friendship. As I already explained in your acceptance message, my goal is to help bring Equestrians, humans, and Pokémon to a point that we can freely live and coexist in each others worlds, and so I decided to add another campus of the School of Friendship right in your world.”

Twilight continued talking as they neared the double doors at the end of the hall. “Now, even as a founder of both the School of Friendship and the EarthQuestria foundation, I still needed some support to help bring my plan into fruition, and lucky for you, you’re about to meet that support in just a few short moments.”

As magic surrounded her horn, it also surrounded both handles as Twilight opened them up to reveal the space inside. The room was appropriately wide enough, but it appeared to stretch on down to another doorway on the other side, even though Mikael felt certain that there wasn’t nearly enough of the building in that direction for a room so long to exist. Running flush along the floor, walls, and ceiling around the center of the room was a pristine metal frame with bright circular lights inside of them, their gentle humming nearly silent on the ears of everyone inside.

Standing on the other side of the frame were two women. Standing straight and attentive was a slender woman in her mid 30’s wearing a casual all-black outfit consisting of a sleeveless top supported by her neck, a shoulderless black sweater, and tight-fitting slacks, which made her pale face and dark-red hair pop out. Beside her in a slouch was a teenaged girl with ebony-hair and light-brown skin. Her outfit was a bit sportier, consisting of a short-cut orange jacket over a tight, black, waist-cut black shirt and a short khaki shirt over black leggings that ended below her knees.

Twilight walked up to the two women, passing over the frame. “My apologies, Ms. Sixsmith. I hope I didn’t keep you waiting long.”

“Not at all, Twilight,” the older woman replied, the subtle regalities of her accent matched by her volume. “And please, call me Rosanna when we’re not engaging in business as usual.”

Twilight hopped up and let Rosanna take both of her hooves in her hands in greeting before she getting down to all fours again.

Sam and Mikael stepped past the frame, Mikael approaching Twilight and the two women first. “Wait, Rosanna Sixsmith? As in the Rosanna Six–”

As Divvy passed through the frame, an ethereal, metallic sound came out from it. Everyone turned in the frame’s direction and watched as the space of the room behind them warped and bent around, the lights inside now a foreboding red. Once the area reverted back to normal, the red lights faded back to their original glow. Mikael’s mouth hung open, completely baffled by what he just saw.

“What… was that?” was all he could stammer out.

“Hmph.” Rosanna couldn’t help but find Mikael’s shock amusing. “That was the Gateframe recalibrating itself. Magic is still sensitive to Psychic energy, and your Bronzong interfered with it when it passed through.”

“Passed…” Mikael whipped around to face her again. “Wait, so, are we in the other campus now? Was that some kind of portal we just walked through?!”

Rosanna let another grin grow on her face. “Bright kid. And yes, I am, in fact, the Rosanna Sixsmith. I take it you’re a fan of my work?”

Mikael enthusiastically shook her hand. “I mean, I’m more impressed by your story than anything. I mean, the heir to the Sixsmith empire swoops in and singlehandedly saves Macro Cosmos? Truly amazing stuff!”’

“Well, I can certainly tell you that I can’t take all the credit, but I appreciate the flattery nonetheless.”

“Rosanna.” Sam came up to her next and took both hands before respectfully pecking both cheeks. “How goes things here?”

“Wonderful, Sam. And such a pity that I didn’t see you take on the Gym Challenge again this year. I would have happily sponsored you again if you simply asked.”

“Eh, I had my hands full getting him ready for the school year,” Sam replied, snapping his head in Mikael’s direction. “Besides, there’s only ever room for one Brier in any region anymore.”

“Yes, I’ve heard your sister is taking it on herself this year; I wish her all the best!”

The girl accompanying Rosanna crossed her arms and huffed, her impatience beginning to get the best of her. Mikael was quick to notice this, approaching her with Divvy close by.

“Sorry,” he said to her, “didn’t want you to think that we all met up here just to ignore you.”

“Hah, good,” she said with a sardonic smile, “I was getting worried for a second. So, you’re the new kid? I guess that makes both of us.”

Mikael reached forward, the girl quick to meet his hand with hers. “Mikael. Yeah, and that’s my Bronzong, Divvy.”

“Cute name,” she replied. “I’m Jacqui. I’m sure you already figured this out too, but we’ll be classmates this year.”

“Yeah. Figured. Right.” The clumsiness of Mikael’s response made Jacqui giggle.

“Looks like you two are already getting along,” Twilight interjected, stepping in along side them. “If I didn’t know better, I’d say you should be teaching classes here, not taking them!”

“Oh, dear me!” Rosanna then approached them alongside Sam, looking at Mikael in particular. “Have you been carrying those bags with you all morning? Come on, let’s drop them off at your dorm.”

Rosanna reached for the center Luxury Ball on her Poké Ball clip, detaching it and tossing it off to the side of the room. From the white energy that streamed out from the ball upon its opening was a large, purple scorpion-like Pokémon with two clawed arms protruding from the side of its head that matched its tail.

“Drapion,” she charmingly commanded, “please take this gentlemen’s bags as we head to the dorm rooms.”

As the Drapion approached him on its four tiny legs, Mikael quickly handed them over to the intimidating creature, who gripped them by their straps and began to exit the room. Rosanna walked ahead and held the door open for her Pokémon as it skittered to the direction of Mikael’s lodging.

Rosanna then motioned her arm into the direction of the still-open doorway. “Shall we?”

Divvy pulled both doors open with its psychic powers, allowing Rosanna’s Drapion to come inside. Mikael was next to enter, followed by Jacqui, Rosanna, Sam, and then Twilight.

“And here’s where you’ll be staying,” Sam explained. “We have more Equestrian students coming in in the first couple of days, so we thought we’d get you bunking together before someone else can call dibs.”

Mikael looked about, seeing ten bunk beds lining each of the side walls with a large dresser to the right of each one. Rosanna’s Drapion walked over to the far end of the room and toward the beds on the left, the bottom bunk already disheveled from recent use.

Mikael followed the Drapion as it placed his things on the ground next to the bed. Mikael frowned to see several individual loose articles of clothing scattered around an open duffel bag where only a couple of shirts, socks, and pairs of underwear seemed to make it. Jacqui, seeing the expression on his face and realizing her error, ran over and began pushing her clothes on the floor into a single pile before dropping them into the bag, partially flattening it and leaving a small mound.

Mikael stared at Jacqui, who looked back to meet his judgmental gaze. “Guessing those were yours?”

Jacqui pouted her lips tightly in embarrassment, only to be interrupted from whatever retort she was going to make by Rosanna. “Jacqui, I told you to take care of that before he got here. My sincerest apologies, Mikael. Jacqui will do better to keep her space clean in the future, I assure you.”

“Don’t sweat it, Ms. Sixsmith,” Mikael dismissed with a hand-wave. “Chances are we may end up washing each others undies by accident time and again.”

Jacqui went from flustered to laughing, especially to see the blush on Rosanna’s face.

Rosanna quickly composed herself, looking serious. “Well, when the other students come, I’m sure they would prefer not to have to see any of your *ahem* undies…”

“Sure thing,” Mikael agreed before looking to Jacqui. “So, looks like you got bottom?”

Jacqui shrugged. “You cool with top?”

Mikael shrugged back. “I’m cool with top. I mean, Divvy’s going to be sleeping next to our bed while we’re here, so I hope you’re cool with him hanging out on your level.”

Jacqui looked over to Mikael’s Bronzong, it’s sharp-eyed stare already piercing into her soul and making her shiver. “Can’t you just keep him in your ball?”

Mikael put his empty hands out. “What ball?”

“You mean… you don’t keep your Bronzong in a ball?”

“Nah. He likes to stick around.”

Jacqui hung her head in defeat. “Fine. You get bottom.”

As she began making her bed for him, Mikael stole a quick backslap against the end of Divvy’s handle-arm, congratulating their successful attempt to ensure they slept together.

“Once Jacqui’s finished,” Twilight spoke up, “can we show them around town?”

“Yes,” Rosanna agreed, “certainly.”

Mikael picked his head up and turned. “Town?”

Rosanna led the group down the wide staircase and toward the large front doors at the other end of the foyer. “So yes, Twilight and I agreed that putting up just a single campus building out in the middle of the Kalos region wouldn’t really be very stimulating for the students that will be soon to arrive here.”

“Oh wait,” Mikael interrupted, “we’re all the way in the Kalos region now?”

“Sam never told you? My word, that boy loves his surprises.”

“You’ll see it when you walk through the door,” Sam told him, “so go ahead, check it out.”

Doing as he was told, Mikael and Divvy rushed ahead, pushing through the doors and squeezing in between the space. Upon getting to see what Sam was building up toward, he once again was compelled to stop over what he was seeing. Directly in front of him was a marble-bricked street separating him from a massive plaza and rows of stone buildings on either side of it across the way. Though only a few humans and ponies were out and about on their own business, he relished the thought of what it would look like when more would come.

Looking to the left, there was a neighborhood of compact, but modern-looking houses arranged in a cozy subdivision, more city buildings wrapping around it and extending further down. To the right, even more of the small city revealed itself, the mystery of what existed down there making Mikael swallow his spit with unquenchable anticipation.

Mikael couldn’t even hear Sam and Rosanna as they came up from behind. “Pretty amazing, isn’t it?”

“How…” Mikael felt his throat dry quickly, “How did…”

“It’s amazing what the combined efforts of people, Pokémon, and ponies can accomplish in just a few months’ time,” Rosanna interjected. “Twilight and I came up with the idea to build a small little commune around the new campus so that young Equestrians can experience the little wonders our world has to offer.”

“There’s really nothing little about it,” Twilight added. “This is going to be home to so many people and Equestrians in just a few short days, and it’s all thanks to your help.”

“Wait,” Mikael interrupted, “what’s all in here?”

“Well,” Rosanna answered, “we have several Pokémon Centers, plenty of restaurants and eateries to cater to both human and Equestrian diners, different types of stores, as well as an entire shopping mall. I also heard a little rumor that you really like to skate, Mikael…” Mikael slowly turned his head as if an otherworldly force did so for him. “…so I took the liberty of installing a rink as well. And before you ask, yes, it includes both a roller rink and an ice skating rink.”

Mikael let out his breath at once, his eyes growing misty as his appreciation physically overflowed out from him. “I think I love you…”

“And we also have a bowling alley, some arcades, two parks, two movie theaters, and a few gyms if you want to find other ways to entertain yourself.”

“Yeah, thanks…” Mikael was clearly still too enraptured with the prospect of getting to ice skate to care about anything else she listed.

Rosanna giggled, happy to have made him happy. “And, being that it’s still so early in the morning, I thought I’d let Jacqui show you around, being that I’m sure she’s already explored every alley and corner of it. You think you could do that, Jacqui?”

“Yes, ma’am,” Jacqui replied with mock disinterest and a lazy salute.

She nodded affirmatively, noting her clear sarcasm. “Then we can leave you two to it. Mikael, welcome to Poniose Town.”

“Poniose…” Mikael looked for a horizon to try and tell exactly where this place was located.

“We’re located just west of Lumiose City,” Sam explained, “and the School of Friendship campus here is connected to the main campus in Ponyville, we just decided to combine the names together. Very creative, we know.”

“Sam, please,” Rosanna softly begged, “let’s let them explore the city on their own.”

“Yes, right. Well, Mikael, Jacqui, I’ll leave you both to it. And whenever you’re ready to take a look at my classroom, just holler for me, okay?”

Mikael nodded and smiled. “You got it, Sam.”

With a farewell wave, Sam and Rosanna began to return to the inside of the school, Twilight following close behind. As Mikael and Divvy watched them off, he suddenly felt a tapping on his shoulder, whipping around to see Jacqui bent over slightly to be at eye level with him.

“So,” she purred, “you like to skate, huh?”

Mikael looked around, uncertain of the sudden sultriness she pressed him with. “Uh…”

“Cool! Hold up, let me grab my blades and my balls and I’ll be right down!”

Jacqui ran back into the building, leaving Mikael alone with Divvy to ponder just how he was going to survive at least one year with her.

Mikael walked down the plaza with Divvy while Jacqui coasted alongside him on the opposite side, her orange-and-white roller blades climbing up her calves like snug boots. As they passed an earth pony mare walking by, she gave her a friendly wave while Mikael kept his hands in his pockets, opting to flick his chin up to her as if to say, “How are you doing?”

“So, how do you know Rosanna?” Mikael asked. “You certainly don’t look like her daughter or anything, so did she handpick you for the school like Twilight did for me, or what?”

Jacqui swung around and began to skate backwards to face him. “If you really want to know, I’m actually her apprentice!”

“What?! Her apprentice? How’d you manage that?”

“Fun fact: I actually grew up in the same city as her.”

“Ah, a Castelia girl. Still though, I’m curious. How’d someone who can’t even keep their dirty laundry in one place get to become the apprentice to the chairwoman of one of the most powerful corporations in the world?”

Jacqui spun around and skated back to beside Mikael, nearly running over his foot and making him flinch. “Yeah, okay, so I don’t come from the ‘good’ part of the city like she did; some days were tougher than others and I had to do what I needed to to get by.”

“Hmm, do I sense the plot thickening?”

“So one day, Rosanna was in town overseeing the installation of a new MC Bank in my neighborhood…”

Rosanna stood on the other side of a dirty street as she watched a group of construction workers install a “MC Bank” sign over the center of the building, a black parasol in her right hand blocking the harsh sun from her skin. Just then, an orange, black, and green blur whooshed behind her, managing to snatch the small purse that hung from her left shoulder.

“Haha, what?!” Mikael couldn’t help but hop around as he laughed. “You seriously tried robbing her?”

“In my defense, it wasn’t like I was targeting her. She just looked like someone who would carry some serious cash on her. Of course, I didn’t find out who she was until later…

A bruised and scuffed-up Jacqui laid upon the ground with her hands holding up her upper half, doing her best to serve as a barrier to a leafy bipedal insect Pokémon hiding behind her. Four police officers kept her cornered against the wall at the end of the alley where they managed to trap her. Rosanna quickly walked up to Jacqui, but calmly slowed down upon passing between the center two officers and leaving only open space between them.

Squatting down, Rosanna picked up the purse that laid near Jacqui’s fingertips, opened it, and produced an ivory-white handkerchief that she handed to her. Jacqui nervously wiped the dirt and small amount of blood on her cheeks, keeping her eyes on Rosanna the entire time.

“What’s your name?” Rosanna finally asked.

“She dropped all charges against me;” Jacqui further explained, “told me that I have a drive that I could use to help the world and took me in.”

“So a pickpocket gets caught and is rewarded with serving under one of the world’s most powerful women and getting to attend a massively exclusive school in Equestria.” Mikael’s straight-faced reply left Jacqui pursing her lips in anger. “Why didn’t I think of that?”

“Okay, Mr. High-and-Mighty, how’d you get into the school?”

“My aunt signed me up.” Mikael kept walking, not even bothering to glance at Jacqui.

“Your aunt?” Jacqui swung around Mikael from the back and resumed skating backwards, facing him once more. “So, what were your mom and dad too busy to do that or–”

“My mom’s dead and my dad’s a deadbeat piece of shit!”

The sharpness of Mikael’s response forced both Divvy and Jacqui to roll to a stop, the wind completely taken out of the latter’s sails. “Ahh… god dammit. Mikael, I’m sorry–”

“Whatever.” Mikael also stopped. “It’s not like you could just assume that my parents don’t happen to be in my picture. Anyways, I’m feeling a little too bummed out to skate anymore. I’m just going to head back and let Sam show me his classroom.”

Mikael turned on his heels and prepared to head back, only to find Jacqui riding up close and stopping with her face just short of his.

“Mikael, I meant it when I said I’m sorry. Look, I never knew who my dad was, and it’s just been me and my mom until Rosanna took me in. Yeah, I got by thieving before Rosanna began straightening me out, and trust me when I say that I don’t look back on that as fondly as you’d think. I shouldn’t have egged you on, and I don’t want this to be how we start the rest of our year together, so please… will you go skating with me?”

Mikael spent the next several moments looking into her eyes, reading any signs of genuine regret that he might see in them. With another swivel and walk forward, he resumed his assumed path to the skating rink.

“You’re a lousy pick-up artist, you know that?” Divvy rushed around Jacqui and rejoined its trainer.

Jacqui watched him continue walking before skating fast to catch up. “So, that’s a ‘yes?’”

Mikael, Jacqui, and Divvy both entered the rink, a very large building with a full-sized ice rink to Mikael’s left and a casual roller skate rink to his right, both of which had their lights off. In the back was a small snack bar that had not been stocked yet. Between all of them was a booth where roller skates, ice skates, and roller blades of all sizes were hung against the wall for rental. Hearing people enter, a bald middle-aged man with a goatee walked along behind the booth’s counter to see who had arrived.

“Hey, Jacqui!” he said with a pleasant rasp of familiarity.

“Hey Dave!” She greeted back. “I brought the new kid over to check the place out.”

“Cool! Great to see another skater. So, you prefer skates, blades, or perhaps you’re an–”

“Ice skater, yeah,” Mikael confirmed. “I think I’m going to be blading with her today, though.”

“Hey, no worries! What size skate are you?”

“8.”

“Give me a sec, I’ll get those to you.”

Dave disappeared behind the wall to look for Mikael’s skates. Meanwhile, Jacqui made her way over to the skating rink.

“I’m going to warm up for a bit if you don’t mind.” Jacqui seamlessly hopped down from the carpeted floors to the polished wooden one, already beginning to take her first of a few simple laps.

Mikael followed Jacqui on the floor, each and every attempt to speed up and overtake her met with an acceleration on Jacqui’s part. Despite his attempts, she very easily kept her distance and rounded each turn beautifully, never faltering. Divvy watched from the side as its trainer and his new friend had fun, not seeming to care that it wasn’t involved.

“Alright,” Jacqui chirped, impressed. “You can skate.”

“Yeah, it’s not on the ice,” Mikael retorted, “but it’s similar enough.”

“Okay. Are you a fan of Chaser Battles?”

“What?” Where’s this coming from?”

“Nowhere. Well, are you?”

“I… watch them time and again. Why?” Mikael then caught a glimpse of the three Poké Balls attached to Jacqui’s waist. “You aren’t seriously suggesting–”

“Hey, Dave!!” Jacqui skated up to the short wall closest to Dave’s booth. “You don’t mind if me and Mikael here have a quick Chaser Battle, do you?”

“Sure thing,” Dave said with surprising acceptance, “but if you break anything or mess my rink up, I’m telling Ms. Sixsmith.”

Jacqui stayed put and pondered the proposal just as Mikael began to skate by. “Yeah, that figures. Come on, let’s just keep–”

“Mikael,” Jacqui interrupted, spinning around to face him, “tell your Bronzong to get into the rink.”

“Wait, seriously? Didn’t he just say–”

“I’ll get in trouble if I make a big mess, so I guess we just won’t make a big mess now, won’t we?”

Mikael took the rest of his lap to mull over her proposal. Looking at Divvy, he contemplated the moves that it knew, wondering which ones would cause the least damage if any. With Jacqui waiting for his answer, Mikael stopped skating and waited until his momentum propelled him to her.

“Alright fine, let’s go,” he decided. “I’m actually curious to meet your team.”

“Yeah, that’s the spirit!” Jacqui removed the ball closest to the center of her waist and threw it up into the air. “Let’s go, Leavanny!”

With the ball coming open and shooting its energy into the ground, Mikael spun to a stop to watch as the energy formed into a green, leafy insect with a yellow face that featured a wide V-shaped smile and two small red eyes.

“Good thing your Bronzong has that Steel-typeness about it,” Jacqui taunted, “otherwise this wouldn’t last long.”

“Don’t worry,” Mikael said, pushing back to allow Jacqui to stand beside him in a starting position, “it won’t. Divvy!”

Swinging around the entrance to the rink, Divvy flew over and joined its trainer to prepare for battle. Jacqui’s Leavanny looked up at the large bell Pokémon, and it glanced over to look at it, its larger red eyes not seeming to phase the brave and stoic Bug-type Pokémon. With Mikael and Jacqui crouching slightly and twisting their back feet to prepare to push off, both Pokémon prepared to run and fly with their trainers.

“So first to take out the others’ Pokémon or overtake each other by a full lap wins, right?” Jacqui asked.

Mikael cocked his head. “Sounds about the right way to do it.”

“Alright then… 3… 2… 1… GO!”

Mikael and Jacqui pushed off, Mikael’s wide, forceful strides already putting himself well into the lead. As Leavanny sprinted with its arms running behind it, Divvy leaned forward and flew in the most aerodynamic way its body would allow. Mikael swung in front of Jacqui and wound the inner track in the same motion.

“Get ready, Divvy!” Mikael warned.

Once they hit the straightaway, Jacqui wasted no time in declaring an attack. “Leavanny, use X-Scissor!”

Leavanny rushed ahead and leapt forward with its arms tucked over its chest. Swinging them out, Leavanny struck Divvy against its back, pushing it down toward the floor. Divvy managed to regain its placement and took another turn with Mikael, who hugged the inside and refused to let Jacqui pass him.

“Nice job, Divvy!” he said to it before glancing back at Jacqui. “You’re not the only one who knows Bug-type moves. “Divvy, attack with Signal Beam!”

Divvy spun around and aimed its bottom at Leavanny. Striking its sides with its arms, a deep ring was heard as it materialized into a highly-repetitive wave of green rings.

“Leavanny,” Jacqui exclaimed, “dodge it and then attack with Throat Chop!”

Leavanny dove forward to try and avoid the attack from below, but Divvy kept its eyes on the agile insect, tilting down to change the course of its attack before Leavanny could avoid it. Leavanny was slammed into the ground and began to roll to a stop. Mikael, seeing the opportunity, quickened his pace, and Divvy followed suit by facing forward again and rocketing off to follow him.

“Leavanny!” Jacqui widened her stance and positioned herself to skate directly over her Pokémon, bending over and scooping it up in her arms. “Leavanny, are you alright?”

Her Leavanny hopped out of her grasp and swung around to hold onto her back with its arms and legs, its head appearing over her right shoulder. Jacqui looked back and nodded, happy to know her Pokémon’s vigor was as reliable as ever. In the same look, she saw as Mikael and Divvy rounded the turn behind them, both going all out to try and overtake her.

“Alright, Leavanny,” Jacqui exclaimed, “change of plans! Use String Shot on the wall!”

Once Jacqui reached the straightaway, Leavanny shot a thick strand of webbing from its mouth toward the wall in front of it, its trainer reaching her fingers around the strand as it continued retracting out. Once it hit the wall, Jacqui grabbed hold and tugged hard, greatly boosting her speed and managing to put herself half a lap’s distance between her, Mikael, and Divvy. Mikael panted as he tried to maintain his speeds, once again slowly gaining on her. Despite this, he knew he was too far away to declare another attack.

Upon coming out of the next turn, Jacqui pointed at the area inside the drawn outline of the rink’s track. “Another String Shot, a short one this time!”

With another shout, Leavanny produced another rope of web about a yard long, the front end of which hit its target exactly where Jacqui wanted it. Skating as fast as she could, Jacqui then kicked her legs forward and slid toward the web, grabbing it with her left hand. With her speed, she began to swing around the corner in a tight arc that only helped pick her momentum up. Mikael and Divvy spun around to watch this incredible display.

“One more!” On Jacqui’s call, Leavanny shot one last web into the ceiling, yanking its head with it still in its mouth.

Jacqui was pulled up as well, managing to get her skates back on the straightaway and continuing her pursuit of Mikael and Divvy, who she was now beginning to gain on.

“And what an amazing recovery by Jacqui ‘Stringshot’ Sweeney!” Jacqui followed her fake announcement with a series of hard breaths out of her open mouth, imitating a roaring crowd.

“Impressive…” Mikael muttered. “She’s in our sights now, Divvy! Attack Leavanny again with Signal Beam!”

Divvy aimed its bottom out again and shot another wave of warbling energy.

“Not this time!” Jacqui cried. “Now get ‘em with Throat Chop!”

Jacqui crossed her arms over her chest as Leavanny slung itself over her shoulder and planted its feet on her forearms. With a wild swing out of Jacqui’s arms, Leavanny was catapulted up and over Divvy’s attack while Jacqui squatted down and quickly coasted underneath it.

Before Divvy could swing up to shoot its attack at Leavanny, Jacqui’s Pokémon was already coming in too close, its arm raised over its head before slashing down, a black tail following its arm. Upon getting hit, Divvy immediately ended its attack and crashed down into the floor, leaving a sizable divot and a small explosion of splinters.

“Divvy!” Mikael shouted, swinging back around to tend to his Pokémon.

Dave, hearing Mikael’s voice, looked over to the rink and could already see the damages. “Dammit.” He then got his phone from his pocket and began to dial.

As Divvy slowly lifted itself off the floor, Mikael stood back up with it, trying to keep his eyes on both it and Jacqui and Leavanny as they began to take the corner behind them and threatened to overtake them. Divvy groaned as it tried to fully come to.

“It’s okay, bud,” he whispered, showing his back to it. “Let’s do the thing, just like we practiced at Lake Acuity!”

With a single nod, Divvy tilted itself so the top of his head was against the small of Mikael’s back. Jacqui squinted, the area just ahead of her opponents her only goal.

“Alright, Divvy! Zen Headbutt, now!”

With a burst of energy blasting from the bottom of its dome, Mikael was rocketed out toward the corner, leaning in and letting Divvy do all the work. Looking to his right, he was happy to not see Jacqui there ready to overtake him. Reaching the straightaway, he let his leg up and leapt, twisting 450° and landing to face Jacqui and Leavanny. Divvy continued moving, pushing into Mikael’s stomach as he grabbed on to maintain balance and support.

“I may be better on the ice,” Mikael shouted back, “but I can still hold my own on wood too! Divvy, finish Leavanny off with Gyro Ball!”

Mikael shoved off Divvy before spinning to his left and facing forward just as the next curve came, using his momentum to ride with it. With Divvy separated from its trainer, it swung its body in the opposite direction and torpedoed at Leavanny, spinning its body like a drill to the point that its body became a conical blur.

“Leavanny,” Jacqui shouted, “hit it with Throat Chop, quick!”

Leavanny ran straight at Divvy’s advance, leaping up and winding its arm back to strike. Calculating the timing, Leavanny swung with all its might, only for Divvy’s top to ram into Leavanny’s stomach before its own attack could connect. Jacqui slid to a stop as her Pokémon fell to the ground and limply rolled up to her, it’s eyes shut in exhaustion.

“Yeah!” Mikael bellowed, prompting Divvy to race along and rejoin him. “Awesome job, Divvy!”

Jacqui huffed out her nose before quickly pulling a second Poké Ball from her belt with her left hand and returning Leavanny to its ball with the right. As Mikael and Divvy rounded the turn behind her, she held her other Poké Ball up and let it open in her hand, the energy bending up and down onto her right wrist. Forming from the energy stream and hugging onto her arm was a small, fuzzy yellow spider with four proportionally large legs.

Once Mikael came onto the straightaway, Jacqui held her arm up at Divvy and let her next Pokémon shoot a large glob of web that opened up into a large, sparking net. Divvy was too shocked and caught off guard by the spider’s sudden attack to avoid it, letting the organic, electrified net wrap around it and shock it. Divvy fell lifelessly to the ground and rolled out at Jacqui, though its advance was quickly stopped by the web’s natural stickiness.

Mikael slid to a stop rushed to his Pokémon’s aid. “Divvy no!”

After giving her spider a congratulatory scratching of its back, Jacqui approached Mikael as he began trying to rip the web off of Divvy, only to tear his hands away upon it shocking him too.

In his pain, he directed his rage at Jacqui. “That was bullshit and you know it!”

Jacqui put up her hands, stunned by the accusation. “Hey now, I said the first to take out each others’ Pokémon, and it’s not like I haven’t been carrying around three Poké Balls since we left the campus. Plus, if your Bronzong managed to outlast that attack just long enough for both of you to pass me, I would have lost.”

“Well, how am I supposed to get him out of here now?!”

“Here. Take this.” Jacui dug into her jacket pocket and pulled out a Max Revive. “I mean, obviously it would be much easier for you to carry him around in a Poké Ball, but at least once he wakes up, he’ll be strong enough to break out of that.”

“There won’t be any need for that.” The voice of Twilight brought chills down both Mikael and Jacqui’s spines.

Looking over to the entrance to their rink, they not only saw the alicorn standing there, but Sam, Rosanna, and Dave too, the latter crossing his arms in frustration.

“Uh…” Jacqui glanced over and looked at the bits of damage that were caused from their battle. “I’ll help clean up.”

Twilight used her magic to reassemble and repair the bits of broken wood on the floor as Mikael used a flat-surface mop to polish over it, an awake-and-well Divvy floating and observing behind him. Dave sprinkled powdered sand onto the bits of web still stuck to the floor before Jacqui scraped them off with a plastic shovel.

Rosanna walked up to the rink’s manager with her hand over her heart. “Dave, my sincerest apologies for their mess. I’ll be certain to talk to her about this when we leave.”

“Eh, don’t worry about it, ma’am,” he sighed out. “They honestly didn’t cause that much damage, and they’re taking responsibility for it. Plus, not to encourage them or anything, but… they’re both really good chasers. They could easily become pros with skills like theirs.”

Jacqui looked away to smile, hoping not to be seen by her mother, who was busy looking away to contemplate his words. Meanwhile, Sam walked up to Mikael and crossed his arms, a gesture that Mikael appeared cowed by.

“So…” Sam’s frown morphed into a smile. “Did ya’ have fun?”

Mikael gasped, expecting that question the least.

“I mean,” Twilight said, “I wish you two could have found another way or another place to do that, but… it does seem that Dave has mostly forgiven you, and the damages are almost repaired.”

Mikael looked over to Jacqui, who gathered the pile of dusty web in a pair of rubber gloves and placed them into a plastic bucket. “I…” He then felt compelled to nod and smile. “Yeah, I actually did.”

Twilight also smiled. “Well, I’m glad that you were able to bond today. We definitely picked a good pair of kids to attend this school together.”

“And how,” Sam agreed.

Twilight rejoined Sam as they both stepped away from the rink. “Well, my work here is done. Once Dave okays your polish, if you could help Jacqui with the rest…”

Mikael flicked a salute at her from his forehead. “You got it.”

As Sam and Twilight walked away, Dave examined the floor that Jacqui cleaned, seeing little else other than a loose scattering of sand and a few specks of web that could easily be mopped off.

“Hey, Ms. Sixsmith,” Dave called to her, “if you want, you and the kids can get out of here. I should be able to take care of the rest.”

“Are you certain?” she replied. “I certainly don’t want them to feel like they’re–”

“They did a fine job, ma’am. Besides, what good am I if I can’t keep my own rink clean?”

Rosanna breathed a sigh of reluctance, her sense of mercy overcoming her. “Jacqui, Mikael. You’re free to go. Just please no more Chaser Battles in here again.”

“Yes, ma’am,” Jacqui said with a bow.

“Very good. You two have a good rest of your day.”

Rosanna walked to the exit that Sam and Twilight were both stepping out of. As Jacqui walked off the rink, patting the sand clinging to her off onto the carpet, Mikael walked over to Dave and handed him the mop to let him finish touching the rink up. As he stepped onto the carpet to join Jacqui, Divvy sliding up behind him, she began to make for the exit herself, prompting both of them to follow.

“You know?” she inquired. “Dave’s right. We are really good chasers. You did really good yourself, man. That thing you did with Divvy’s headbutt was some really crazy stuff.”

“You know that if it was a one-on-one,” Mikael responded, “I would have totally won that battle.”

“Well, good thing for you is that winners buy the losers lunch.”

Mikael opened his mouth to object, but decided to keep it closed and brush her words off with a shrug. “I could eat.”

Both of them pushed the doors to the exit open, going from the cool, air-conditioned interior and into the harsh summer sunlight outside.

Chapter 4 - Year 2 Day 1

Mikael smoothly skated along the recently polished ice inside the rink, his clothes a simple light-blue long-sleeved shirt and a pair of snug black sweatpants. Much like it would do at Lake Acuity, Divvy monitored him closely from the ice, following him as he deftly sped across and keeping still with every death drop and camel spin he’d perform shortly after. With his headphones and music on, all he could hear of the outside world were the vibrations that carried from his blades to his head as the made contact with the ice.

With one final series of spins, Mikael pulled his feet apart and reached a hand to the sky, keeping his balance to maintain the perfection of his practice routine. There was very little time to enjoy what he felt he accomplished, however, when the sound of a single, rapid series of claps broke him out of his pride. Yanking his headphones down to hang around the back of his neck, Mikael and Divvy turned around to see Sam standing on the other side of the ice rink’s wall with Jacqui, the latter of which continued to clap with canned frustration on her face.

“Cool,” she shouted, “now that I got your attention, let’s go! I’m hungry and want to get to class!”

Mikael grimaced, annoyed. “Class isn’t for another couple of hours. I just wanted to get a good skate in before then.”

“Sorry, Mikael,” Sam called back. “I really wanted to introduce both of you to the new students, and it would honestly be really awkward without you there.”

“Won’t they get to meet me in class soon enough anyways?”

“I just thought it would be nice for you to meet all your classmates at once so you don’t feel like you have to keep introducing yourself all day. Plus, we still need to eat breakfast, and we can always pick something up from the stores along the way.”

Mikael relaxed, starting to understand and appreciate Sam’s logic. “What time are they showing up?”

“Trains have actually been arriving and unloading in Ponyville now. Folks are going to want to take time to catch up before starting class, you know?”

Mikael sighed, quietly skating over the gate to the main floor. “Alright, let me shower first.”

“Please do.” Jacqui’s head faced him the entire time as he exited and hobbled to the locker room. “I really don’t want to be standing next to you smelling like my panties.”

“Why not? You sleep next to them all night just fine.”

Jacqui clenched her teeth as her face went flush, completely unprepared for such a comeback. Mikael stood strong and tall as Divvy helped unravel the laces from his skates before holding them down for him to step out of. After clasping the insides of them, he slipped into the locker room entryway as Divvy stood guard outside.

Sam could only shrug as Jacqui continued to stand, petrified. “Still leaving your–”

“Don’t… ask,” she managed to spit, trembling with humiliation.

In Ponyville, massive crowds of Equestrians and creatures of many shapes and sizes were gathering near the school and counting. As numerous trains lined up from every direction waiting to let its passengers off at the Ponyville train station, the riders that got their turn all went straight toward the School of Friendship, only adding to the group’s massive numbers.

With the walkway forcing the students and their guardians to funnel themselves inside, the foyer of the school was much more sparsely populated by comparison, though it showed little sign of staying that way for very long. Even with the lack of creatures inside as opposed to out, a young, female changeling with light-blue skin and light-red wings weaved around the other gathered creatures as they bid farewell to their children or reunited with friends they had not seen since the start of summer.

With a barely audible whimper, the changeling struggled to find who she was looking for, and with the room only getting fuller, it would only become that much more difficult to look for whom she was searching. Unbeknownst to her, a young dragoness with orange scales and fuchsia spines quietly tiptoed up behind her and slipped her hands over the changeling’s eyes.

“You know you’ll never find any of your friends in the dark, right?” she happily jeered.

Upon turning around, the changeling instantly morphed its shape like a smoke, turning into a bipedal wolf creature with red claws and a large growth of fur coming from its head that was bound into a ponytail by a large blue bead. The sight of her friend’s transformation caused the dragon to yelp and back herself into another creature. Upon the two turning around, the dragon was elated to see that the changeling was the one who she bumped into.

“And you won’t find any of your friends walking backwards into them!” she chirped.

“Ocellus!” The dragon threw her hands up and approached for a hug.

“Smolder!” The changeling and dragon crashed into each other’s embrace. “I missed you so much!”

“Me too!” The wolf then approached Smolder, getting her attention with a tapping of its nose against the back of her arm. “Yep, it’s good to see you too, Zoroark!”

“Good job, Zoroark,” Ocellus praised, pulling one of three Poké Balls from a clip attached to a belt fastened around her waist. “You can come back in now.” Once the red beam from Ocellus’s Poké Ball connected to her Pokémon and brought it back in, she put it back onto her clip so as to continue reconnecting with her friend. “Did we get you good? I thought you’d like it.”

“I sure did! You’re certainly not the shy little bug I first met here last year.”

“I’m certainly trying. Hey, have you seen Sandbar, Gallus, or any of the others yet?”

“Nope. You’re the first one I’ve seen since getting here. Come on, let’s go look for them.”

Walking side-by-side, Smolder and Ocellus carefully scanned the room in search of more of their friends.

Back outside, as the crowds continued to grow, many of the winged creatures took to the air to give themselves some much needed space as well as a better spot to look for their classmates. One of these creatures was a pink-furred hippogriff with a downy blue mane wearing three Poké Balls of her own on her waist as well as a slim rope necklace with a pink pearl fashioned into the shape of a conch shell hanging down.

Using her talons to shield her eyes from the sun, she spied downward and giggled, excited to see dozens of new faces as well as anticipating finding the ones she knew quite well. Just then, a blue griffon with a creamy-yellow chest and stomach flew up in front of her face and hovered there for her to get a good look at.

“Hey there, friendo,” he said, a smug grin on his face. “I was having trouble looking for this pink hippogriff that I had class with last year. If you happen to see her, could you–”

“I’m here!” the hippogriff happily squawked as she locked her arms around his neck. “I’m here, Gallus! It’s me, Silverstream!”

“I know…” Gallus began to wheeze as Silverstream slowly began to crush his throat. “Just… joking…!”

“Oh, sorry!” Silverstream pushed herself away, allowing the griffon to breathe and face his longtime friend. “It’s so good to see you again! Are you looking forward to our next fantas-gical school year!?”

“I dunno’,” Gallus replied with a crossing of his arms and a rolling of his eyes, “not sure if I’m up to it. And I’m certainly not looking forward to meeting those new human students I’ve heard about.”

Silverstream gasped loudly. “That’s right! We have human classmates now! Come on, we have to go find them!”

The hippogriff dove down toward the entrance, her eyes on a large enough empty space for her to land. Gallus, nodding that his sarcasm produced the exact result he desired, flew down to follow her.

Back inside, a large brown yak wearing a turquoise colored blanket and whose two large braids of brown hair were wrapped and tied into rings rummaged the foyer in search of her friends. With the room filling up now, she had great difficulty telling apart many of the ponies with the one she was looking for.

“Sandbar!” she cried. “Ocellus! Yona is here!”

Just then, she noticed as a tree looked to be heading toward her, the Equestrians separating them quickly moving out of the way. Looking up, she was soon face to face with a massive green-and-brown turtle creature with a grassy shell whose left side grew the tree that she spotted

Yona squinted, the sight of this creature ringing familiar to her. “Grot…? Wait, no! Grotle evolve into Torterra! You’re Sandbar’s Toreterra!”

With a happier croak, the Pokémon swiveled around and headed inside the room, leading Yona through the crowd. Only a few yards in, the turtle stopped, confusing her as she looked around, unable to find this “Sandbar.”

“Wait a minute!” she grumbled. “Sandbar not here! Where Sandbar?”

“Yona!” The yak looked to the direction of the call, smiling nonetheless to see Ocellus and Smolder running at her.

“Ocellus! Smolder!” With Yona’s size and stature, both the changeling and dragon were able to jump onto her without pushing her back. “Yona was wondering when friends show up!”

At that moment, a light-green earth pony stallion with a messy mane and tail of two darker shades of green wearing his own Poké Balls galloped into the scrum, laughing as he struggled to hug all three of them.

“Hey,” he gleefully shouted, “looks like Torterra found you okay!”

“Sandbar!” All three of them began to smother him with their affection.

“It’s good to see you all again, too!”

Up above, Gallus and Silverstream spotted the unmissable sight of their other friends as they reunited.

“There they are!” Silverstream squealed, pointing down. “Guys, we’re coming!”

Silverstream and Gallus both dove down and landed between the four of their friends and Sandbar’s Grotle. Upon making their appearance known, Yona, Ocellus, Sandbar, and Smolder shouted for joy and pulled them into their tight-knit hug.

“Welp!” Gallus began to get choked out once again. “The gang’s all here!”

From the right hallway entryway, Sam accompanied Mikael, Jacqui, and Divvy as he led them into the entrance hall. Upon seeing Yona towering above most of the other ponies and creatures inside, Sam smiled and attempted to wave her down, only for her to ignore him as she continued smothering the friends she went many weeks without seeing.

Sam could tell she wasn’t going to humor him. “Come on, here are some students I’d really like you to meet!”

Sam began walking out into the hall, his appearance turning the heads of nearly everyone he walked past. As he was inundated with hoofshakes or some quick words of welcome, Mikael felt his feet bolted to the floor, his body trembling.

“Hold up,” Jacqui egged, “so you weren’t expecting to meet a bunch of Equestrians on the first day?”

“If it means anything…” Mikael gulped. “This looks like way more than just a ‘bunch.’”

“Even better!” Jacqui spanked Mikael hard on his behind, forcing him out into the open.

Mikael bit the inside of his cheek to keep from yelping out, already getting stared at by many of the Equestrians now acknowledging his existence. As the others began to smile, happy to see the new human face, Mikael once again could not get his feet to move.

“Keep moving,” Jacqui warned, walking forward with Divvy beside her, “or I’m smacking the same cheek.”

Mikael suddenly found the strength to move, also working up enough forced courage to wave, smile, and greet the Equestrians that spoke out to him. Sam, already far enough ahead, approached Sandbar and his group as they all got to their hooves, feet, and claws, ready to catch up.

Before they could begin, Silverstream pointed at Sam, her eyes glistening. “Look, it’s Mr. Brier!”

With a collective clatter, Sandbar and his friends all hopped toward Sam, each one taking their time to give him a hug as well. Finally, Mikael, Jacqui, and Divvy got a fuller sight of the six distinctive creatures Sam was conversing with. As Mikael’s feet began to get heavy with reluctance, he suddenly felt a presence behind his left ear.

“I’m winding back…” Jacqui whispered.

Mikael continued to walk, watching as Sam pet the top of Torterra’s head.

“You certainly got big since we last met,” he told it before looking to Sandbar. “When’d he evolve?”

“Just a couple of weeks ago, Mr. Brier,” he responded. “I thought it’d be a nice surprise to show you.”

“You have to check out my Pokémon next!” Smolder stepped forward and took all three of her Poké Balls off before dropping them on the floor.

The three balls opened up and released the draconic Pokémon inside. The first was dark-gray from the stomach down and green from the stomach up, and it had two large blades that protruded out from the corners of its mouth. The second was slender and light-grey with particularly large golden scales growing down its arms as well as the top of its head and the end of its tail. The last Pokémon was dark-blue with a red underbelly and had a strong resemblance to a shark.

“Very nice!” Sam complimented. “They’re all only one evolution away now!”

“And I hope to do so by the end of the year!” Smolder pumped her fist, excited to take on the challenge she set up for herself.

Sandbar looked over to find Mikael and Jacqui approaching, smiling upon realizing who they were. “Look, our human classmates!”

Once their eyes were on him, Mikael and Jacqui both stood next to each other as they let the six creatures walk up to them, each one muttering something inquisitive about him or Jacqui.

“Here we go,” Mikael breathed past his lips.

“Yes,” Sam confirmed, “I would love for you all to meet your new human classmates: Mikael Wallström from the Sinnoh region, and Jacqui Sweeney from the Unova region. Guys, I’d love for you to meet some of my best students: Sandbar, Gallus, Smolder, Ocellus, Yona, and Silverstream.”

“And what about that big bell behind you?” Gallus asked.

Mikael turned around, realizing that Divvy was behind him once again. “Oh, him? This is my Bronzong, Divvy. Before you ask, yeah, he prefers to live outside of a Poké Ball.”

“It’s beautiful!” Ocellus flew above and around it. “I’ve never seen one up close before!”

“T… thanks.” Mikael felt his walls softly erode with the changeling’s kind words. “He’s been my best friend for years.”

“And what kind of Pokémon do you have?” Smolder asked, pointing at Jacqui. “Anything as cool as mine?”

“As cool?” Jacqui pulled all three of her Poké Balls off her clip. “Try cooler!”

Lobbing her balls up, they opened and streamed their energy out, getting Smolder and her friends excited. One bolt of energy formed on the floor as her Leavanny, while the other two wrapped around her wrists, becoming two identical yellow spiders that held onto her forearms tight.

“Oh wow!” Silverstream put her face near Jacqui’s arms, getting the two spiders to vibrate intimidatingly. “Double Joltik action! And look at your Leavanny! So amazing!”

“Amazing my tail,” Smolder sneered. “How can those three bugs be cooler than any of my dragons?”

Jacqui shrugged Smolder’s insult off. “That’s only because you haven’t seen what they can do. I’d be happy to take you on in a battle sometime.”

“Wow, so you’re just going to challenge a dragon you just met to a Pokémon battle?” Smolder then gave Jacqui a wide toothy grin. “Yeah, you’re alright by me, Jacqui! I look forward to that battle.”

Reaching her hand towards her, Jacqui firmly put her palm in Smolder’s as the two sealed their friendship with a shake. As Mikael watched on, he was approached by both Sandbar and Yona.

“I’m sorry,” Sandbar spoke up, “but I don’t think Sam said which part of Sinnoh you’re from. Guessing from your Bronzong, you’re somewhere near Mt. Coronet?”

Mikael betrayed a frown that let Sandbar know that he wasn’t quite correct, but impressively close. “Snowpoint City, actually. I mean, you can definitely get to Mt. Coronet from there, so you’re not entirely wrong.”

“Yona always want to go to Snowpoint!” she blurted. “Any place with snow like home in Yakyakistan is simply best place in whole world!”

Mikael nodded, searching for the words to both calm her down and satisfy her as well. “I’m sure my aunt would love to meet you if you ever get the chance to visit!”

Yona gasped. “Is that it? Did Yona and Mikael just become friend?”

“Sure sounds that way,” Sandbar agreed.

“YES!” Yona slammed her head into Mikael, forcing him to push against her and cradle her chin in his arms.

Despite the strange intimacy of her actions, he couldn’t help but admire the softness of her fur and jaw in his hands, making him feel comfortable enough to scratch the top of her head, which she seemed to enjoy just as much. Sam watched on, stroking his chin in thought.

Finally, with everyone having arrived, the Equestrians all stood in neat rows as Twilight Sparkle stood before them all at the back end of the hall. To her right were her other seven friends, and to her right were Sam, Mikael, Jacqui, and Divvy. Scattered along the edges of the hall and at the very front of the crowd were several photographers, reporters, and cameramen ready to capture the historic moment about to commence.

“Thank you all for being able to come early this morning,” Twilight addressed. “It gives me high hopes for what to expect this year after getting to see so many of you connecting and reconnecting after an entire summer apart. And as excited as I am to see so many new and familiar faces in this crowd today, I would be remissed to not introduce you to two particularly special students who will be learning alongside us this year. Would you please extend a warm, Equestrian welcome to our first ever human students: Mikael Wallström and Jacqui Sweeney.”

The majority-pony audience stamped their hooves on the floor to thunderous effect while Smolder simply cupped her hands over her mouth to shout out Jacqui’s name.

Twilight fanned her hoof to the audience, prompting them to quiet down. “It is my hope that through these two this year, we can show both of our worlds that we are capable of living together in harmony. However, they won’t have to carry that burden alone. As part of the opening of our new campus in the world of Pokémon, we have also created the commune of Poniose Town, which is available to all students and staff here to explore and experience at their leisure. Of course, none of this would be possible without the help of a very special friend, so could you please give just as warm a welcome to our next guest, Rosanna Sixsmith of Macro Cosmos.”

Coming in from the left hallway, Rosanna stepped out into view to the applause, cheers and whistles of the crowd, the flashes of cameras also hitting her face and body. Her outfit, while also entirely black, was far more formal than what Mikael remembered meeting her in. Twilight stepped aside to let her stand in the center and before the colorful array of creatures looking up to her. As if her presence was a gesture alone, the crowd quieted themselves to let her speak.

“Thank you all again for attending,” she began. “When our worlds first made contact with each other, I knew straight away that I wanted to help lead paving the way towards the unification of our worlds. Before I continue, I’d like to thank the EarthQuestria foundation for both providing Macro Cosmos with the resources to connect Equestria and the Galar region together and to make the construction of Poniose Town and its new campus at all possible.”

After a few moments of applause, Rosanna continued. “Twilight and her friends have been most generous in allowing Mikael and Jacqui to learn the wisdom and knowledge of their world, so it is my hope through Poniose Town that I may get to share some of the great aspects of our world to Equestria.

“Included in the welcome pamphlets you will soon receive, along with your class schedules and syllabuses, is a map of Poniose Town and a list of all the amenities it has to offer. And, as a gift to the students from Macro Cosmos, you will also receive a pre-loaded points card that you can use to purchase food, clothes, or anything else you’ll need while you’re here, which will also be entirely replenished at the start of each school week.”

A wave of “Oohs” and “Ahhs” swept over the audience before abruptly breaking into even louder cheers than before.

“While the education of our youth is undeniably the most important thing for any great society, it certainly wouldn’t help to let them have a little fun as well.” A small bout of laughter allowed Rosanna to clear her throat inaudibly. “Most of the stores, restaurants, and establishments will be open by the time school ends today, and I encourage all of you to visit them… after you’ve finished your homework of course.”

Even more laughter erupted as Rosanna relaxed herself, preparing to leave. “Now, you all have very busy first days ahead of you, so I will leave any and all parting words back to Twilight Sparkle. Thank you.”

Twilight Sparkle approached Rosanna as the two engaged in a hoofshake that was captured multiple times by the paparazzos encircling the hall. Once she felt that enough pictures were taken, Rosanna stepped out into the left hallway from where she came, leaving the floor back to Twilight.

“Thank you again, Rosanna,” she spoke. “I really have nothing much more to add than that. Classes start in approximately one hour, which I certainly hope is enough time for everycreature to get their folders containing their pamphlets, schedules, and points card in time to make it to their first classes. Without further to do, to both new and returning students: Welcome to the School of Friendship!”

With a final cheer from the crowd, Twilight and her friends began to line up behind a long table containing several tall stacks of small purple folders organized alphabetically. Meanwhile, Sam motioned for Mikael and Jacqui to stay put while he went back to a smaller table further behind, upon which rested two folders set side by side.

Grabbing them, Sam made his way back and held the folders out to them. “I took the liberty of getting your schedules and everything out for you.” Mikael and Jacqui took the folders, already starting to flip their way through the contents. “You’ll see that I’ve placed you both in the Pokémon II class, because last year mostly covered things about our world that you already know by… well, living there. Now, if there’s nothing else you need from me, I’ll see you in class today! Have fun, you two!”

With a two-fingered salute to both of them, Sam went to join Twilight and her friends in doling out the remaining folders. Having finished with inspecting the folder, Mikael and Jacqui went back to the beginning and plucked their postcard-sized schedules out. They began scanning their eyes down the list of periods, slowly memorizing it better with each repeat.

“When’s lunch for you?” Jacqui wondered, her concentration making her sound monotone.

“Fifth period,” Mikael answered, his voice equally expressive. “Same?”

“Yep. How about that Pokémon class?”

“Last one of the day. You?”

“Same. Here can I see yours?”

Mikael handed his schedule to Jacqui, who glanced back and forth between both sheets of paper as she compared their schedules. Mikael looked off into the crowd, able to see his six new friends with Yona towering above the rest. With a meditative hum, he could only predict which classes he’d share with them.

Mikael, Jacqui, and Divvy walked through the doorway and into Sam’s classroom, which was already about three-quarters full. The three of them stood at the top and looked over the interior: a colorfully-painted lecture hall with a sizable dirt field in the back-center of the floor and a wooden desk tucked away in the left corner. Behind the field was a large garage door that was painted as close the rest of the walls as possible.

“Are we really going to be expected to battle in this class?” Mikael wondered.

Jacqui leaned to Mikael’s ear. “I thought you’d figure that out on your own.”

“Mikael! Jacqui!” Both humans were frozen stiff by Silverstream’s arms suddenly contricting around their torsos. “I just knew we’d get to end the day together! Come on! We saved you some seats!”

Silverstream slowly flew forward, pushing Mikael and Jacqui down the aisle. Several rows down, Sandbar, Gallus, Yona, and Smolder sat beside each other while Ocellus sat directly behind Sandbar, the three seats to her right left vacant. Upon getting to Ocellus’s row, Silverstream let Mikael and Jacqui go to shuffle their way to their desks.

Smolder looked back to the approaching humans and formed two of her claws into the shape of V to greet them. Mikael waved as he sat down next to Ocellus. Before Jacqui could sit down next to Mikael, Silverstream slipped into her spot, forcing her to take the seat beside the excited hippogriff. With both humans now beside her, Silverstream beamed as she patted both of their shoulders, excited to share their first lesson together.

Divvy, seeing the spot behind Mikael open, floated over to it and attempted to position itself onto the seat. With the width of its bottom being too wide to fit between the back of Mikael’s seat and the seat behind it, Divvy opted to simply let itself rest where it could, which resulted in setting itself awkwardly on top of the desk. Several Equestrians behind it parted ways so their view was no longer obstructed.

Finally, the sound of the classroom doors were pulled open, and as the class turned to see who it was, they smiled as Sam, in his typical tank top, jeans, and around-the-waist jacket training outfit, continued his stride down the steps with his Aegislash following behind him. Once he reached the bottom step, he looked at the projection of his Holo Caster and saw that it was exactly 2:20. With a sigh of preparedness, he put his device back into his pocket and faced the class from the center of the field.

“Good afternoon, class!” he greeted.

At once, each student, minus the two token humans, replied happily with, “Good afternoon,” followed by either Mr. Brier or Sam.

“I bet it’s nice that you get to end your day with me, right? Now, it’s good to see so many of you back here again, though if you weren’t able to make the pre-class reunion and meet-up this morning, you may have noticed two new faces who I’d love for them to introduce themselves. Mikael? Jacqui?”

Fanning his hands upwards, Sam compelled Mikael and Jacqui to stand from their seats, looking around over as much of the other students that they could.

“Hey guys!” Jacqui began, waving. “I’m Jacqui, I’m from Castelia City the Unova region.”

“And I’m Mikael from Snowpoint City in the Sinnoh region.”

“Thank you, you two,” Sam replied, prompting them to sit back down. “Now, being that the vast majority of you are from last year’s Pokémon I class, I assume that you’ve been taking good care of the Pokémon you caught?”

Another chorus of, “Yes, Sam,” or “Yes, Mr. Brier” sounded off.

“Great!” Sam stepped back until his back was against the wall, Aegislash joining him. “Then how about a fun little ice-breaker? Mikael, please stand back up.”

Mikael looked left and right first before slowly standing up, confused. “Sam? Sir?”

“Since you and Jacqui are the only new students here, I thought the best way to introduce your Pokémon to your classmates is to battle one of them. Now, who would like to do the honors?”

Sam kept a level eye as he watched a wave of claws and hooves shoot up toward the ceiling, though turned his direction to the hoof he saw first. “Excellent! Sandbar, Mikael, to the front of the class!”

With all eyes on them, Sandbar enthusiastically scooted his way through the rows until he reached the stairs and trotted down them. It wasn’t until Silverstream began nudging the petrified Mikael that he also made his way to the aisle, his Bronzong lifting itself up so that it could accompany him. Soon, Mikael and Divvy were both next to Sandbar and Sam where all students could see them.

“Good,” Sam said. “Guys, go ahead and pick your spots.”

Sandbar trotted to his right, standing on the end there.

Mikael then leaned to Sam, whispering in his ear. “You do know I only have Divvy with me, right?”

“That’s okay,” he responded just as discreetly. “Even I could see how strong its Zen Headbutt was when it attacked Aegislash when we first met. Trust me; this battle’s going to be more evenly matched than you think.”

With an exhausted sigh, Mikael and Divvy went to the opposite end of the field, allowing them to face Sandbar, who already had his first of three Poké Balls out and bouncing off the flat bottom of his right hoof.

“So,” he spoke, a mildly concerned frown on his face, “that’s really your only Pokémon?”

Suddenly, something clicked for Mikael. “And you’ve had each of your Pokémon for only one year at the most. I’ve had Divvy for each year you’ve spent with each of your Pokémon and then some.”

“So it’ll be a real battle of quality over quantity then.” Sandbar felt his smile grow, Mikael’s sudden confidence filling him with similar warmth. “Sounds good! Go, Torterra!”

Thrusting his ball out, it opened up to allow the energy within to morph into the large green tortoise that had greeted Yona earlier that day. Mikael hissed out through his teeth, already intimidated by the might of the Grass and Ground-type.

“Looks like I’m in too deep now,” he resolved. “Divvy! Go!”

Divvy swung out in front of Mikael, separating him from Sandbar’s Pokémon.

“He may be a big guy,” Sandbar exclaimed, “but he’s not slow! Torterra, attack the Bronzong with Crunch!”

Torterra roared and bounded at Divvy, who awaited its trainer’s instruction.

“And he may be slow,” Mikael retorted, “but he can take a hit! Divvy, hit him with Bulldoze!”

Divvy swooped down near the ground, causing the dirt to be displaced as it traveled beneath the Pokémon on its way to Torterra.

“Torterra!” With its trainer’s call, Torterra kept its focus tight on Divvy as it approached.

Upon scooping itself up, Divvy crashed underneath Torterra’s chin and brought its muddy force with it. Before Divvy could fly away, Torterra grabbed a tight hold of Divvy’s handle-arm, refusing to let go as it struggled and moaned futilely.

“Good job, Torterra!” Sandbar punched his hoof out in Mikael’s direction. “Now, hit him hard with Earthquake!”

With Divvy still held in its maw, Torterra picked itself up off its front legs before leaping up on its hind legs. In a quick move, Torterra let Divvy go and pinned it underneath its front feet, letting gravity and its own weight thrust it down to the ground. Torterra slammed Divvy into the floor, creating an explosion of hardened dirt that threw Divvy back up. The audience of students gasped as their eyes tracked Divvy on its way back to the ground, several clumps of earth falling on top and around it.

“Divvy!” Mikael cried. “Come on, get up!”

Divvy pushed off the ground with its arms, shocking Torterra and Divvy with the energy it still possessed despite the hits it already took.

“Like I said,” Mikael repeated, “he can take a hit. Divvy, use Bulldoze again!”

Divvy once again flew low to the ground to carry another torrent of mud, now picking up the large pieces of the field that were left from Torterra’s Earthquake. Divvy slammed into Torterra along with its barrage of rock and dirt, managing to throw it onto its stomach, resulting in a painful roar and a terrible shockwave reverberating around the classroom.

Once the rumbling settled down, Smolder was able to relinquish hold of her desk. “Wow, this match is actually getting exciting!”

“Yona say!” she agreed.

Sandbar, panting as he regained his balance, smiled at Mikael. “That was a nice hit, but Ground-types still trump Steel-types any day! Torterra, another Earthquake!”

“Divvy,” Mikael quickly called, use Zen Headbutt!”

A dome of magenta formed around Divvy’s head as Torterra lifted itself back up to stomp. Just as Torterra began to come back down, Divvy blasted off at the large tortoise and collided into the top of its chest, creating a small psychic ripple that dissipated before it could hit the students in the front couple of rows. The strength of the hit was such that Torterra was tipped back and over, getting stuck on its back while its tree and the stones jutting from its shell propped it up.

“He flinched!” Mikael bellowed. “Perfect! Now, finish him off with Signal Beam, Divvy!”

Divvy got high above Torterra, the eyes of Sam and the other students unable to look away. With a slight tilt of its bottom to aim at its target, Divvy let loose a wave of green, circular auras that reverberated into Torterra, making it grunt and whine as it struggled to withstand it. Finally, Torterra’s head and legs went limp as it fainted, making Sandbar breathe out in shock.

Sam threw his arm in Sandbar’s Pokémon’s direction. “Torterra is unable to battle! Divvy is still in this.”

“Woo!” Jacqui began clapping, leading the others around her to do the same, quickly gaining some respect for Mikael and his lone Bronzong.

Mikael felt a wave of comforting warmth wash over him as the tide of the battle began to turn in his favor. With Divvy floating back to his level, it turned around to seek its trainer’s support and congratulations, and Mikael gave it an enthusiastic thumbs up, which Divvy smiled at.

Sandbar returned his Pokémon into his ball and placed it back on his belt. “Not bad, man. This may actually be close.”

Mikael slightly nodded. “So I’ve heard.”

“Now, let’s see how your Bronzong matches up against this!” Sandbar grabbed another ball from his belt and lobbed it out. “You’re up, Carracosta!”

The ball opened up on the field, and from the energy zapping out from it appeared a large blue turtle with a black, stony shell and mask covering its face.

Mikael suddenly made note of Sandbar’s cutie mark featuring three small sea turtles. “Interesting. I’m guessing your other Pokémon’s some kind of turtle too?”

Sandbar seemed surprised by this insinuation, but suddenly looked back at the mark on his flank. “Aha, uh, yeah. Good eye.”

“Thanks. Now, let’s get back into this. I’m feeling real confident all of a sudden! Divvy, attack his Carracosta with another Zen Headbutt!”

Divvy rushed off at Sandbar’s second Pokémon, striking it in the upper chest as it had done with his Torterra. Despite stumbling back, Carracosta was able to keep itself on its feet, regaining its balance and staring down the suddenly frightened Divvy.

“Yep, now it’s your turn!” Sandbar stood on his back legs and threw his right arm out to point at Divvy. “Carracosta, attack the Bronzong with Bulldoze!”

Pushing off the floor with its feet, Carracosta skidded along the ground and picked up speed with its fins. As it got closer, it picked up more and more dirt that it prepared to hit Divvy with. Divvy, trying to retreat, could not outrun Sandbar’s Pokémon as it slapped the ground and launched itself at the Bronzong. At once, Divvy was blasted with both mud and the weight of the Carracosta ramming it, sending both to the ground. Mikael opened his mouth to speak, but kept silent, suddenly realizing something.

“Alright!” Sandbar exclaimed. “That should close our speed gap! One more time, Carracosta! Bulldoze!”

Carracosta pushed off the ground again, speeding through the thick ring of mud still surrounding Divvy and bashing him once again. Divvy tumbled and rolled back to Mikael, who recoiled to avoid his Pokémon from hitting him. Divvy got back up and shook the mud clinging to exterior off, though even Mikael, Sam, and the students could see that his movements were far more lethargic than when it fought Torterra.

“He can certainly take a hit,” Sandbar commented, “but all Pokémon have their limits. What’ll it do now? Another Bulldoze to even things out?”

“I’ll do you one better.” Mikael’s nervous frown turned into a smirk. “Divvy, use Gyro Ball!”

Jacqui quietly pounded her fist on her desk. “There you go.”

Sandbar gasped as Divvy spun around, transforming into a shimmering tornado that aimed its point right at Carracosta. With the tip running into the large turtle, it tried as hard as it could to both push it off and push against its force. After a few futile moments, Carracosta could not resist Divvy’s strength, getting thrown back as Divvy continued to push forward. Once it reached halfway across the field, Divvy stopped its attack and floated upright as Carracosta collided with the ground, tumbling limply at Sandbar’s hooves. The young stallion winced to see his Pokémon, just like the one before, taken down by Divvy’s might.

Sam once again threw his arm out at Sandbar. “Carracosta is unable to battle. Sandbar has one remaining Pokémon left.”

Mikael panted, the lovely glimmer of victory on the horizon. “Don’t worry, Divvy. We got this.”

With a tired, metallic grunt, Divvy nodded in agreement.

Silverstream squealed as she hugged Gallus tightly from behind. “Isn’t this so exciting, Gallus!?!”

“Silverstream!” Gallus managed to slip out of Silverstream’s grasp, only panting a small amount. “I may be part cat, but I certainly don’t have nine lives for you to keep choking out.”

“It is rather incredible,” Ocellus said, her nearby friends listening in. “Sandbar’s Pokémon are all incredibly diverse both in type and their available attacks, but Mikael’s Bronzong is making short work of all of them. Either that Pokémon is extremely powerful, or they share a bond the likes of which I’ve never seen between a trainer and their Pokémon.”

“And it took you this match to see that, Poindexter?” Gallus remarked. “Those two have been attached at the hips since we met them.”

“Do Bronzongs even have hips?” Silverstream loudly and excitedly asked. “I’ll have to ask before class is over!”

As Sandbar returned his second fainted Pokémon back to its ball, Mikael called back out to him. “Grass-type, and a Water-type. If consistency’s what you’re going for, I’d guess that a Fire-type is next, which means that Torkoal’s gonna’ be your last Pokémon, isn’t he?”

Sandbar chuckled as he shook his head. “You really do have a pretty good head on those shoulders, you know that, Mikael? For what it’s worth, no matter how this match turns out, I’m really looking forward to spending the year with you.”

Mikael’s smile, at first confident and cocksure, softened into one of genuine appreciate and elation. “Me too, Sandbar.”

Sam smiled too, glad to see Mikael so quickly getting into the right spirit.

Sandbar’s warm grin turned cheeky and slightly devious as he brought his last Poké Ball out. “Still, I’m really looking forward to winning this! Let’s finish this, Torkoal!”

Hurling the ball up, it opened and spit out its energy, transforming into a reddish-orange turtle with a smoldering black shell that plumed with smoke from the spout on the back-center of it. Mikael smiled, glad to see his intuition was as reliable as ever.

“And thanks to those Bulldozes your Bronzong took, my Torkoal’s probably faster now!” Sandbar’s assumption resulted in some impressed gasps and sighs from the students. “But, I don’t think he’s fast enough! Torkoal, use Shell Smash!”

Mikael gasped as Divvy was physically taken aback. Torkoal concentrated hard as the black of its shell grew red, then yellow, then blisteringly white. It then shattered and broke apart, leaving its two halves by its side as they cooled on the ground. Torkoal now had a singular red reptilian body with a single spout on its back where it would be on its shell.

“Hoh…” Mikael breathed out. “Going for a hail-mary, are we? Fine, let’s finish this off quick! Divvy, hit Torkoal with Bulldoze!”

Divvy flew close to the ground and collected as much of the dirt it had already been assaulted with during the battle.

Sandbar and his Torkoal carefully watched the Bronzong’s encroachment. “You got this, buddy! Hit Divvy and soften the blow with Body Press!”

Torkoal ran at Divvy and leapt, aiming the top of its back at the top of Divvy’s head. Both Pokémon hit each other, resulting in an explosion of dirt that threatened to splash all the students of the classroom. However, each splatter struck an invisible barrier that pulsed with magic where each bit hit, the crystal gems embedded into the fronts of the desks glowing and maintaining the students’ protection. The students watched the mud fall harmlessly back to the floor with amazement, especially Jacqui. Both Torkoal and Divvy were thrown back to their trainers, each on tumbling themselves back upright and ready to continue fighting.

“That’s what I like to see, Torkoal!” Sandbar yelled. “Now hit Divvy with Fire Blast!”

Torkoal stood on its front legs and aimed its spout in Divvy’s direction. With the inside brightening up, a small orb of red-and-yellow light launched out from it before it expanded into a large star-shaped fire. Divvy was so overwhelmed by the size and speed of the flame that it simply stood in place and covered as much of its eyes and mouth with its arms as it could.

The flame hit Divvy front and center, managing to shield its trainer from as much of the heat and fire as possible as the rest bounced off and shot to the left and right of it. Once the flames dissipated, Bronzong was left panting and smoking in several places as it tried to stand tall and strong. The class watched worriedly as Divvy slowly came to the ground, resting on its bottom as it continued to breathe heavily.

“Looks like Divvy’s got one last hit left in it,” Sandbar said. “The fact he’s lasted this long on his own is pretty radical, man. However, he’s still going to need to make one heck of a hit himself if he wants to take my Torkoal down, even without its shell.”

Mikael breathed out, accepting whichever outcome was soon to arrive. “Yeah, we sure will. Divvy, don’t give up! Let’s do another Bulldoze!”

Lifting itself as much as it could, Divvy swooped down with a loud growl and flew along the floor. As it picked up more dirt to attack with, its tired body couldn’t help but skim the ground as it made its advance.

“I guess that’s all you can do.” Sandbar aimed his hoof at Divvy as it came closer. “Torkoal, another Body Press, quick!”

Torkoal charged out at Divvy and threw the top of its back at it. With a loud roar, Divvy pushed harder than ever right before they slammed back into each other. To Sandbar’s shock, the recoil on his Torkoal was far greater than Divvy’s, the former getting thrown back to its trainer. The sight of this suddenly ignited both Mikael and Divvy’s spirits, both of whom looked about as pumped and energetic as they did upon starting the match.

“Whoa,” a pegasus mare pointed out, “look at those two! It’s like they just got better all of a sudden!”

“How much you think it’s going to hold up?” a unicorn stallion wondered aloud.

The rest of the class was in a clamor, though the noise of the outside world didn’t seem to affect Mikael or Divvy in the slightest; their only focus was on Torkoal and the victory it guarded.

“That’s it, Divvy!” Mikael bellowed, throwing a tight-fisted uppercut into the air. “That should do it! Another Bulldoze!”

Divvy slung itself forward and flew along the ground, its trajectory alarmingly straighter than hit had ever been. Sam’s eyes went narrow and his mouth went slack to see such a turnaround happening before him. Swinging up and over, Divvy’s wave of dirt, rock, and mud swept into Torkoal, throwing him out even closer to Sandbar, who could only stand and watch as his chance of winning quickly disintegrated.

“We got our speed back now, Divvy!” Mikael wound his arm back before throwing a punch in Torkoal’s direction. “Finish him off with Zen Headbutt!”

Following the motions of his trainer’s arm, Divvy continued its momentum and looped back and around before shooting itself at Torkoal, a cone of magenta forming around its top.

“Torkoal!” Sandbar leapt to the side, aligning itself with Torkoal and Divvy.

Divvy drove straight through the pile of mud that the still conscious Torkoal laid on top of. Torkoal was dislodged and flew right at Sandbar, who leapt up with its arms out. His Pokémon crashed into Sandbar’d stomach before he held onto it tight, getting knocked back and tumbling back with it toward the wall behind him. Sam immediately rushed to Sandbar as many students stood up to see if their classmate was hurt.

As the rush precariously wore down, Mikael froze to see Sam tending to Sandbar and the fainted turtle still in his grasp. “Sandbar!”

Mikael ran past Divvy, who also tired out and fell straight down to rest, its eyes half closed. Mikael slid to a stop beside Sam, his breathing quickening as he tried searching for any wounds or injuries.

“Sandbar!” Hearing Mikael’s voice, Sandbar lifted his head to look up at Mikael. “Sandbar, are you alright?”

Though breathing slow as his own energy wound down, Sandbar slowly smiled at him. “Yeah, I’m just fine.” He then patted Mikael’s shoulder with the side of his forearm. “Awesome battle, man. Congrats!”

Mikael, still on his knees, leaned back to sit on the backs of his calves, completely uncertain how he got so lucky to win. The applause from the students was awkwardly gradual, but once it became clear who won, it grew steady and consistent. As Sandbar returned his Torkoal into its ball, both halves of its shell left behind also re-entered the Poké Ball in two separate streams.

“Go ahead to the nurse’s office,” Sam instructed with a supportive pat of Sandbar’s back. “They’ll get your Pokémon healed right back up.”

“You got it, teach!” Sandbar galloped for the stairs, Divvy waving him farewell as he passed. “Good job too, Divvy!”

Sam then walked by Mikael and patted him on the shoulder, prompting him to stand back up. Sam took a blue Max Potion bottle from his pocket and generously doused Divvy with it, giving him a more natural perkiness that Mikael was happy to see.

Mikael and Divvy hugged upon his approaching it. “I don’t know what got into us back there, but you were awesome! Thank you!”

“Yes, thank you, Mikael!” Sam pointed his hand toward Mikael as they made their way back to their seats. “That was truly marvelous. Now, while we wait for Sandbar to return from the nurse’s, we have one last introductory battle to have with Jacqui. Now who–”

Smolder immediately raised her hand before anyone else could. With Sam wordlessly motioning for them to come on down, Jacqui smiled as she stood from her seat and made her way to the aisle. As Smolder pumped her fist and went to her closest aisle, Jacqui passed Mikael and Divvy on the way down.

“Good job,” she purred. “Where was that Divvy and Mikael during our Chaser Battle?”

“Maybe we’ll have to have another go so you to meet them properly.” Jacqui huffed in humor as Mikael and Divvy returned to their seats and the cacophonous praises of Silverstream, Gallus, Yona, and Ocellus.

As Mikael and Divvy settled down, watching as Jacqui and Smolder stood in their own positions for battle, Mikael took a deep breath out and leaned back in his seat.

He knew he made the right decision to accept.

Chapter 5 - The Immeasurable Generosity of Rosanna Sixsmith

Divvy pushed the front doors to the Poniose campus open, allowing Mikael, Jacqui, along with Sandbar and his friends to exit and make their way to the Poniose Town plaza. While Mikael and the others laughed as they conversed, Smolder had her arms firmly crossed as her face was frozen in an angry pout.

“And then,” Silverstream chortled, “when her Leavanny took out her Gabite with a single Leaf Blade, I was like, ‘WWWWHHUUUUUH?’!”

“Alright!” Smolder stopped with a stomp, getting many of the other students standing nearby them to look over to her direction. “I don’t need a play-by-play on what happened! I was there!”

“We know,” Gallus jabbed with a smirk. “So were we, and we could feel the embarrassment from our desks.”

“Okay, okay!” Jacqui’s exclamation completely quelled her friends’ laughter just before it could resume. “Smolder, look, I’ve been training my Pokémon probably as long as Mikael’s trained his Bronzong, and you saw how strong he was against Sandbar’s Pokémon. Your Dragons are all in great shape for their age and how long you’ve spent with them. I’m sure once they each evolve again, you’ll be unstoppable.”

“You…”Smolder sniffled. “You really think so.”

“Totally!” Sandbar agreed. “I mean, of the six of us, you probably have the best team. Heck, I bet you could take Mikael on and beat him if you wanted to.”

“Hey now!” Mikael shouted with a chuckle. “Don’t be giving her any ideas!”

Jacqui and the others laughed, and Smolder found herself joining in with them.

“Jacqui!” Hearing a familiar voice, the group of friends turned to see Rosanna walking up to them. “I’m glad I was able to catch you.”

“Ms. Sixsmith!” Mikael greeted. “What are you doing here?”

“I was simply curious as to how you were going to be spending your evenings is all.”

“If you wish to know,” Ocellus responded, “the eight of us were going to head into town and check it out.”

“And Rosanna don’t have to worry!” Yona added. “Yona and friends do homework during lunch period!”

“And I helped!” Gallus pointed to himself with his thumb-claw, Yona smiling in agreement.

“Wonderful!” Rosanna replied with a clap of her hands. “It’s so good to see that you’ve all made some new friends on your first day. But to really answer your question, Mikael, I was curious to know if the eight of you would be privy to having dinner with me at my home?”

“That’s quite alright, Ms. Sixsmith,” Mikael responded. “I’m sure we could easily get something to eat with those cards you gave us. And thank you very much again for those.”

“Hmhmhm, you’re very welcome, Mikael, but I would hate to see any of you already spending your points so frivolously on just the first day.”

“Hmm,” Gallus pondered loud enough to hint what his decision already was. “She makes a good point, guys. Free dinner or buying dinner? Real headscratcher.”

“Well, if Gallus is going,” Silverstream spoke next. “Then I’m up for it too!”

“Hold on!” Sandbar interrupted. “We should ask everyone what they want to do! Maybe we’ll find someplace neat downtown and we can make it our regular meeting spot.”

“We have all year to do that!” Smolder argued. “Besides, if the woman who helped build this place is offering to feed us, chances are we’re in for some good eats.”

“Not to tip the scales in either way,” Jacqui cheekily croaked, “but she did hire two of the top graduates from the Lumiose Culinary Academy to serve as her personal chefs while she’s here.”

“Okay, yep. Definitely some good eats. I’m in.”

Mikael thought for a moment before shrugging his shoulders. “Eh, I agree; we can find our official hideaway tomorrow if we wanted to. Let’s do it.”

“Yona want to come!” she exclaimed.

Sandbar breathed a sigh out, seeing where this was headed. “Looks like majority’s ruling on this one. So what do you say guys, let’s go?”

Mikael and Jacqui nodded as the other six cheered, their minds made up.

“Excellent!” Rosanna began to turn away from the school. “If you’re all ready, you can follow me to my building. It’s the tall one with the penthouse windows.”

Mikael and Sandbar and his friends looked up at the tallest building in the town, seeing the larger windows at the top floor. While they certainly could not make out any other features inside, they were most certain that it would amaze them nonetheless.

The doors of the spacious and ornately painted elevator opened up, allowing Rosanna to step out, followed by Mikael, Divvy, Jacqui, and their six Equestrian friends. Seeing the interior made each of them, save for Jacqui, slow to their own gradual stops as they felt their lips part from each other of their own volition.

Down the large hallway from the elevator was a pristine and massive space surrounded entirely by tall, frameless windows that overlooked Poniose Town and beyond from all angles. Near the window directly ahead of them was a long dining table with nine seats arranged side-to-side with one on the very end. Separating it on an island of short white carpet was a contemporary black couch with white cushions and a long glass table with a compact control panel on the right before it.

In both corners ahead of them were two lit cone fireplaces whose chimneys extended all the way to the ceiling, which was adorned with dozens of cylindrical glass lamps that hung at different heights. Entering further inside and looking back, there appeared to be a stairway on the left that led up to another room with tinted windows, though Rosanna’s guests were content to marvel at the sights they were given on their current floor.

“Not to be rude straight away,” Rosanna said, “but I’d prefer that you refrained from touching the lights. Apologies.”

Smolder and Silverstream, who were both up in the air looking at the glass coverings for the lights, shamefully fluttered back down to the floor to join their other friends there.

“Thank you,” she said to the two of them and to no one in particular. “If you need to use the restroom, it’s up the stairs to my bedroom on the left there and it’s the first door on the right.”

“You live here?” Gallus remarked, his head constantly tilted up. “Was a big mansion not cool enough or something?”

“I’ve always preferred an urban setting with a view. Plus, just because I’m helping oversee functions within the town does not mean I’ve decided to neglect my duties as chairwoman of Macro Cosmos, so I had this building constructed so that I may continue to do my most essential duties remotely.”

“And not to be rude myself,” Smolder responded, “but what do you even do as chairwoman of this Micro Cosmos, especially to make all of this?”

“Macro,” she corrected, “quite the opposite, you see. But, as chairwoman, I oversee the functions and well-being of all the smaller subsidiaries under our control, such as our energy, transportation, and media among many other things. While most of what we do benefits the Galar region especially, services our company provides also extend to the other regions as well, such as our banks and insurance companies among others. As you can imagine, having that much influence and outreach can be massively lucrative.”

Looking back out to her Equestrian audience, they, save for a visibly attentive Ocellus and a beaming Silverstream, did not appear as easily as wowed about this information.

“Oh!” Rosanna shook her head and chuckled. “Look at me boring a group of young Equestrians with such dull details! Perhaps I can show you something a bit more… interesting…”

Rosanna walked over to the table near the couch and pressed a button on the control panel, causing a keyboard and virtual button display to be projected onto the table. The Equestrians all crowded around and watched in awe as she tapped a couple of buttons on the display, which reacted to her touch as if they were physically tangible. Just then, the windows around the room darkened, partially blocking out the afternoon sun.

After typing away on the keyboard, the window overlooking the dining room table brightened up as a virtual screen appeared before it cut to security footage of a large red-lit laboratory. In the center of the room was a large glass orb held up by machinery connected to both the ceiling and floors. Coiled up inside the glass was a large skeletal purple dragon whose harsh light emanating from its exposed chest gave the room it was held in its harsh glow. Despite the compactness of its space, the dragon appeared to calmly and serenely stir inside.

“No way!” Silverstream yelled. “Is that what I think it is?”

“If you’re thinking that that’s the legendary Pokémon Eternatus,” Rosanna replied, “then yes, you’d be correct.”

“Unbelievable…” Sandbar walked closer to the screen to get a closer look, stopping just before reaching the dining table. “How did you even manage this?”

“As Mikael and Jacqui probably already know, when the former chairman Rose attempted to use Eternatus by bringing about the Darkest Day six years ago in order to replenish the Galar region with Dynamax energy, his plan was thwarted by the current champion Victor and his friend. Shortly capturing Eternatus, Victor gave control of it back to Macro Cosmos around the time I gained control of the company. Since then, we’ve been harnessing its energy in order to provide Galar with abundant power as well as finding ways to provide Power Spots to areas and cities without them.”

“Wait!” Smolder perked up. “Does that mean that we can start Dynamaxing anywhere now?”

“Not quite. While planting Power Spots in formally-deficient cities like Spikemuth have been successful, our efforts to create new Power Spots outside of the Galar region have proven to be far more difficult, which is why I began the Worldwide Max project.” Rosanna typed another few keys on the keyboard to bring up another screen showing a digital interior of a halved planet Earth. “My goal was to harness and store enough excess energy from Eternatus that after a few years time, I will be able to unleash that energy so that it will create Power Spots all across the globe.”

Everyone then watched an animation as a pink dot on the surface of the planet appeared, followed by the light traveling along and within the crust of the earth as it encircled the planet. As the light traveled, dozens upon dozens of smaller pink dots began appearing on the outer edge of the planet until it was entirely covered by hundreds of them.

Rosanna resumed her explanation. “So my hope is, Smolder, that one day yes, trainers the world over can begin experiencing the wonder and power of Dynamaxing. Because of this, I’ve also received vast amounts of financial support from the other eager regions of the world that have also contributed greatly to my success as well as the success of Macro Cosmos. So believe me when I say that my… new flat here is a mere drop in the bucket to what I am able to afford.”

“That’s quite impressive,” Ocellus complimented, “and I thought that was all very informative and interesting to learn. Thank you, Ms. Sixsmith.”

Rosanna smiled to her warmly. “You’re very welcome, Ocellus. I simply wanted you to get to know about me and my duties a little better. But dear me, I’ve been making this meeting of ours all about me when I should be the ones getting to know you! Please, let’s sit down and have a drink while dinner is being prepared!”

“Alright!” Gallus lept over the couch and gilded to the dining table. “Now you’re talking my language!”

With Gallus already taking his seat, the others took the cue to sit down as well as Rosanna shut her display down and cleared the windows back up.

Mikael speared the last bite of his salmon and pushed some of the last bits of sauce on the plate onto it with his knife before taking everything he gathered and putting it into his mouth. As he chewed, he couldn’t help but continue smiling over how delightfully crispy the skin still was after all the time it sat on his plate.

Rosanna glanced to Mikael as she stole a sip of her wine. “I take it you liked everything?”

Mikael nodded, looking back to his empty plate. “It was all incredible, Ms. Sixsmith. Thank you.”

“I’ll say!” Silverstream dried the bottom half of her plate with her tongue as the sauce drained down that way. “I’ll have to ask the chefs how to make it so I can show my family back home!”

“Unfortunately,” Rosanna responded, “the recipes all belong to the chefs, and mine in particular are not the kind to divulge their secrets.”

“I’m sure if you asked Sam,” Ocellus said to the hippogriff, “he’d be happy to share a good recipe with you.”

“Whoa!” Jacqui’s mouth was muffled with half a mouthful of mashed potatoes. “Sam cooks?”

“Jacqui!” Rosanna quietly snapped before taking another sip of wine.

“Very well, as a matter of fact,” Ocellus answered. “Last year, every other Friday he would do something called ‘lunch labs’ where he’d make us all lunch as he did his lessons. I wonder if he’ll do something similar this year.”

“Doubt it,” Smolder jumped in. “Our class is so much later now than it was last year, so it certainly won’t be a ‘lunch’ lab.”

Smolder pushed his large porcelain bowl caked with fragments of lettuce leaves and crouton crumbs back so that it would no longer distract him. “I can’t imagine Sam wouldn’t just do nothing; he’s really cool like that.”

“Yeah, you’re probably right. Maybe he’ll whip up some tasty snacks or something.”

“Guys!” Yona suddenly shouted as she shot up, nearly overturning her own finished bowl of salad. “What if Pinkie Pie and Sam make friends dessert instead?”

“Ooh, good thinking!” Gallus complimented, pointing his fork at her.

Rosanna downed the rest of her wine, ready to move on with the evening. “Speaking of dessert, I have to imagine that your own Pokémon are probably very hungry themselves by now. Why don’t we make our way to the pool area downstairs and enjoy dessert there while your Pokémon are fed?”

“Really?” Ocellus wondered. “You’ve already done so much for us?”

“Nonsense. I cannot say I’ve done possibly enough if I haven’t even made sure your companions eat. Now please, whenever you’re ready, we can make our way down.”

“Okay?” Sandbar pushed his chair out and prepared to follow Rosanna to wherever she wanted them to go. “Will there be enough room for all of us?”

“Of course! I haven’t even gotten around to getting it filled yet, so I have to imagine that all of your Pokémon will be perfectly capable of sharing the space with us.”

“I mean… if you say so! We wouldn’t want to make a mess of it now.”

“Sandbar, darling, you worry far too much about me! If I can’t handle so much as a dirty pool, I may as well resign from Macro Cosmos right now!”

“I…” Sandbar resigned himself, knowing he could not win against her unstoppable generosity. “Thank you again, Ms. Sixsmith.”

“That’s quite alright. Come, everyone! And don’t worry about the dishes, they will be collected!”

Rosanna made her way back to the elevator door, pressing and holding the down button with her thumb as a green band of light scanned down from the top down. With an affirmative green flashing, the door opened back up, and Sandbar led his friends inside until he and the other seven were present. With Divvy and Rosanna heading in last, she pushed a button just below the top one, the doors closing in front of them.

The elevator moved down two stories before it came to a stop. Once the doors opened, Rosanna stepped out to allow her guests to breathe in their newest surroundings. With the echo of their various footsteps filling the place and stunning them immediately, they were in even greater awe to be standing near the edge of an Olympic-sized pool, which was bone dry and empty as Rosanna had said. Its ceilings were at least another story up, only adding to the space. On the other side was another room containing a small gym featuring a couple of treadmills and ellipticals among other machines as well as a row of different sized handweights.

Rosanna snuck up behind Sandbar as he struggled to take in the enormity of this room. “You think this will be enough room for us?”

Sandbar nodded.

Jacqui took a small lime tart from a large cart set at the poolside filled with various pastries and cakes, adding to her plate already containing two small vanilla cupcakes and a half eaten wedge of Nabnab-crème pie. With her plate firmly in hand, she sat between her Leavanny and two Joltiks on the edge of the pool, the former munching on what looked to be a small loaf of bread speckled with the red and blue skins of the pureed berries baked into it while the latter two shared a dish of green pellets together. Jacqui looked down her Equestrian friends all sat inside the pool with their Pokémon as they each enjoyed their food.

Standing by Yona, who sat down with Sandbar and Torterra, Carracosta, and Torkoal, were three buffalo-like Pokémon with massive afro-like furs over their heads and two gold rings over their sizable horns. Rosanna walked along the pool’s bottom, ensuring that her guests were feeding themselves and their Pokémon as well as she hoped. She then approached Yona and Sandbar, being stopped by the territorial huff of one of Yona’s Pokémon.

Rosanna stood still and kept her distance. “Yona. Very interesting choice to have three Bouffalants on your team.”

Yona turned to acknowledge her. “Yona believe that Bouffalant most like yak, and since yaks best, Bouffalants best too. Beside, Yona teach them all different move to trip up opponents.”

“Well, I look forward to seeing what they can do in battle. And Sandbar, I like your team quite a lot. It suits you.”

“Thanks a lot, Ms. Sixsmith!” Sandbar replied. “I’ve been getting that a lot lately.”

“Then we all must have great taste.” Sandbar smiled, allowing Rosanna to make her way further down the pool.

She then found Gallus with his Pokémon, including a dark-brown lion with light-brown legs and a fiery red-and-yellow mane that covered its whole head, a large brown bird with red tail feathers and long crest feathers colored red and yellow, and a creature made up of six armored beings with shielded arms and red spikes on the tops of their heads, the spike of the lead one longer than the others.

“Are your Pokémon enjoying their food?” Rosanna asked him.

Gallus glaced down to his Pokémons’ bowls and dishes, seeing that they were mostly picked and licked clean. “Uh, no they all hated it. You should get them another.”

Rosanna chuckled, immediately picking up on Gallus’s tone, something that he smiled appreciatively at.

“Ms. Sixsmith!” Rosanna turned to become face to face with Silverstream, who fluttered in the air to be at eye level with you. “Come on, you have to meet my Pokémon now!”

Grabbing her by the arm, Rosanna let the excited hippogriff guide her to where her Pokémon were resting, their bowls and dishes already empty. In her group of Pokémon was a blue monkey with cream-colored legs whose long hair curled up and around on the ends, a blue octopus with black tentacles and yellow suckers that matched the mask-like marking on its face, and a large green-and-brown dinosaur-like Pokémon with palm-leaf wings and bananas growing at the top of its long neck.

“Wow!” Rosanna exclaimed. “So that’s your Tropius?”

“Mmhmmmhmmmhm!” Silverstream rapidly nodded. “She’s my favorite Pokémon… well, she’s in a three-way tie, but you know how it goes!”

“I certainly do. It’s a very nice team. Keep it up!”

“Eee! I will! Thank you so much!”

Rosanna then moved onto Smolder and Ocellus, who sat by their Pokémon as they nearly finished their food. Along with Smolder’s Dragon-type Pokémon and Ocellus’s Zoroark, she had two other Pokémon sitting by it. The first was a greyish-blue frog creature with red spikes jutting from the top of its wrists that matched the large sac under its throat, and the other was a pink-and-cream colored Pokémon with beady blue eyes, large, fluffy ears, and a puffy white tail.

“My, what incredible teams you both have!” Rosanna said with confidence. “Such rare Pokémon. You must have spent a long time trying to find them.”

“I mean,” Ocellus answered, blushing, “it helps when you have a teacher as good as Sam to help us find them.”

“It’s not just finding them. I firmly believe that trainers and Pokémon choose each other equally, so the fact that you found these Pokémon and they clearly trusted you enough to be caught by you says a lot about both you.”

Smolder smiled graciously. “Thanks a lot, Ms. Sixsmith! That really means a lot coming from you.”

Rosanna smiled and chuckled, flattered. Further down, Jacqui finished the last bite of her desserts just as Mikael and Divvy approached her.

He reached up to her. “Need a hand down and join the rest of the party?”

“No need!” Jacqui placed her plate on the edge of the pool and hopped down, her Leavanny and two Joltiks coming down with her. “It’s pretty cool, though, huh?”

“What is?” Mikael looked about, unsure if he was supposed to spot anything in particular.

“I mean, just that fact that we get to end up in one of the most exclusive schools on either world with all these different creatures and their Pokémon. Just think about how cool a Chaser Battle with either of them must be.”

Mikael rolled his eyes and scoffed. “Is that really all you’re thinking about?”

“Oh come on, I’d bet money that Smolder is probably into that stuff too, and who knows who else could be?”

“I don’t know, but unless Dave is cool with us wrecking his rink again, I’m not sure we’re going to have anyplace to do one.”

Jacqui shrugged. “We could always use the pool while it’s still empty.”

“Absolutely not!” Mikael turned around and Jacqui looked forward to see Rosanna walking up to them with her arms crossed. “Listen Jacqui, I understand that you’re very excited to become a chaser, and after talking with Dave a few days ago, I took what he said to me into consideration.”

Jacqui turned her head away but kept her eyes on her, unsure of what she was implying. “What are you saying?”

“Before I escort you back to your dorms for the night, I would like to show you all something, if you’re willing.”

Jacqui and Mikael turned to each other, genuinely intrigued by what she was proposing.

With the sun almost completely set on Poniose Town, most of the busy activity that had filled the streets and the plaza less than an hour before had quieted down, enabling a serene and easy walk back to the Poniose campus. Rosanna Mikael, Jacqui, Divvy, and their friends across the street to the campus grounds.

Jacqui broke the silence, nervousness filling her voice. “Okay, we’re almost back already! What do you want to show us?”

“Just follow me.” Rosanna made a slight right heading toward an empty field far away from the right side of the building.

With the others looking to each other in confusion, they nonetheless unquestionably followed Rosanna off the stone walkway and onto the grass, the group venturing into seemingly nowhere. Just then, they encountered a cluster of brown, humanoid Pokémon whose bodies appeared to look like small men wearing overcoats and tall hats. As the group got closer, the Pokémon formed a line and aimed their handless arms at them, the red, green, and yellow dots on the ends and their green sunglass-like eyes glowing forebodingly.

“What’s with all the Beheeyems?” Ocellus wondered, hiding behind Yona.

“It’s alright,” Rosanna loudly spoke to them, “they’re with me. You can go ahead and take the barrier down.”

“Barrier?” Smolder and Gallus both queried together.

The Pokémon turned around and kept their arms pointed out at the open area. Just then, a blue light formed a large capsule-shaped border on the grass, which rose up in a liquid-like manner like an ethereal curtain. As the bottom of the invisible barrier rose up, a red wall appeared, stunning Mikael and Jacqui along with their friends. About twenty feet up, wooden planks and steel beams jutted out from the sides where it had not been furbished yet.

Gallus and Silverstream flew up and looked down to get a better look of what was being kept a secret from them until now. Inside the red, unfinished walls, the edge of the interior was ramped down halfway down to the center, only a couple of sections installed with stadium-seats. They then saw a wooden track built further inside, which appeared completed save for anything around it, but the purpose was clear to the two Equestrians.

“What’s down there?” Jacqui asked.

She suddenly yelped as she felt herself lifted off the ground by an unseen force, looking over to suddenly see her rising up to Silverstream and Gallus’s heights. With an understanding nod between them both, they suddenly looked down to get a good look at what her friends saw, but she connected the dots far more quickly.

“Ms.–” Jacqui spun around to look down at her. “Rosanna? This isn’t–”

“It is,” she answered back. “Obviously, it has a ways to go, but I’m hoping it will be ready in no more than two weeks.”

“What is it?” Sandbar called up. “Come on, the suspense is killing us down here!”

“It’s…” Gallus sputtered. “I think it’s supposed to be a Chaser Battle arena.”

“What?!” Smolder’s smile grew wide and her excitement exploded out. “No way, for real!”

“Wait!” Mikael exclaimed. “You’re into Chaser Battles too?”

“Sure am! Sam streamed a few games during class last year, and it’s the coolest thing! It’s just the kind of battling I’d love to get into! Ms. Sixsmith, I can’t believe it…”

“You better,” she teased. “Obviously, you, Ocellus, Gallus, and Silverstream can all fly, Mikael and Jacqui are both very talented skaters, and Sandbar and Yona most likely have the speed and stamina to keep up with the best of them, so once this is finished and ready to be used, I’m expecting the eight of you to make the most use out of it.”

“Yona and friends most certainly will!” Yona hugged an equally ecstatic Sandbar close. “This is best day ever!”

Finally, Divvy came down with Jacqui, Gallus, and Silverstream. Jacqui stood with a slouch, her body still unable to fully come to terms with everything.

“Jacqui?” Rosanna approached her, a tinge of worry in her expression. “Is everything o–”

Jacqui leapt at Rosanna and hugged her tight, Rosanna taken aback by the uncharacteristically affectionate act. “Thank you so much, Rosanna! Thank you, thank you!”

“You…” Rosanna softened in Jacqui’s embrace and put her arms around her. “You’re most welcome, Jacqui. After all the work you’ve put in with me, you deserve it.”

One by one, Sandbar and his friends all approached the two of them and joined in on the hug, creating a tight, furry cluster to show their appreciation to the woman who gave them far more than they ever expected that day. Mikael, on the other hand, stood by and watched, Divvy flying up behind him and nudging him in the back.

“Don’t worry,” he assured it, “I’ll shake her hand in a bit. I just feel a bit weird hugging her like that. Still though… Rosanna, god damn…”

Mikael and Divvy looked up at the stadium, the both of them left to wonder just how magnificent it would look once it was finally finished.

Chapter 6 - Love Again

Mikael, wearing dark blue sweatpants and a light-blue t-shirt, sat at the edge of his bed, holding a cellphone against his head and speaking softly into it. “Hey, Aunt Ingrid… …You know what? Things are… actually great… …Tons of ‘em! I’ll definitely have to let you meet them sometime, but maybe when it’s not so late for you. What time is it back in Snowpoint?… …Wow, that’s late. Yeah, my dorms are in the new campus, which is apparently just west of Lumiose City in the Kalos region, so yeah, you’re a few hours ahead of us.”

Smolder approached Mikael and Jacqui’s bunk beds, the only bed of the one beside it already occupied by Yona on the bottom, who was already snoring loudly. “Who are you talking to?”

Mikael turned with a jolt to see the young dragon standing there. “Oh, Smolder!” He then turned back away to speak into the phone. “Actually, one of them’s still up! You wanna’ talk to her while I have you?” Mikael nodded vigorously upon hearing the answer. “Okay, okay, I’ll put her on!” He then turned back to Smolder, nearly shoving his phone into her face. “It’s my aunt. She just wants to say a few words before she goes back to bed.”

Smolder nervously took the phone from Mikael’s fingers, holding it up to the side of her face as similarly as Mikael had done. “Hey, Mrs…. I mean… Mikael’s– …Ingrid? Okay, Ingrid. Yeah, hi. My name’s Smolder. I’m a dragon… …Yeah, we’re getting along great, he’s pretty cool… …I mean, you should have seen him! His Pokémon took out all my friend’s Pokémon by himself! What are you feeding them up there?… …Borgin… …Okay. I bet Sam would probably know what borgin yawn is; maybe if he made it for my Pokémon, they’d be unstop–”

Smolder was interrupted by the quick buzzing of the phone against her head, causing her to look at the screen to see what caused that.

“Smolder?” Ingrid’s voice called faintly from the other line. “Are you still there? Hello?”

“Sorry,” she responded, still reading the banner on the lock screen, “something just…” Once she fully realized what it said, she seized up and put her hand to her mouth. “What? No!”

“What is it?” Mikael sprung from his mattress and swung around to Smolder.

Picking his phone back up, he read the headline to the article notification that appeared: ALICE BRIER KNOCKED OUT OF GALAR CHAMPION CUP SEMI-FINALS BY ROOKIE UNDERDOG

“Wha…?” Mikael was more confused over the news than horrified.

“What’s going on?” Ingrid’s voice piped up. “Is something wrong?”

Mikael looked to Smolder, who sadly flew up to her top bunk and sat on the edge, looking dejected.

He then put the phone back to his head. “It’s… everything’s okay. I’ll call you again tomorrow, earlier this time… …Sorry, it’s okay. I love you. Bye.”

Mikael ended the call and walked up to Smolder, who picked her head up. “I’m guessing you’re a fan of her?”

Smolder picked her legs up and hugged them close before swinging around to put her feet back on the mattress. “I don’t know… I mean, how could Alice Bri– THE Alice Brier, get beaten by a newbie?”

“Is it that…” Mikael picked his phone back up and opened the article, one of the first images being that of a teenaged boy with blonde hair tied in a long ponytail celebrating as the judge declared his win. “Yeah, John Tanner; been making waves over there. He apparently managed to survive some nasty bug when he was younger, and when he finally got fit and became a trainer, Leon Kingsley of all people sponsored him for the Gym Challenge. I mean, he also sponsored Victor before he became Champion. I guess it’s some kind of Midas touch he has…”

“Okay, what,” Smolder sneered, “is you sucking up to him supposed to make me feel better?”

“What? No, I wasn’t…”

Jacqui, her hair damp from her recent shower, walked into the dorm room, stepping soundlessly on bare feet while wearing a pair of nylon short shorts and a tank top that concealed her navel. “What’s going on here?”

“Sam’s sister got beaten out of the Champion Cup tournament,” Mikael answered, “and Smolder’s pretty upset about it.”

“Oh, shi–” Jacqui caught herself, making her eyes appear even wider. “Really? Against that John Tanner kid?”

“Yeah,” Smolder grumbled, crossing her arms tightly, “against that ‘John Tanner kid.’ What a lame-o.”

Jacqui bobbed her head sympathetically. “Listen, I get that that sucks, but look at it this way. I’m sure you’ve been hearing about that trainer who’s been tearing ass through the Island Trials on Alola?”

Smolder picked herself up, this new information giving her a greater sense of urgency. “What?”

“Oh, yeah. There’s this guy who started his Island Trials a few days ago, and he’s been just crushing them. At the rate he’s going, he could reach the Pokémon League tomorrow.”

“Hold on, what?”

“Calm down,” Jacqui hissed, glancing over at the other Equestrians in their beds. “What I’m trying to get at is that she’s got her own title on Alola to defend without having to win some other one. She probably doesn’t need to get herself all worked up before she has to face this new guy, and that way, she can get ready for him when she eventually does face him.”

“So what, are you saying she threw the match?”

“Of course not! I’ve been following John Tanner’s Gym Challenge myself, and the dude’s legit. She probably fought her hardest against him and he got the better of her.”

“So she lost! That’s all that matters at this point!”

Smolder fell back onto her bed with a whine, the noise and rumbling of the bed stirring Yona awake.

“Ugh,” she groaned, rubbing her eyes. “Are human always this loud at night?”

“Sorry, Yona,” Mikael whispered before going back to Smolder. “And no, that’s not what matters now. What matters now is that she gets back home and keeps the title she already has.”

Jacqui nodded in agreement. “And I’m sure Alice’s just thankful that she did lose on Galar, because now she’s going to make damn sure that she doesn’t lose on Alola.”

“As long as she has that throne and loyal fans like you cheering her on, I’m certain she’s not going to go anywhere.”

After several moments, Smolder rolled back up to sit with a raspy sigh, swinging around to sit on the edge of the bed once again. “Yeah, I suppose you’re right. Still stinks that she lost, though.”

“And we totally get it,” Jacqui replied, “but even the best of us lose from time to time. It’s when we stop fighting to win again that we’re really defeated.”

Smolder chuckled, a sudden reaction that sparked confusion in Mikael and Jacqui. “Thanks for the fortune-cookie wisdom, Jacqui. I appreciate it.”

“Yeah, no problem. Hey, what time is it?”

Mikael looked back at his phone. “Oh yeah, look at the time. It’s well past ‘What Are You All Doing Up So Late On A School Night, Get to Bed Right Now O’clock.’”

Smolder pulled the covers off her bed, somersaulting around until she was on the sheets and she could pull the covers over her body. “Yeah, that sounds about right. Good night, you two, and thanks for your help too, Mikael.”

“Of course. Anytime.” Mikael, elated to hear that the ordeal of the night was finally settled, sat down onto his bunk and laid on his back, snuggling the back of his head against his pillow.

As Jacqui began climbing the ladder up to her bunk, Yona rolled over to Mikael, who saw her motions and glanced over to her. “Hold on. Alice lost match?”

Mikael yawned. “Can we talk about it tomorrow, Yona?”

Mikael sat between Yona and Sandbar while Jacqui sat between Gallus and Smolder during Pokémon II as Sam delivered his lecture.

“My hope is for each of you to be the best trainers you can be whenever you step out into the world,” he spoke out. “And even as I stand before you as a teacher, know that even my journey as a trainer is never truly over. Even after I narrowly lost to my sister for the Alolan championship, I knew there was still much more growth I had to make. And I refused to take on the Kalosian Pokémon League after defeating all of its gyms because I knew my journey would not end by defeating a Champion. And that is why I went to the Galar region…”

Sam detached two Poké Balls from his belt and tossed them out into the field. Opening up, the energy streams pouring out transformed into two Pokémon. The first was a white duck with a brilliant golden bill and feet with a large, firm shield made of leaves in its left hand and an even larger sword fashioned from a leek in the other. The second Pokémon was an amphibious, yet upright purple creature with a blue underside. On either side of the horn at the center of its forehead were two mohawk-like bands of blue electricity running over its head. Along with an organic belt of spikes along its waist and wrists, it also had four shorter, broader, fleshier horns over its chest.

As the class audibly reacted to Sam’s newest Pokémon, Sam came behind the purple creature and put his hand on its shoulder with platonic affection. “Not only did I evolve my team through my Sirfetch’d and my Toxtricity, I also learned a new form of evolution.”

Sam then held up his right wrist which was adorned with a gold cloth armband with purple outer borders, matching his shirt and jacket. Turning his arm to show off the bottom of his wrist, there appeared to be a hard black screen that curved around the contours of his arm.

“I came to the Galar region to learn of and gain the exclusive ability known as Dynamax so that I could utilize it much like I have been able to utilize Mega Evolutions and Z-Power.” He then held up his left wrist with his Z-Ring attached, his Key Stone embedded inside. “I did all this because I when I accepted the position to be your teacher, I knew that I would one day be able to share this knowledge with you too, right here.

“For those of you not aware, Rosanna Sixsmith, the woman who helped construct Poniose Town, has been working on a project that will allow trainers to be able to Dynamax outside of the Galar region, and what I can tell you is… it’s going to be happening soon.”

The class began to murmur, making Sam smile with the news he was about to deliver. “And when that happens, I’d be honored to have you be the first class that I get to teach how.” The uproar became even louder now. “Upon Worldwide Max’s successful execution, not only will I be teaching all of you how to Mega Evolve and perform your own Z-Moves this year, but I will be teaching you how to Dynamax as well.”

Silverstream began to cheer, which then resulted in an explosion of applause from the others. Jacqui and Mikael clapped more calmly and more out of respect, but Mikael cocked his head and nodded, comfortably surprised by this.

“And speaking of Galar,” Sam continued, “I am very well aware of my sister Alice’s loss yesterday during her Champion Cup match against John Tanner. And upon learning that he managed to also dethrone the champion, and my good friend, Victor, shortly after, I can at least take some comfort to know that he must be exceptionally strong to be able to defeat them both.” Smolder sunk subtly in her seat, still sore about it. “That being said, Alice appears to have another big match coming up shortly which I’m sure she’s preparing even harder for at the moment; the defending of her title as Alolan Champion.

“It hasn’t been confirmed yet when exactly it will take place, but it’s sounding like it will be a televised event regardless. I’ve made an arrangement with the Timburr Tavern and Grill right here in Poniose to host a viewing party there for whenever the match is set to take place. I am inviting any student of mine to come and watch if you’re available. Food and drink will be provided, so if nothing else, free food, am I right?”

“Ow-OW!” Jacqui pumped her fist into the air.

“I’ll be sure to provide details in tomorrow’s class should any updates occur, but if you need directions, consult the maps you received yesterday. Now, we still have a lot of groundwork to cover this year before I can teach you about Mega Evolution, Z-Power, and Dynamaxing, so let’s get learning, shall we?”

Mikael and Divvy walked out from the Poniose campus and toward downtown Poniose, Jacqui and the others following him. Sandbar picked his pace up to be ahead, allowing him to turn his head to the right where the Chaser Battle arena, once again invisibly shrouded would be located. Approaching the street he’d need to cross to get to the plaza, he crashed into Divvy’s behind, hitting the side of his head in the process.

Both Mikael and Divvy were alerted to the noise, watching as Sandbar rubbed his head. “Whoa, Sandbar, you alright?”

“Yeah, sorry,” he answered with a tinge of embarrassment. “I still can’t get my mind off that arena that Ms. Sixsmith showed us yesterday.”

“Looking forward to getting to be able to use it, huh?” Jacqui egged.

“I mean, we kind of all are?” Gallus answered. “I mean, we did have a pretty big group hug over it last night, you know.”

“Yeah, good times. As a matter of fact, I may want to get some practice in before it opens up. Anyone want to join me at the rink?”

“Uh, yeah,” Smolder groaned, “as much as I’d like to hang out, you heard what Rosanna said. You and Mikael are the only ones who really need skates, so there’s really no point.”

“Maybe Yona want to learn to skate too!” Yona said with an indignant pout.

“Hey, I’m not telling you that you don’t have to skate. It’s just I don’t think I really need to.”

“Actually,” Ocellus mentioned to Mikael and Jacqui, “if you’re still going, I’d like to come with just to see how good you two are. Plus, skating sounds like fun!”

“I agree!” Silverstream squawked. “We should totally go!”

Smolder breathed out a sigh. “Looks like I’m getting roped in this time, aren’t I?”

“I mean,” Sandbar replied, “there’s far worse things to get roped into.”

“Sweet!” Jacqui hopped up with a clap and ran back toward the campus. “I’m gonna’ go get my skates!”

Mikael began to back away, slower. “I’m going to get mine too. We can meet you there if you want.”

Mikael spun and ran after Jacqui to follow, Divvy tailing him. The six Equestrians just stood there.

“Anyone know how to get to the skating rink?” Gallus deadpanned.

“No clue!” Silverstream jovially cheered.

Sandbar and his friends stood outside the entryway to the ice rink. Each one of their feet or hooves, each adorned with different sizes of ice skates, were in a perpetual, unbalanced wobble. Smolder, Gallus, Ocellus, and Silverstream kept their wings out, occasionally flapping them to stay upright without tipping over.

“I don’t know how you humans manage to stay up in these things,” Gallus loudly grumbled, “and we’re not even on the ice yet!”

“Oh, come on!” Jacqui slowly skated backwards towards the gate on her own rentals as if it were second nature. “You were all so excited to come out!”

“Hey, I was just happy to tag along! Yona and Ocellus were more excited to go than I was!”

“Guys,” Mikael sighed, “it’s no big deal. I’m sure if you ask Dave, he’ll let you get your skates off and refund your rental.”

“Really? Great, that’s what I was worried about.” Gallus flew off the carpet and fluttered back to the rental counter where Dave was.

“Oh, come on Gallus!” Silverstream called, awkwardly pivoting back around. “You could at least try!”

“Try for what? We have wings! If you need me, I’ll be at the snack bar.”

“It’s okay, guys.” Mikael stepped onto the ice, swinging around so that he stayed close by the gate. “Whenever you’re ready, we’ll help you on.”

Jacqui responded by standing on the other side, arms out to escort the first Equestrian on.

Yona huffed. “Yona live in ice and snow! Yona know how to skate!”

“That’s the spirit!” Jacqui reached out to her with Mikael as she stepped her way on. “Just stay straight and balanced…”

“This…” Smolder widened her stance so that she could safely and comfortably rub her arm. “…ain’t turning out well.”

Mikael and Jacqui held Yona up as she got all four of her skates onto the ice. As her blades carried her forward, Yona clenched her teeth as she found herself continuing to ride out with no way to stop.

“Yona!” Mikael called, already sensing the danger. “Tip your fee- hooves forward! That’s where the brakes…”

Mikael, Jacqui, and their friends then watched as Yona’s legs began to part, the skates attached to them veering slightly outward. With her stance too wide to support her, Yona slid onto her stomach and came to a sudden stop. Yona’s embarrassment radiated out to her friends at the weight, the pathetic sight allowing them all to stand straight without consequence.

Mikael pushed off and came to Yona’s side, Divvy flying into the rink on the other side. “That’s okay, you’re okay. And up!”

Divvy lifted the yak up, the sudden airborne feeling making her mildly thrash her legs out as she let out a terrified whoop.

“Yona, calm down, I’m right here! Just keep your legs straight. There we go…” As Mikael put his hands on her, the feel of his touch calmed her down enough for her to follow his instructions. “And, down we go.”

Yona’s skates were set upon the ice, Mikael keeping his hands on her while Divvy supported her against itself.

“That’s good,” Mikael cooed, the tenderness and compassion he gave to Yona receiving very pleasant looks from Jacqui and the others. “Alright, we’re going to skate the other way now.”

Mikael and Divvy began to pull Yona along, and the yak tensed up immediately.

“No, no, you’ve got it.” Mikael, on her left, nudged her right. “Just lean that way a little and tilt your skates…”

The others watched on as slowly, but surely, Yona began to turn herself around, about to merge with the counter-clockwise flow of the few other skaters present, amazing her Equestrian friends on the sidelines. Yona looked down and about her to see that she was moving in exactly the way she needed to without another tumbling. Soon, her anxious, toothy frown morphed into a happy, open-mouthed beam.

“That’s it, you’re getting it!” Mikael softly praised, as they began to round the first turn. “Just lean and tilt– Yes, you’re really getting it!”

Even with Mikael and Divvy both sufficiently helping her, Sandbar stepped onto the ice himself. After the initial pang of fear as he slid away from the safety of the coarse carpet, he gently swung around and began to skate off to follow Yona. Jacqui, realizing who was on the ice, reached out and opened her mouth to call him, but stopped when she noticed that he was also getting the hang of it.

Soon, Silverstream, followed by Ocellus and then Smolder, all came onto the ice and trailed to follow Sandbar. Jacqui, seeing the effects Mikael was having on the young Equestrians, smirked and pushed off the ice, weaving around a couple other skaters to get ahead to where Mikael and Yona were.

Upon reaching the straightaway, Mikael and Divvy glanced to each other before slowly and carefully drifting away from Yona. The yak, blissfully unaware of her teacher’s absence, suddenly felt her fear shoot right back through her upon seeing Mikael swing ahead of her, spinning to face her as he went backwards.

Sandbar and his other friends all shared a gasp, frightened of the situation Mikael suddenly created. “Mikael!” Sandbar cried. “Go back, she’ gonna–”

“You got this, Yona!” Mikael called with beckoning arms. “Just skate to me.”

With another turn coming up, Yona fought back her fright and put on a serious scowl. Pushing off with her right legs, she began to pick up speed. To continue accelerating, she put her right skates down and pushed off with the left ones, going faster with a visible confidence that made Mikael giggle with glee.

“No way…” Smolder, in astonishment, stood straight as her skates glided her forward, only to pick up speed again. “Yona! Keep going!”

Mikael glanced back at the turn coming up and then back to Yona, forcing himself to maintain his smile as he leaned right, turning with the curve and keeping his eyes on the yak who would now have to make it by herself. As Jacqui and the others got closer, they too watched as Yona’s legs wobbled as she leaned and tilted her skates.

Despite moving slowly, Mikael felt a weight of pre-emptive guilt lift from his shoulders as Yona mostly kept her weight on her left skates while pushing and propelling herself with her right. Halfway through the turn, the shaking of Yona’s legs disappeared, and with her success fueling her resolve, she managed to reach the straightaway, yelling loudly in sheer happiness as she skated as fast as she could to Mikael.

“Yes!” Mikael and Divvy threw their arms up into the air before reaching out to Yona, who came in hot. “Yona, you’re amazing!”

Yona crashed her head into Mikal’s gut, Mikael hugging her tight as he slowly ground them to a stop before the next turn. Jacqui and the Equestrians then all piled on behind Yona and showered her with praise and affection, their laughter overpowering the music playing from the speakers hanging around the walls.

“Thank you, Mikael!” Yona blubbered, pressing her face into Mikael’s chest to dry her eyes. “You are best skate teacher ever!”

Through her laughing, Smolder commented, “Wait until Gallus finds out he’s not as good as skater as Yona is!”

From the side, Gallus looked over as his friends all laughed even louder than before. With a frown, he turned back and headed to the rental counter where Dave was just finishing putting the skates Gallus rented back on the shelf. Turning around, Dave was greeted by the face of griffon once again, causing him to sport a mildly-exhausted frown.

“Yeah, sorry,” Gallus said half-heartedly, “I’m gonna’ need those skates back.”

Gallus kept his wings out as he skated, his trembling legs pushing himself fast enough for his wings to carry him up. Smolder and Sandbar both stayed behind him closely, laughing as he struggled to keep his fractured pride intact. Silverstream, Ocellus, and Jacqui now skating confidently themselves, were spread out along the ice, joining the other Equestrian students. Mikael, Divvy, and Yona stuck by close, the yak’s speeds now much faster and her posture and balance far more disciplined.

Yona glanced her eyes to Mikael’s direction. “How do you skate so good?”

Mikael nodded. “My mother used to be a professional skater. She taught me everything.”

“Wow. Mikael mom must be really good teacher then!”

“Yeah… she was.”

“Was?” Yona stopped pushing and just ran along the ice as she contemplated Mikael’s words. “Uh… Yona don’t mean to be rude, but what happened to mom?”

“She… she died. Avalanche.”

“What? No! Yona so sorry! Yona didn’t mean–”

“It’s okay. I’m sure I would have told you sooner or later.”

“Still…” Yona began to actively skate again, and Mikael kept right beside her. “You don’t think… you can show Yona what mom taught you?”

“Yeah, Mikael!” Jacqui suddenly appeared to Mikael’s right, skating ahead to be more within his sights. “Show Jacqui and Yona what mom taught you!”

“I… it’s…” Mikael glanced away, a little disconcerted. “I kind of have to be in a mood. Not sure I’m feeling it quite right now.”

Jacqui left with a humph, skating ahead to the open gate and exiting with a running stop. Mikael and Yona watched as she walked over toward a jukebox near the roller skating rink as they took the next turn.

“Where you think she going?” Yona asked.

“I don’t know,” Mikael answered. “Her own skates are in her locker, and she’s obviously not headed there.”

“You think Jacqui putting song on jukebox?”

He shrugged. “Maybe.”

“Well, anyway, Yona sorry she made you feel upset.”

“Please, don’t. It was a while ago, and I always kind of carry it with me. It’s not your fault.”

Yona decided to keep quiet, not wanting to press it further. Together, she, Mikael, and Divvy rounded the next turn. Heading near the gate again, they watched as Jacqui walked up to it and waited, clearly timing her entry so that she could rejoin Mikael and Yona. Once they got near, she stepped on the ice and swung around to take Mikael’s other side.

“Back so soon?” Mikael asked sardonically.

“I mean,” she answered coyly, “you said you weren’t in the mood, so now I’m going to get you in the mood.”

The current song began to fade out.

“What are you talking…” Mikael was slowly interrupted by the next song bleeding in.

It began as a slow, somewhat ethereal strings intro, one that Mikael recognized very clearly. Suddenly, he knew for certain that Jacqui did in fact go to the jukebox.

He then shot a glance to Jacqui. “Did you–”

“You know,” she interrupted, “if you didn’t play your music at night so loud that I can hear them from your headphones, I wouldn’t have to know what music you like. Now come on, big boy, show me and Yona your stuff.”

The strings became fuller and louder, and Mikael knew the song would begin soon. With the expectant, excited smiles of Jacqui and Yona egging him on, he diverted away from them and took to the unoccupied center of the ice, reading his space in proximity to the other skaters. After a swell, the music gave way to a lo-fi riff that sounded like a single horn being fed out through an old record player. Nodding his head to the beat that this new melody created, he prepared his routine in his head. With another burst of strings and the drums coming in, Mikael leapt into a fankick before going low into a shoot-the-duck spin.

Yona and Jacqui both came to a gradual stop along the wall, content to watch Mikael perform to Jacqui’s song of choice as the other skaters glanced over to try and watch him too. Mikael soared along the ice, his skates moving in ways that Yona could not perceive how it would make him go they way they did.

As Sandbar and their other friends got close to Jacqui and Yona, they all came to their own stops, now able to marvel as Mikael went into an impressive double axel. Yona sniffled and sweetly smiled. Despite the sheer catchiness of the music echoing throughout the rink and the excitement being felt by her other friends, the inspiration of Mikael’s tricks and jumps were all but palpable to her.

“Holy cow!” Silverstream blurted. “That’s Mikael?”

“Who else could it be?” Jacqui clapped back.

“I dunno’,” Gallus answered, “some pro skater who just wandered into town to borrow the rink?”

“I had no idea he was so good,” Ocellus commented. “Where’d he learn to skate like that?”

Yona sniffled again. “Mom.”

The others looked to her and then back to him, looking at their friend in a completely different light. Mikael stood up from a hydroblade before performing a butterfly leap and transitioning into a camel spin as the chorus and the horn riff returned. Grabbing the back of his skate, he spent several rotations in a donut spin before going into another layback. He then picked up some more momentum toward the end of the rink and leapt high with a triple axel, landing on the final beat of the chorus.

Soon, all of the other skaters had vacated to the walls to watch Mikael’s impressive routine, who were all lead into applause by Jacqui and her friends. Mikael glanced about the rink; all eyes were on him. For the first time in what felt like forever, he had an adoring audience again. With a smile, he rounded the curve in the rink, showing himself off to the applause of the other skaters gathered there with a cantilever. Jacqui and her friends continued to clap, happy to spend more of their time watching Mikael show off.

On the roller rink, Jacqui, now in her own skates, swung her legs about as she swayed and danced to another song playing over the sound system. Mikael, in rentals of his own, led his Equestrian friends as Jacqui took the opportunity to show off her skills on her floor of choice. Yona also felt compelled to move like her friends, swinging her legs out and attempting to cross them over each other. Unable to control her unfamiliar, awkward stance, she tumbled forward and hit the ground, her sudden stop causing her friends behind her to crash into her and fall over too.

Hearing the commotion, Mikael and Divvy rushed to them as Jacqui cut across the rink to also ensure they were okay. “Yona!” Mikael gasped. “You okay.”

Yona managed to pick herself up so she was back on all fours. “Yona fine, but… Yona will never skate as good as Mikael or Jacqui.”

“Not with that attitude, you certainly won’t!” Jacqui skated backward, returning to the flow of the other skaters. “Come on, I love this song!”

“And take it from me,” Mikael said, “you’re doing pretty damn fine on your first day. Come on, let’s try and catch back up.”

As Silverstream and Smolder got back onto their feet, hooves, and claws, Mikael skated forward, allowing Yona and her friends to resume their fun times. After making the next turn and getting to the straightaway, Yona began to weave along the inner and outer portions of the track, trying to stay in rhythm to the music. Upon reaching the next turn, she cut her turn to tight and wiped out once again. Before Mikael and the others could stop to try and help her back up, Yona sprung back onto her hooves, keeping the momentum of her group going.

“No worry,” she assured them. “Yona got this.”

Mikael smiled and nodded. “Damn straight, girl.”

Jacqui slowed herself to let Mikael and the others get closer. Once close enough, Jacqui resumed her dancing, the eight of them staying close for the rest of the song.

The sun was almost finished setting by the time, Mikael, Divvy, Jacqui, and the Equestrians exited the skating rink, their faces and coats damp with sweat. Despite how tired and clammy they each felt, it didn’t keep them from laughing merrily over the day they were able to share.

“I sure hope there’s still time to do homework,” Ocellus muttered.

“I’m not doing anything until I take a shower,” Smolder loudly groaned.

“You said it,” Sandbar huffed. “I kinda’ already feel like I just took one.”

“Ew, gross,” Jacqui chuckled.

“Well,” Mikael said, “once we’re finished bathing and getting our… well, once Jacqui and I get our PJs on, we should meet up someplace and get our homework done.”

“Sounds alright with me.”

“Yeah,” Gallus agreed, “I’m down.”

Mikael felt a vibration in his pocket. Picking up his phone, he looked at the notification banner and read the headline written on it, making him come to a stop. The others, noticing this, also stopped and looked back.

“Hey, Mikael?” Jacqui and the others approached. “What’s up?”

“Nothing bad, but…” Mikael held his phone up to everyone, the banner reading: “ALOLAN CHALLENGER COMPLETES ISLAND TRIALS; SOON TO FACE POKÉMON LEAGUE AND CHAMPION. “…expect Sam to make an announcement in class tomorrow.”

Smolder and the others looked amongst each other, unsure what to feel in that moment.

Chapter 7 - Knight and Queen

The next night, Mikael, Divvy, and Jacqui led their Equestrian friends to a black and white pub on the corner of the street. A carved wooden sign above the door showed a small greyish Pokémon with pink, vein-like protrusions holding a large square log which was balancing several trays of food and mugs on each end. As they approached the door, Sam was already pushing the door out from the inside, holding it open to give them clear passage inside.

“Hey, welcome guys!” he greeted. “You’re plenty early, food and drink’s on the tables; grab a plate, stay awhile!”

Mikael and Divvy entered first, following the sounds of many conversations going off at the same time. Walking into a large room on his right, he was greeted by the sights of several Equestrians, griffons, dragons, changelings, and others among them, standing around talking. Their variously-filled plates were either held by claws, unicorn’s magic, or on the small bar tables placed around.

Trays of food were kept in chafing dishes kept warm by small canned lamps on the right wall, another table carrying half a dozen pitchers of water and sodas of different colors. Mikael attempted to squeeze through the crowds to get to the beverage table, but his unique appearance, along with Divvy’s presence ever looming behind him, most eyes turned right his way.

“Hey, you’re one of the new human students!” Mikael stopped, stealing a quick frown of disappointment before turning to his greeter, a dark-brown male griffon. “So how goes it? I’m Grayson.”

Grayson reached his claw out, which Mikael shook out of obligation. “Mikael. Things are great. So… you’re one of Sam’s students?”

Jacqui and her friends began to pour in as well, though Mikael and his Bronzong served as plenty enough of a distraction to allow her and the others to get some food and drink of their own.

“Yeah!” Grayson answered, excited. “He’s awesome isn’t he? I can’t wait to get a Pokémon team of my own. Ever since Gallus came back with his, he’s been the coolest griffon in Griffonstone. And what about you? What’s… uh… what’s that one called?”

Grayson pointed behind Mikael, and he looked back to see Divvy dutifully there as always. “Yeah, that’s a Bronzong. His name is Divvy.”

“Divvy, huh? Where’d he get a name like that?”

“It’s… a touchy subject.”

“Okay! No worries! Hey, sorry, I’m still trying to get this friendship thing down, but you don’t mind if I get some grub, do you?”

“Not at all. I’m a little parched and hungry myself.”

“Perfect! You spared me the awkwardness of having to hop out of this conversation.”

Mikael and Grayson weaved around the other guests to get their place in line. Meanwhile, as Smolder began loading fries black-bean sliders onto her plate, she frequently glanced over to the other end of the room, where an overhead projector shone a blurred image onto the wall which clearly read, “The match between Alice Brier and Jordan Wylie will start momentarily.”

She was so preoccupied with the screen that she ended up bumping into the rear of the pony in front of her. Turning herself around, the pony was a greyish blue with a long-docked tail, a scaly back and nose, a golden mane that wrapped around her head like a lion’s, and a red horn protruding from the top of her head that branched off into two.

“Oops!” Smolder tried to chuckle her rude act off. “Sorry, was paying attention to the screen. Wait… you’re a… kirin?”

“Mmhm!” she answered with a nod. “Ever since Professor Applejack and Professor Fluttershy came to our village a while back, many of us have been interested in enrolling in the school, so here we are! I’m Forest Flare.”

Smolder reached up and shook the kirin’s hoof. “Smolder. I’m in the Pokémon II class.”

“Wow! I guess that’s why you already have your own Pokémon team! I’m only in Pokémon I, so we haven’t gotten to do a lot of ‘catching’ or ‘exploring’ yet… But I’m certain this year is going to feature plenty of that!”

Smolder giggled. “Trust me, it will. You’re going to have a blast with Sam.”

“Going to! I already am, and we haven’t really done too much of anything yet!”

“Hey!” Gallus peaked out from his spot behind Smolder and Forest Flare. “What’s the hold-up!”

“Oops, sorry!” Forest Flare said, blushing. “Let’s find a table so we can get the line moving.”

“Yeah, sure.” Smolder, her gathered food in hand, walked off with Forest Flare.

Outside the building, Sam spoke to a blue projection of Alice on his Holo Caster, a disembodied torso wearing a formal vest and a short-sleeved collared shirt. “Sorry, not to get your stomach more tied into knots than it probably already is, but you don’t know how close he is, do you?”

Alice frowned. “He already beat Dexio, Ace, and Kahili. He’s on Molayne now.”

“…How long’s he been at it?”

“Sam please. I’m really nervous right now. After getting my ass handed to me in Galar–”

“Hey, hey, no! Galar doesn’t mean anything. You’re the champion of Alola; I know you’ll fight to keep it that way.”

“It’s just… he just had to come right when I was on a roll with my Gym Challenge.”

“I know, I know. But hey, look on the bright side, you actually get a face someone this time around! I mean, the whole reason you took the Gym Challenge on in the first place was because not enough people were making it through the Island Trials. I’m… actually kind of surprised you’re not stoked about this.”

“In any other circumstance, I would be, but… that last loss really hurt.”

“I know, but look. You’ve only gotten stronger since our last battle, and you have your new Pokémon on you to help. You got this.”

“Yeah… I sure hope–”

“…Alice?”

“He just beat Molayne. I gotta’ go. Wish me luck.”

“Okay sis. Good lu–”

Alice’s image quickly faded into nothingness as the connection was cut. Sam clenched both the Holo Caster as well as his eyes; if only he had more time to say what he needed.

With a decided huff, he shoved the device back into his pocket and quickly walked inside. Stepping into the large private room, the Equestrians were all still conversing as they waited for an update. Sam looked to the screen and watched as the message across it began to fade and the image behind it sharpened its focus.

The crowd inside all loudly gasped and commented at this change, knowing that the match was going to begin shortly. Once the camera fully retained its focus, it showed Alice standing on the opposite side of the battlefield from where the stairway from the teleportation pad was. Her arms were crossed, and her face put on the most serious façade it could muster.

“Come on, Alice!” Smolder cheered. “You can do this!”

Cheers and proclamations for Alice and her success rang throughout the room. Sam leaned on the side of the entryway, wanting to get as comfortable for next half hour or so as he could. The camera then cut to the stairwell as the sound of footsteps began to ascend them. After only five or six steps, they stopped, confusing the Equestrians inside and filling them with a little dread.

At that moment, the steps grew louder and quicker, and after only a few moments, Alice’s challenger was visible sprinting up each step by two. On the last step, he sprung up, the cameras doing their best to capture his mad rush to the champion.

The trainer looked to be in his low to mid-30s, sporting long black hair, very tan skin, and a thick growth of stubble on the lower half of his face. In the air, his stylish black leather pants waved like a flag of an enemy nation come to conquer their enemy. His dark-blue tank-top clung to his chest and gut, showing off his incredibly well-toned muscles. He landed with a crouch upon his side of the field on thick leather boots before slowly standing upright, his threatening entrance failing to get a rise out of Alice.

After several moments of staredown, the man smiled warmly at his opponent. “Not even breaking a sweat. Not even that Plumeria woman couldn’t resist flinching when I came into her site.”

“I wouldn’t be champion if I let every trainer who faced me get me shaken up so easily,” Alice retorted.

“Hmm. I guess that explains Galar…”

“Oh, shut up. I may have lost the Champion Cup, but I certainly won’t lose my championship, not here.”

The man put his hands on the Poké Balls on his belt as he widened his stance, ready to send his first one out. “Yeah, you will…” Despite Alice keeping up her scowl, he noticed a telling glaze forming on her brow. “There it is…”

A sound system kicked in around the room. “The championship title match between Alice Brier and Jordan Wylie is set to begin.”

The Equestrians were silent now, wanting to see and hear the first seconds of the match with as much clarity as possible. Smolder in particular began to shove as much of the food that she had taken into her mouth as possible, not wanting anything to distract her from this most decisive match.

“Come on!” Jordan hollered. “Aren’t you supposed to send out the first Pokémon?”

Alice bared her teeth as her hand finally grasped hold of a Poké Ball and tossed it out. “You’re up first, Dragapult!”

Alice threw her ball out, which opened up with a massive explosion of white. The energy smoothed and solidified into a draconic creature with a large black-and-red head shaped like a stealth bomber and creamy-yellow chest that faded into a solid cyan all the way down the rest of its body to the translucent tip of its massive tail.

“Yeah, awesome!” Smolder cheered. “That’s one of her strongest!”

“Hey, Smolder!” Gallus called from another part of the room. “You getting paid to commentate?!”

“Don’t worry about him!” Jacqui’s assuring call immediately got the dragoness out of the funk she was suddenly in. “You just do you, girl!”

Jordan observed Alice’s dragon, his stance relaxed and unmoved. “Not bad. I can do one better.” He picked a ball of his own clip and threw it with a fearsome spin. “Go, Bisharp!”

With his ball coming open, Jordan’s first Pokémon made its appearance: a fully-armored red-and-black bipedal creature with two circular blades protruding from its waist, two blades on the tops of its forearms, and a golden axe-head in its helmet.

Alice felt herself relax and give Jordan a smug grin. “You thought you got me with a Dark-type! That’s not going to matter much longer! Dragapult, use U-Turn!”

Pushing its feet off an invisible force in the air, Dragapult sped forward, making a beeline at Jordan’s Bisharp. Bisharp attempted to put its arms up to defend itself, only for its head to get clobbered with Dragapults. As Bisharp painfully rolled toward its trainer’s feet, Dragapult soared back up and looped around to dive straight at Alice, who already had its Poké Ball aimed up at it. The patrons in the bar cheered as Alice called her Pokémon back before throwing another ball out from her belt.

“Your turn, Sandaconda!” she declared.

The ball came open, and from it, a sandy-white snake leapt out with most of its body coiled around itself, along with a large brownish-green pouch covering its head.

Jordan’s Bisharp stood back up as it assessed its next opponent. “That’s fine. I can keep him around. Bisharp, attack her Sandaconda with Foul Play!”

Bisharp charged at the reptilian Pokémon, a black cloak of energy forming around its body and arms as it picked up speed. Alice’s Pokémon responded by springing up onto the last few inches of its tail, standing itself straight and hissing at the encroaching Bisharp. Once it got close enough, the Bisharp thrust both arms into the underside of Sandaconda, the black aura channeling itself out and into the snake as well. Sandaconda’s eyes narrowed in pain and it slightly uncoiled as it struggled to withhold the hit. A wave of groans and gasps washed over the patrons of the Timburr Tavern, though Sam just watched on expectedly; no way it would end that quickly.

“Awesome job, girl!” Alice cheered. “Now that he’s close, hit it with–”

“Psycho Cut, now!” On Jordan’s call, the Bisharp wound its arm back, producing an afterimage in the swiftness of it.

Alice then gasped to see what appeared to be an animal’s claw hanging from Bisharp’s neck, suddenly making her understand how the Pokémon was able to move before hers. Looking back to her Sandaconda, she watched as Bisharp began to take a step back to give space for its attack as it began to swing its arm out. However, Sandaconda reached its head out, clamping down on the blade in Bisharp’s helmet. Using all its muscles from the top down, it swung the lower part of its body up and catapulted itself up into the just as Bisharp swung. A band of magenta light shot from the blade on its arm, heading straight towards Alice.

“Watch out!” Smolder screamed amidst the other frightened noises of the others around her.

Alice leaned back and to the side, the blade quickly passing her and striking the throne directly behind her. Looking at the potential damage that it caused, she then watched in shock as the left corner of the throne began to slide off and fall to the floor. As scared as she was in that moment, she was snapped out by the shriek of her Pokémon, which was beginning to reach the apex of its ascent.

Seeing the opportunity given to her, Alice felt safe to smile again. “I knew you could do it, girl! Now, finish him off with Body Press!”

Squeezing its own body tighter, Sandaconda dove down from above Bisharp, who looked up to see the snake coming down at it. With a raspy shriek, Sandaconda tucked its head in and crashed down on Bisharp, bringing both to the ground in a stony explosion that covered them both in dust. After shielding their bodies from as much debris as possible, Alice and Jordan looked into the billowing cloud to see the state of their Pokémon. As it began to clear, Sandaconda slithered out and rejoined its trainer before turning back to see if it had done the job. Sure enough, the Bisharp laid motionless on its back, its arms and legs splayed out in the crater that was left.

The blue floor turned red as a voice picked up. “Bisharp is unable to battle. Jordan Wylie has… five Pokémon remaining.”

A wave of sudden cheers burst out from the audience in the tavern. Sam also began to relax himself and smile, his confidence in his sister burning stronger.

Jordan stared at his Pokémon as he returned it to its ball. He then kept his sights on Alice as she allowed Sandaconda to slap the tip of its tail against her hand, putting his fainted Bisharp’s ball back on his clip and removing another one.

“Really hoped to save you for later, but what can you do?” he muttered to himself before breathing deeply in. “Hey, Alice!” Both her and her Pokémon gave him their attention. “Did you really think we came all this way just for you to smack our bottoms and call it a night?”

“I mean…” Alice couldn’t help but feel unsure with her sarcastic shrug. “…was kind of hoping that’d be the case.”

“Then you’ve dedicated yourself to false hope.” He held his next Poké Ball up. “With this next Pokémon, I’m going to show you how hopeless your situation really is.”

Muttering began to take hold of the Equestrians gathered in front of the screen, and Sam stood up straight again, realizing very quickly that the match would no longer be easy for his sister past this point.

Jordan chucked his ball forward. “Go, Kartana!”

Sam seized up. “Kartana?!”

Several Equestrians looked back at Sam, unsettled by the contortion of fear his face made, only to be forced to look back upon Jordan’s ball opening itself. Forming into a tight, shiny square from the Poké Ball’s energy, it then unfolded itself into a metallic creature with the appearance of an origami samurai whose lightness allowed it to float freely in the air.

“H– How?” Sam sputtered quietly. “How’d he get an Ultra Beast?”

On the screen, Alice and her Sandaconda also looked tremendously fearful, the Kartana appearing to exude an energy that instilled an irresistible urge to feel that way.

She quickly put her scowl back on. “Yeah, I remember fighting with one of those in Hau’oli.”

“I’d wager you never fought against one though!” Jordan roared back. “And you’ve certainly never fought against mine.”

“But I know how to, and that’ll be good enough for me! Sandaconda, hit it with another Body Press!”

Sandaconda hopped back up on the tip of its tail, springing itself out at the Kartana with fangs bared and a guttural hiss escaping its throat. Jordan smirked, and as if sensing its trainer’s reaction, the Kartana shot to the right and disappeared. Sandaconda’s assuredness was quickly replaced by sheer confusion.

“Leaf Blade!” Jordan bellowed.

Alice then watched as Kartana, its bladed arms raised up, appeared directly above Sandaconda, who was completely unaware of its presence. “Sandaconda! Abov–”

Kartana swung into Sandaconda’s back hard and fast enough to twirl about several times in the air, the slashes it made producing two large bands of green light that hammered down. As if shot down from a cannon, Sandaconda crashed into the floor with a sickening rumble beneath Alice’s shoes.

Smolder felt the color and warmth in her face drain as the Equestrians around her went into a frightened and anguished uproar. Even standing in his spot in the restaurant thousands of miles away, Sam could feel Sandaconda’s brutal landing as if he was standing right beside his sister, making him clench his teeth.

Once the dust settled, Alice’s Pokémon lay partially uncoiled in a crater of its own, its body completely motionless.

The floor went red again. “Sandaconda is unable to battle. Alice Brier has… five Pokémon remaining.”

“Oh no!” Silverstream whined. “Now they both have the same number of Pokémon. And that Kartana is scary strong!”

“Where’d he even get that thing?” Grayson wondered.

Alice brought her Sandaconda back into its ball, her head hanging low as she put it back onto the clip on her belt and taking another ball off of it.

“I suppose you didn’t bring any Ultra Beasts of your own to this battle, did you?” Jordan’s mocking voice already knew the answer. “Oh, what a pity.”

“I don’t need any Ultra Beasts or legendary Pokémon to beat the likes of you! The fact you would need one to face me… what a coward you are.”

“Coward, you say?” Jordan cocked his head, perplexed by the choice of words. “Perhaps unsportsmanlike is a more fitting label, but last I checked, this region’s first champion got to sit on that throne with the aid of Solgaleo, but I’m certain you’ve told him numerous times how much of a coward he was, haven’t you?”

Alice hacked out a sigh, unable to counter his retort. To see Alice so mentally and psychologically whipped as she was brought the morale of the Timburr Tavern plumetting.

“Now, if you really want to prove yourself worthy of being called one of the strongest trainers alive, then shut your mouth and fight!”

“You’re right…” Alice held her ball up in her tightly-clenched hand. “No more talking. Your turn, Noivern!”

With a throw of her ball, it came open and unleashed her black-and-purple wyvern, who landed upon the field and greeted Kartana with a piercing shriek. The sight and sound of Alice’s ace Pokémon brought out another wave of cheers in the crowd, Smolder’s voice overpowering them all. Sam clapped in solidarity, nodding confidently that his sister’s Noivern would turn things around.

“Hmm…” Jordan looked away in annoyance before taking Kartana’s ball and aiming it at his Pokémon, the red beam bringing it back inside, much to Alice and Noivern’s confusion. “This won’t do.”

“What’s he doing now?” Forest Flare sneered.

“I’m guessing that Kartana’s super weak to one of Noivern’s moves.” There was an equal amount of nonplusment in Smolder’s voice. “Say what you will about this guy, he’s playing super smart.”

After returning his ball back to his clip, Jordan threw another out. “Bisharp! You’re up!”

Bursting out from the ball, another Bisharp posed out from its ball to signal its readiness to battle.

“Huh?” Ocellus put her hoof to her mouth. “Another one?”

Alice appeared to not be dismayed or confused by this choice. “You wasted your turn to bring out another Steel-type, and one I’ve already beaten? I mean, anything to protect your fragile little Kartana from what’s to come, right?”

Jordan stayed silent, his stoic expression a far more deafening reply than anything he could have said.

“Whatever,” Alice breathed. “Noivern, attack his Bisharp with Flamethrower!”

Breathing in deeply, Noivern spat a steady, yet powerful stream of fire at Bisharp, who stood in patient anticipation as the heat and brightness barreled closer.

“Dodge it!” With an imperceptibly fast crouch, the Bisharp spun wide to the right on Jordan’s order, letting the fires pass behind it before it broke into a sprint at its attacker.

Alice seized up as the Bisharp came closer with a bloodthirsty squint of its eyes. “Don’t let him get closer! Another Flamethrower, now!”

Noivern, it’s flames still pouring from its mouth, tilted its head downwards, attempting to chase the Bisharp down before it could reach it.

“Excellent!” Jordan howled. “Now, hit it with Poison Jab!”

With less than a foot separating the second Bisharp from Noivern’s attack, the Bisharp lunged forward, both of its arms glowing purple. After managing to drive both of its fists into Noivern’s gut, Noivern doubled over as it’s choked gag extinguished its attack.

Alice seethed, angered by this setback. “While he’s there, attack him with Hurricane!”

Noivern leapt upward, leaving the Bisharp behind below. With its wings raised, it then beat both down, creating a terrible whirlwind that first beat down on the Bisharp with all its might before it was thrown back Jordan’s way. Jordan barely reacted as his Pokémon swung itself back onto its feet, though faltered, its sense of balance suddenly diminished. Noivern landed back on the floor, and Jordan was merely happy to see two purple splotches where his Pokémon’s attack managed to land.

“Oh no!” Sandbar gasped. “She’s been poisoned!”

“Now what’s she gonna’ do?” another pony called from the crowd.

“Don’t worry guys, look!” Smolder pointed at the screen, spefically the wobbling Bisharp. “His Bisharp’s confused!”

Jordan’s smug smile felt cold, especially with his woozy Pokémon directly before him. “You wasted two Flamethrower attacks and hit me with a little Hurricane attack. And for what? Some minimal damage and some confusion?”

“And you just got my Noivern a little sick,” Alice snapped back. “She’ll last. I’ll make sure that Bisharp won’t.”

“We’ll see… Bisharp, attack Noivern with Dual Chop!”

Bisharp charged at Noivern once again, but its gait was slower and far more concentrated as it struggled to just not fall. Once it got close to Noivern, it leapt back up, now eye-to-eye with Alice’s dragon.

“Don’t let him run away!” Alice shouted. “You can do this!”

With illusions of Noivern’s head dancing in circles around his vision, Bisharp slash its right arm down to the left, though Noivern easily curved its neck out to avoid the slash. Bisharp then slashed down to the right with its left, and Noivern was able to dodge that too, making Jordan gasp in genuine surprise for the first time.

“Looks like you’re not as all that as you thought you were!” Alice cheered. “Noivern, it’s right there! Finish Bisharp off with Flamethrower!”

With a harsh, hot glow forming in Noivern’s mouth, Bisharp was lucid enough to understand its predicament and stared at the light with widened eyes. Noivern shot another powerful plume of fire point blank into the Bisharp’s body, throwing it over Jordan as it threatened to go far over the edge of the battlefield platform and to the bottom of the room far below. Jordan casually pulled his Pokémon’s ball off and aimed it at the Bisharp as it fell, the red beam shooting from it connecting with it and bringing it safely back in.

Regardless of Jordan’s save, the floor turned red and the speakers came on. “Bisharp is unable to battle. Jordan Wylie has… four Pokémon remaining.”

The Timburr Tavern’s patrons cheered and applauded again, Sam’s claps ringing forcefully over them as he nodded over his approval of his sister and her Pokémons’ resolve.

“Yeah, that’s a shame,” Jordan sighed, cracking his neck. “However, he did exactly what I needed him to do, and for that, I’m thankful.”

“You sure have a funny way of showing how much you care for you Pokémon.” Alice’s spiteful comment was backed up by a high-pitched bark from Noivern.

“I care for my Pokémon very much. Just because I don’t coddle them nearly as much as you doesn’t make my love for them any less valid. They got me farther than any Island Trial challenger has come in the past half-year, and today, they’ll help me defeat you.” Jordan tore his next ball off his belt and tossed it out. “Go, Turntonator!”

Appearing from the ball upon its opening was a large turtle-like dragon with a large, yellow-and-red shell with large brown spikes jutting from it, whose head had a flatter top similarly colored to its shell, along with a long snout with a single wide nostril.

Noivern roared at its next potential enemy, only for it to swoon and catch itself from falling on the claws on the ends of its wings. Alice gasped as she saw the left glowing splotch of purple pulsing, looking back up to Jordan to see him snickering.

“My Bisharp really saved me there,” he continued to chortle, “and now this is going to make Turtonator’s job so much easier.”

“Save it!” Alice shouted. “My Noivern’s got plenty of fight left in it! Attack Turtonator with Dragon Pulse!”

Noivern’s mouth glowed again, this time a purplish-blue. With its claws digging into the ground to ensure its accuracy, Noivern let out a booming yap that sent a rippling comet of a similarly-colored aura straight out at Turtonator. The Turtonator was struck in the center of its chest, causing it to falter back several steps. Despite the blackened, smoldering mark now left there, Turtonator hung on strong, stepping back to its original spot.

“And now,” hushed Jordan, “the moment Bisharp helped make possible. Turtonator! Attack Noivern with Venoshock!”

“What?” Forest Flare shouted, looking to Smolder for confirmation. “It can learn that?”

Smolder could not answer, only able to gulp with worry.

The Turtonator spun to show its back to Noivern, the tips of its spikes turning purple. With a roar, Jordan’s Pokémon fired a flurry of slimy bolts out in every direction that Noivern could try to run. Over a dozen of them struck Noivern all over, several of them piercing its sensitive glowing spots. Noivern screeched as its claws could no longer hold it up, falling onto its sides as its poisoning got worse.

“Wow!” Silverstream guffawed, her wide smiles a sheer contrast to the anxious air the crowd felt. “Alice sure knows how to put on a show!”

“I don’t know if you’ve noticed,” Jacqui shouted over the noises of the crowd, “but her Noivern’s not in good shape!”

“And then her other Pokémon are gonna’ swoop in and avenge it! Eee! It’s all so exciting!”

Noivern could barely pick itself up, but it’s scowl showed Jordan and his Turtonator every tooth in his mouth.

“She’s still got a little more fight in her,” Alice shouted, “and we can still take you out! Noivern, attack Turtonator again with Dragon Pulse!”

Noivern’s mouth filled with energy and it attempted to shoot its shot once more, but in its weakened state, the blowback sent the attack far to Turtonator’s right, striking the wall with a small explosion. Alice winced, looking back up at her Noivern who looked back to her regretfully.

“It’s too weak now,” Jordan grumbled. “Time to put her out of her misery. Turtonator! Finish off Noivern with a Dragon Pulse of your own!”

The inside of Turtonator’s snout lit up with blue, and with a roar, it fired a small, but fast ball of draconic aura at Noivern as it closed its eyes and waited for the attack to come. The attack struck the top of its chest, slamming it onto its back where it spread its wings out, getting into the most comfortable position to lose consciousness.

The Equestrians watching the match stared at the projection in desperate silence, not even reacting as the floor turned red. “Noivern is unable to battle. Alice Brier has… four Pokémon remaining.”

Alice returned her Pokémon back into its ball before placing the top upon her forehead. “I’m sorry, Noivern. And thank you.”

With a serious expression returning to her face, she picked up her next Poké Ball and held it out to Jordan and his Pokémon, the latter of which breathed a plume of fire from the corners of its mouth in anticipation for its next victim.

“You may think that my hope is gone because my Noivern is,” Alice proclaimed, “but I still have four great Pokémon left to fight you and the rest of your team! If you think I’m going to give up now for even a moment, then you’ve greatly underestimated me, and for anyone watching this right now, know that I’m not going to give up on you either!”

Smolder, looking up at Alice as the camera put her in a cozy medium shot, pumped her fist with widened, glistening eyes. At that moment, the Equestrians also began to cheer, invigorated by Alice’s hopeful words.

Jordan’s expression remained unchanged, his eyes only focused on the Poké Ball she held and what Pokémon it would hold.

“First,” Alice declared, winding her arm back, “your Turtonator. Then, the rest of your Pokémon, including that Kartana of yours! Let’s go!”

Alice threw her ball forward.

Chapter 8 - Checkmate

Sam and his students stood with bated breath as Alice’s ball came open, their speculations of what the white energy spilling out of it would form into a complete mystery. It then turned large and serpentine, and as the light faded to reveal its red, shimmering body, the students cheered upon realizing that her Gyarados was up next.

Jordan stood still, ensuring that his strategy would not be betrayed by his body language. “So now you bring it out.”

“And unless your other two Pokémon can Mega Evolve,” Alice mentioned, “that’s one advantage I’ll always have over you!”

Jordan stayed silent, waiting for her to do the deed.

“And here it is!” Alice raised her left arm and placed her fingers on top of the Key Stone inside her Z-Ring, the rainbow-colored marble beginning to glow brightly. “Respond to my heart Key Stone! Beyond evolution! Mega Evolve!”

Spiral chains of DNA-shaped energy shot out of the Key Stone, enlarging as they snaked through the air on their way to the Gyaradosite in the broach on Alice’s Pokémon’s chest. Once the chains linked trainer and Pokémon together, Gyarados roared as it tremored, a light traveling over its body from the Mega Stone out until it was fully enveloped.

Gyarados’s chest swelled as two large fins unfolded from the sides of its back and the trident-like appendage on its forehead extended up. Finally, the light broke off of its body like glass to reveal its Mega Gyarados form, which cried out a deeper roar than before.

“Oh yeah!” Forest Flare cheered. “This Jordan’s toast now!”

“Heck yeah, he is!” Smolder pounded the kirin’s hoof with her fist.

Jordan widened his stance as he grabbed a Poké Ball from his clip. “That’s it…”

Alice strengthened her stance as she watched Jordan aim the Poké Ball at his Turtonator and returned it back in, wondering what strategy she would need to employ in the next few moments. After putting Turtonator’s ball back onto his clip, he took out another and tossed it out into the battle field.

“You’re on, Arctozolt!”

Alice gasped upon hearing the name. With the ball opening and shooting its energy onto the ground, the Pokémon Alice and Mega Gyarados saw indeed matched the name Jordan gave for it. The creature appeared to be back half of a large fish, it’s anal fins now serving as a pair of stubby legs. From the snow-covered top half of the body was a yellow head that appeared both reptilian and avian, it’s claws appearing out the front.

“What?” Ocellus gasped. “That Pokémon’s from the Galar region! Who is this guy?”

“All Yona knows is Alice in big trouble now!” she nervously stated.

Alice frowned, already starting to see the advantage she’d been given turning into something of a possible curse. “Either way, we have a couple turns to do something! Mega Gyarados! Attack with Dragon Rage!”

Reeling its head back, Mega Gyarados slung it back forward and hurled a comet of draconic aura at the Arctozolt’s body, hitting it dead center and causing it to fall on its bottom. Despite the rough hit, the Pokémon happily roared before sniffing in the massive rope of snot dangling from its snout and standing back up on its feet.

“So you Mega Evolve your Pokémon just to attack mine with Dragon Rage?” Jordan appeared bored and disappointed. “Are you really going to play that cautiously?”

“I’ve spent enough time in the Galar region to know Arctozolt’s abilities and its signature attack,” Alice spitefully explained, “I’m not going to walk into that one, even if I have to take it out with a thousand paper cuts! Now again, Mega Gyarados! Use Dragon Rage!”

Mega Gyarados fired another aura ball, hitting its same target. Arctozolt rolled back a ways before it swung itself back onto its feet, still strong and ready to make its long-awaited counter attack.

“I sure hope that was all worth it,” Jordan sighed. “Now, Arctozolt! Attack Mega Gyarados with Freeze-Dry!”

Alice winced, hoping for the best. As the ground beneath Arctozolt froze over, the creature let out a shriek sounded just as chilly. At that moment, the temperature around Alice seemed to plummet, the warmth seemingly being drawn out of her body as Mega Gyarados began to get covered in a thick layer of frost.

“Mega Gyarados!” Alice cried.

Her Pokémon let out a last bellow out to the ceiling as its body turned immobile and frozen, having now turned into a floating figuring held up by the magnet plates attached to its underside.

Jordan let out a harsh breath and smiled, the light of victory becoming clearer than it had ever been before that moment. “Well, that’s quite fortunate.”

“Mega Gyarados!” Alice begged. “You gotta’ attack! Use Brutal Swing, just do it!”

Alice’s Pokémon was petrified in place, unable to obey its trainer’s order. Alice let out a whimper, realizing that what she feared would now come to pass.

Jordan pointed out at Alice, getting her attention. “You’re going to lose this battle, Alice, and you have your Gyarados to thank for it!”

“Just shut up!” Alice shouted back.

“Yeah!” Smolder threw her fist up. “You tell him!”

“I still have three perfectly healthy Pokémon on me left, and two of yours are already a little worn.”

Jordan chuckled. “If you truly think that the Dragon Pulse on my Turtonator or the couple of Dragon Rages my Arctozolt took makes them ‘worn,’ then the other half of your team won’t stand a chance against the rest of mine. Now, finish this! Arctozolt, attack Mega Gyarados with Bolt Beak!”

Arctozolt lowered itself, preparing to lunge. With a scowl forming on its face, electricity sparkled off of its head before expanding and running around and down its body. With a roar, it charged at the frozen Mega Gyarados, even more electricity forming around the tip of its beak. With a herculean jump upwards, Arctozolt crashed into Mega Gyarados’s chest, breaking the ice covering it and blasting the electricity it built up onto it. Mega Gyarados roared in pain as it was flung up into the ceiling, colliding with the stony, jagged rocks and crystals above.

As shards and fragments of the ceiling began to rain down, Alice held her arms over her head to protect herself. “Mega Gyarados!”

Mega Gyaradose limply floated back to the floor as the bright aura that had transformed it covered its entire body. Halfway down, the light shattered once again, revealing its original Gyarados form.

Inside the Timburr Tavern, the eyes of the students glistened with worry to see such a strong Pokémon fall so hard so quickly.

The floor turned red even before Gyarados’s motionless body set itself down on it. “Gyarados is unable to battle. Alice Brier has… three Pokémon remaining.”

As the students whined and groaned, suddenly feeling the weight of Jordan’s haughty predictions, Alice furiously and purposefully returned her fainted Pokémon into its Poké Ball, removing her next one with her free hand.

“Oh?” Jordan’s eyebrows raised as his stance relaxed itself once more. “You really think you still have a shot. No use not trying now.”

Once the last of the red beam of Gyarados’s ball retracted into the center button, Alice flicked her wrist to send the next ball out. “Your turn, Lycanroc!”

The ball came open, the energy that spat out from it transforming into Alice’s brightly-orange wolf Pokémon, landing firmly, yet daintily on the floor.

“It’s okay, boy!” she thunderously encouraged. “He’s almost done! Now, finish him with Stone Edge!”

Lycanroc hopped up on its front paws before thrusting them back down onto the floor. With a muffled boom and a mild vibration underneath the feet of each trainer and Pokémon, a large spear of rock jutted up directly beneath Arctozolt, sending it flying and screeching in the air. Jordan winced, fully aware that this attack would be one that his Pokémon wouldn’t likely outlast. Arctozolt fell on its side hard, and Jordan kept his mouth shut, waiting until he was certain that it was truly defeated. Alice and Jordan stood and looked at Arctozolt, waiting to either hear the confirmation of its defeat or witness its stirring.

Sam and his students also leaned in closer, knowing that this attack could indeed be the decisive moment for the remainder of the battle.

Suddenly, Arctozolt slowly rolled itself up, Jordan’s smile turning wide as each hair on Alice’s head and body stood on end. Once it got up to its feet, Arctozolt let out a raspy, weakened roar; it was hurt, but it wasn’t out.

“That’s what I love to see…” Jordan shook his fist. “Now attack Lycanroc with Hydro Pump!”

Arctozolt breathed in as it appeared that its throat began to swell with liquid. Alice and Lycanroc prepared their stances to ready themselves for the oncoming attack. Slowly throwing its head forward, Arctozolt blasted a massive stream of water from its mouth like a laser, the speed of which neither Alice nor her Pokémon were prepared for. All Lycanroc could think to do was to dig its claws in and hold on as the aqueous blast pummeled it on its front, spraying water everywhere around Alice, forcing her to cover her face and hold her own ground.

“Don’t give up!” Alice screamed. “Finish him off with Accelerock!”

Alice broke into a run to her left, keeping her eyes on her Pokémon as it seemingly vanished from sight, the only sign of its whereabouts being a large outward splash from the right of the water blast. With the attack unblocked, it continued unencumbered, grazing the back of Alice’s heel as she ran away from it.

The students in the restaurant gasped at Alice’s close call, only for their eyes to be quickly drawn to Jordan’s Arctozolt, which was swiftly slashed by Lycanroc as it suddenly reappeared beside it, ending its own attack. Once Arctozolt limply rolled to a stop along the floor, the lights of the floor turned red, signaling its defeat and granting permission of the students to cheer Alice’s official halfway point to victory.

“Arctozolt is unable to battle. Jordan Wylie has… three Pokémon remaining.”

Jordan nodded, taking the minor defeat in stride as he returned his fainted Pokémon into its ball. “Excellent work, Arctozolt. You may have just guaranteed our victory.” Looking back up at Alice and Lycanroc as they returned to their spots on the battle field, he put Arctozolt’s ball back onto his clip and took out another before sending it out. “He’s almost done! Finish him, Dracozolt!”

Alice and Lycanroc both gasped as the ball came open. The creature that formed on the ground before them had an upper half that was perfectly identical to that of Arctozolt’s, though its lower half was now the green-and-red legs and tail of some ill-fitting draconic creature, most of the tail’s interior visible around the torso’s scrawny physique.

“As you can see,” Jordan clarified, “you’re not the only one who’s spent some time in Galar.”

Alice seethed, the mystery surrounding this man becoming more infuriating by the minute. “You know what? I’m done with your games! Lycanroc! Ready to finish this quickly?”

Her wolf howled in response. Alice then held up her right arm with the face of her Z-Ring facing Jordan, revealing a Z-Crystal with two smaller gems conjoined at the top and bottom points, the center crystal showing an icon featuring a the left half of a Midday-form Lycanroc and the right half of a Midnight-form Lycanroc beside each other. Jordan raised his eyes and parted his lips, calmly feigning surprise.

“Is she…?” Forest Flare turned to Smolder.

“She’s gonna’ do it!” Smolder threw her fist up, knowing what was to come.

“Alright, boy! Let’s go!” Alice crossed her arms in front of her face, the Z-Ring and Z-Crystal inside of it igniting with a bright yellow energy.

As Alice threw her arms down to her side, Lycanroc stood on its hind legs and mimicked its trainer’s stance, following through with her as they both held their arms crossed over one another. After jumping into a crouch, Alice stood straight and flexed the muscles of her arms. Both she and Lycanroc hopped back into a rightward lunge before holding their arms up once more, their backs to Jordan and his Dracozolt.

Alice’s Z-Power then exploded off her back in several large streams that flew around her and out into Lycanroc, filling it with its energy. Lycanroc purred loudly as a golden fiery aura radiated off its fur, the force of which blew a whirlwind around the room that Jordan shut his eyes tight over, avoiding the small bits of rock and pebble pelting him in the face and arms.

“Don’t close your eyes just yet!” Alice said behind the safety of her forearm. “You’re definitely going to want to try and avoid this! Can’t say your Dracozolt will be so lucky! Now go, Lycanroc! Attack Dracozolt with Splintered Stormshards!”

Lycanroc let out a howl whose noise filled the entire room, instantly stopping the whirlwind. As Jordan opened his eyes, he let out a worried sigh as the stones that blustered about a moment prior were now floating in the air by themselves. Soon, all the pieces of rock and the floor left from the battle, large and small, began to rise up at once to join the pebbles.

With a rumbling of the ground, an even larger spike of stone rose out from the floor beneath Lycanroc, and it stood firmly on top of it as it continued to rise. Once it stopped, the tip aimed right on Dracozolt, the other stones tilted and spun until their points were also locked onto Jordan’s Pokémon as well.

With another roar, the stones launched themselves at Dracozolt, each one striking it like various sizes of bullets. Finally, as the last of them made their way down, Lycanroc’s spike rocketed down at Dracozolt, which Lycanroc propelled even further down by hopping off of it and pushing it with its back legs. The stone struck just underneath Dracozolt, the explosion of rock throwing both it and Jordan backward. Jordan fell onto a knee and slid to a stop as his Pokémon, laying on its side, came to its own stop just inches from him.

The Equestrian students began to cheer loudly over the strong and spectacular attack. Sam joined them in applause, but his face remained dour, the light of the floors not changing.

As Jordan stood up, his Dracozolt slowly got up itself, weakly wagging the dust and small bits of rocks clinging to it. “That’s it. Even you won’t let a single Z-Move finish you off.”

Lycanroc huffed nervously, Alice unable to hide her disappointment. “That’s okay, Lycanroc. As far as I see it, we only have one and a half to go.”

“One and a half, you say?” Jordan shouted out. “My Kartana’s still perfectly healthy, and you just used your one and only Z-Move, while I still have mine intact…”

Alice bit the inside of her lip as Jordan raised his left arm to reveal his own Z-Ring, struggling to withhold any fearful expressions that she may have betrayed.

“I certainly won’t need one now to finish off your dog,” he finished. “Dracozolt! Attack Lycanroc with Breaking Swipe!”

Dracozolt broke into a run, each step it took shaking the ground. As it got closer to the demoralized Lycanroc, it wound its left arm back, a bright bolt-shaped blade protruding out of it. Once it was near enough, it swung its arm and the blade across Lycanroc’s face, throwing its head down to the ground. Alice yelped fearfully as her Pokémon limply crumpled and lay still.

In the Timburr Tavern, the crowd went silent. Smolder had her hands over her mouth as her eyes began to well with tears. Mikael and Grayson stood, mouths agape over the needlessly cruel and vicious way the Dracozolt chose to finish its opponent off.

With the floor of the arena turning red, the computerized voice broke the silence. “Lycanroc is unable to battle. Alice Brier has… two Pokémon remaining.”

Alice stood with her face hung low and her balled up fists trembling; Jordan and his Dracozolt relished the sight.

Finally, Alice yanked Lycanroc’s Poké Ball off her belt and brought it back inside. “Like I said, boy… one and a half down.”

As she put her ball back, she took out her penultimate choice out, jerking her head up to give Jordan and his Pokémon a fierce, icy glare that didn’t seem to faze either of them at all.

Alice sent her next Poké Ball flying. “He’s almost done! Let’s finish this, Raichu!”

Alice’s Alolan Raichu flew out from the balls energy and swirled to a stop on its spot on the battlefield, its cute, chubby physique a sheer contrast to the malformed Pokémon that it faced.

“You got the speed, buddy,” Alice encouraged, “so it shouldn’t take much more! Hit him with Psychic!”

Raichu concentrated hard as its body went aglow with magenta.

“Don’t let this rat be the one to take you out!” Jordan ordered. “Hit it with High Horsepower!”

With a shriek, Dracozolt ran forward, the rumbling of the ground beneath its feet unsteadying everyone except for Raichu, who continued to balance perfectly on it’s tail-board. Halfway into its advance, a magenta glow covered Dracozolt and forcefully slowed it down. Dracozolt screamed as it struggled to push through Raichu’s attack, though it continued to advance inch by inch.

Raichu grunted as it too struggled to hold Dracozolt back. After several seconds of effort, Raichu slouched and relinquished its force, allowing Dracozolt to push through and charge at Alice’s Pokémon. With a hop and twist to the right, Dracozolt crashed its left side into Raichu, sending it flying toward the wall behind Alice.

“Raichu!” Alice spun around and watched as her Pokémon flipped helplessly away from her. “Don’t give up! One more Psychic, now!”

At the completion of another loop, Raichu held its arms out at Dracozolt, covering both Pokémon in Psychic energy. As Dracozolt was flung forward toward Raichu, Alice’s Pokémon regained balance and swiveled itself to a stop. With Dracozolt still in its grasp, Raichu spun around, letting Dracozolt revolve around it before Raichu threw it back to the field. It landed hard in the center and limply rolled to a stop before settling down, it’s body motionless.

Jordan already pulled his Poké Ball off his clip before the floor of the battlefield glowed red.

“Dracozolt is unable to battle. Jordan Wylie has… two Pokémon remaining.”

The students continued cheering as Jordan removed Dracozolt’s body from the field with its ball.

“I think Alice has a shot!” Silverstream squealed.

“I think so too,” Gallus commented, “but still, he hasn’t sent out his Kartana or used a Z-Move yet.”

“Big deal!” Sandbar replied. “And Alice still has her Dragapult! She’ll be just fine!”

“I sure hope so…” Ocellus broke the tension with a nursing of her soda.

Jordan put Dracozolt’s ball back onto his clip and removed another, looking purposefully at it. “Okay, time to finish her off. Go, Turtonator!”

Jordan threw his ball out, which opened up and streamed its energy down to the floor. Raichu growled at Turtonator upon the completion of its formation, and it responded back with a bellowing roar.

“It’s okay, Raichu.” Alice’s voice calmed her Pokémon down. “Noivern already did a number on it.”

“It was a single Dragon Pulse,” Jordan snapped back. “And after the High Horsepower your Raichu took just now, you shouldn’t hope for it to defeat mine.”

Alice smirked, a reaction that seemed to mildly surprise Jordan. “Then I guess I have no choice then, do I?”

“What?”

Raichu, hit Turtonator with Thunderbolt!”

Sam uncrossed his arms and leaned forward, hoping Alice’s strategy would work the way they’d both hope it would.

The edge of Raichu’s tail-board raced with currents of electricity, the energy feeding up through its tail as its body glowed and its cheeks began to charge with sparks. With a shout and a thrusting of its arms, Raichu shot a large bolt of lightning into Turtonator’s chest, which spread over its body as it cried out in pain.

“Come on…” Jacqui whispered. “Come on…”

Once Raichu could no longer sustain its assault, it relaxed itself and scooted back, unsure how Turtonator would retaliate if at all. Sparks still jumped off its body as the Pokémon struggled to pick its head up. Upon managing to do so, its teeth were locked in a toothy grimace as the electricity continued to bounce all about it.

Sam clapped his hands and pumped them into fists. “Yes! Got ‘em!”

“You mean…” Silverstream excitedly wondered.

“Alice paralyze him!” Yona shouted.

The students began to cheer once again; Alice’s victory was assured now. Mikael stood silent, watching the screen intently to see how the rest of the battle would play out. Grayson took notice of this.

“You know,” he jeered, “for a non-pony, you have a pretty long face right now.”

“Jordan still has his Kartana,” he simply answered, “and he still has his Z-Move available to him. If Alice wants to beat him, she’ll need every ounce of luck she has available to her now.”

Grayson became silent himself, finding logic in Mikael’s objective observations.

“There shouldn’t be much left!” Jordan shouted at his Turtonator. “Finish it with Heavy Slam!”

With its teeth still bared, Turtonator attempted to take a step forward, but had to lift its entire right side just to swing its leg out to move. Alice smirked, knowing Jordan’s turn was wasted.

“Exactly what I needed right about now,” Alice sighed. “Target practice. Raichu! Hit Turtonator with Psychic!”

Raichu’s tailboard glowed a bright magenta before it rode it in a tight swinging turn, slinging a bow of similar energy at Turtonator. It struck Jordan’s Pokémon in the stomach, sending it sliding back to its trainer. Jordan seethed as Turtonator stumbeled and barely caught itself with its claw.

“Okay,” Jordan grunted, “we’ll trying something else. Attack it with Dragon Pulse!”

As the inside of Turtonator’s snout filled with blue, Alice took notice. “Get ready, Raichu!”

With a yap, Raichu signaled its readiness. With a shout, Turtonator fired off its bright, energetic round. It came at Raichu slow and easy to read, and with an upward spring, Raichu let the attack safely pass over it, making Jordan grunt with rage.

“Excellent, Raichu!” Alice cried. “One more Psychic should do it!”

Quickly dipping down and swinging up, another bow of psychic energy slashed its way toward the exhausted Turtonator, who closed its eyes and just awaited the inevitable. The attack hit the Pokémon across the chest once again, toppling it over onto its side where it lay still.

The cheers in the Timburr Tavern turned deafening, Sam and his students unable to hear the next announcement as the floor turned red. “Turtonator is unable to battle. Jordan Wylie has… one Pokémon remaining.”

Jordan held out Turtonator’s Poké Ball as the red beam brought it back inside. After placing it back on his belt, he took out his final Poké Ball and hung it by his side.

“And now you’re down to your last,” Alice taunted. “And I don’t care that it’s an Ultra Beast. Both of my last Pokémon are faster than it, and they’ll take it down before it has a chance to know what hit it!”

Jordan coarsely chuckled. “Your Pokémon’s speed does not matter. Their defense does not matter. The… friendships that you, your brother, and all those other people share with those damn Equestrians… do not matter.”

The restaurant’s patrons, having quieted down, began to murmur with each other, unsure what would cause him to speak so harshly about their world.

“All that matters, and all that ever will matter, is pure, raw power!” Jordan slapped the side of his Poké Ball against his chest. “They think they can infect my world with their ideals of harmony and peace. HA! And to think you managed to become the champion believing in such stupid things!”

“What is he saying?” a unicorn mare whined.

“She’s not going to let him get away with saying that!” Ocellus shouted. “Is he?”

Alice frowned, staying firm. “Those Equestrians, along with my brother and I, saved the world believing those ‘stupid’ things. And now, I’ll stay champion believing those things! Now go ahead and send your Kartana out, Jordan! We’re not afraid!”

Smolder’s unconfident frown morphed into a humbled smile. Hearing the strength in her idol’s voice, pounded her chest with the side of her fist, her faith restored.

Jordan shook his head and lobbed his ball forward, allowing his Kartana to emerge from the ball ominously unceremoniously. “Fine. Kartana, finish Raichu off with X-Scissor.”

Alice felt a chill on her back as Kartana seemingly vanished in a flash. “Raichu! Thunderbolt!”

Raichu’s bodied teamed with electricity, Kartana appearing behind it with its bladed arms already crossed in to strike. As Kartana quickly approached, Raichy spun around with its arms out, flinging its charge at Kartana just as it swung its arms out. Both Pokémons’ attacks sent their opponent’s flying back, though Kartana quickly recovered, going upright to watch as Raichu struck the ground and rolled to a stop, its tail clattering about behind it.

Though expected, Alice still couldn’t help but wince upon seeing the floor turn red for her second-to-final defeat. “Raichu is unable to battle. Alice Brier has… one Pokémon remaining.”

Alice looked back at Kartana, whose bodied became awash in a sinister reddish-orange aura that made its flex its chest out, the power coursing through it giving it new life. It then quickly glided back to Jordan, surveying the Pokémon it just defeated as Alice returned it back inside its ball.

A young green male dragon broke from his group to approach Sam, who looked down to him expectingly. “Mr. Brier, what was that, with the Kartana? Why was it glowing like that?”

Sam looked back up, the camera angle chosen on screen showing a close-up of Jordan’s ace Pokémon. “If I remember what Sun taught me about these guys, those Ultra Beasts have an ability that boosts their stats whenever it defeats a Pokémon. I can’t imagine that Jordan planned or expected for his Turtonator to fall to Alice’s Raichu, but…” Sam gulped, suddenly feeling queasy. “Excuse me.”

Sam swung around the exit to the room, leaving the dragon confused and no less worried than he was when he approached him. As he slowly returned to his group of friends, they looked up as Alice drew her final Poké Ball and threw it forward.

“Let’s end this,” she cried, “Dragapult!”

Alice’s jet-headed dragon soared out from the energy from its ball, settling into its spot with a tight swirl around.

“Yeah,” Alice recounted, “my Pokémon might not have that ‘raw power’ that your Kartana does, but as long as I can beat it to the punch, I’ll win this! Dragapult, attack!”

Dragapult shot out at Kartana, who went still as it put its arms in, ready to retaliate.

Jordan smirked. “Kartana, attack with Sacred Sword!”

Sam was about to step outside, but found himself unable to leave. Looking back to where his students were congregated, he spun around and ran back in. He came in just as Kartana’s arms, now a bright, regal blue, swung at Dragapult, who vanished before its arms could connect. Alice froze, stunned by the blatant misplay. Kartana’s body language didn’t seem to suggest the slightest bit of confusion of its foe’s whereabouts, instead floating to the center of the battlefield to await Dragapult’s return.

“Alright then…” Jordan pressed his left thumb into the base of his right thumb, a series of cracks erupting from his right wrist before doing the same to the left. “Let’s welcome him back, shall we?”

Jordan crossed his arms in front of his face, his Z-Ring and the Steelium Z inside the face going alight. As Jordan put his arms by his side, his Kartana, now compelled by the Z-Ring’s light, did the same. After both crossing their arms out, Jordan punched his fists together as Kartana banged the ends of its arms, a flash of sparks erupting from the contact. Finally, both Jordan and Kartana punched their arms forward, allowing Jordan’s Z-Power to shoot out from him and merge into his Pokémon.

Alice breathed in through her teeth; there was no longer any time to lose. “Dragapult, Phantom Force, now!”

Dragapult immediately shot out from a spectral portal that appeared in front of Kartana, a dark shadow energy formed around its head as it crashed into Kartana. Alice felt her stance get weak upon seeing that Kartana did not budge an inch from the attack; both of its arms were crossed as their intersecting points pushed against Dragapult’s snout.

The chatter in the Timburr Tavern immediately turned sour and worrisome. Sam let out a shaky breath as Jordan’s Pokémon easily held back Alice’s; hope gushed from him.

“And would you look at that,” Jordan said. “You act like strength isn’t the most important thing, and yet, it managed stopped a fully-grown Dragapult’s Phantom Force like it was nothing!”

Alice visibly bit her lip, struggling to keep her tears from appearing. “My Pokémon are still strong, but I know that’s not the only thing that matters! I know their faith in me will–”

“Kartana! Corkscrew Crash!”

Kartana flicked its arms up, throwing Dragapult’s head back and exposing its chest to it. Jordan’s Pokémon then dove at Dragapult and began to spin rapidly. Upon making contact with its chest, Kartana was now a shimmering tornado with its tip drilling into Dragapult’s body. Dragapult roared as it was thrown and pushed back to the wall, Kartana refusing to let up.

Alice looked back as her Pokémon was pressed and ran into, its resilient cries of pain growing weaker with each breath. Alice could no longer hold them back; with a clenching of her eyes, two streams of tears ran down her face. Jordan smiled joyfully as he could see Dragapult slowly failing to hold on, and he was even happier to see his opponent cry, even with her back to him.

Suddenly, with a forceful wipe with her forearm, she put on a furious façade. “This isn’t over! Dragapult, attack with U-Turn!”

With a last adrenaline-fueled roar, Dragapult pushed Kartana off its chest and threw it back, forcefully ending its attack. With its feet pushed agains the wall, it launched itself forward, the tip of its snout held as still and straight as it could. Jordan simply watched his Kartana as it floated upward and tilted its bottom half up, it’s flat body riding just over the contours of the dragon’s head, followed by the rest of its body as it failed to make any contact.

At that moment, Alice feel to her knees.

Smolder stood petrified as her empty plate slipped from her claws, causing it to shatter into dozens of pieces. Smolder’s friends, along with Sam and the rest of his students, didn’t seem to acknowledge the sharp breaking noises; they were in too much shock to care.

As the draft from Dragapult’s failed attack blew Kartana about, Jordan leaned back and howled at the ceiling. “This is it, Kartana. Finish it off with Smart Strike!”

Instantly upon regaining its balance, Kartana vanished. Dragapult swung around and looked back to where its target originally was, but the moment it realized it was no longer there, it felt a very sharp, very hard point pierce onto the top of its head. Dragapult’s eyes went wide before rolling back as Kartana dove straight down onto its foe, the tips of its arms prodded and pushing it downward. Dragapult hit the floor with a terrifying explosion of rock and dust that completely shrouded it and Kartana. The cloud suddenly began to blow out from the center, Kartana spinning its body to fan the dust away to unveil both itself and the motionless Dragapult lying motionlessly in its own crater.

Alice screamed as she ran to her Dragapult, the floor beneath her turning red. “Dragapult is unable to battle. Alice Brier has no Pokémon remaining. The champion of the Alola region is… Jordan Wylie.”

Whether it was the sad reality setting in or their bitter acceptance of it, Sam’s students began to moan and shuffle around, unsure what to do or what to say. Many of them forlornly began to leave, disappointed by the night they felt they ultimately wasted. Only a handful said farewell to Sam, who could only stare at the screen slackjawed as he watched Alice cry over the body of her defeated Pokémon.

Alice did not acknowledge Jordan as he walked past her on his way to the throne, and he and Kartana extended the same courtesy. Without as much as appreciating the seat he won, he swung back and sat himself down, his Kartana standing on the right arm. With a hard sniffle, Alice returned her Dragapult into its ball before sprinting down the steps to the teleportation pad from which Jordan emerged, bawling loud the entire way.

As Alice left the frame on the screen, the image faded to black. The show, and Alice’s reign as Champion, came to its end.

With most of the students having left, the mess on the floors, the broken plate included, looked as depressing as the air in the room felt.

Grayson blew a sigh as he began to leave. “See ya’, Mikael. It was nice knowing ya’.”

Mikael gave him a half-hearted wave as the griffon left. Following shortly after him was Forest Flare, who Smolder gave a goodbye wave to her as she approached Sam. Seeing her there, Sam knelt down to be eye level with her.

Smolder did her best to look away and keep her wet eyes hidden, but she was certain that Sam could see them, making her let them all out. “I’m sorry for breaking the plate, Mr. Brier.”

Sam put his arms out to her as she rushed into them, clutching his back as she wailed into his bosom. Sam cradled the back of her head and her back just beneath her wings, letting out a couple of muffled cries himself. Soon, Mikael, Jacqui, Divvy, and the rest of Smolder’s friends congregated around her and their teacher. As much as they needed each other in this moment, the rest of the night and the near-future ahead, would not feel any less dark any time soon.

Chapter 9 - The Weights of Wins and Losses

Mikael, Divvy, and Jacqui sat at a table with Smolder, Sandbar, and Gallus amongst rows and columns of other tables where other students were enjoying their lunches. Mikael and the others were more content to pick at their food, their moods seemingly irreparably dampened since the previous night.

“Pokémon class’s gonna’ suck today,” Jacqui droned out.

“Yep.” Smolder decided to settle on a single bowtie noodle in her pasta salad, chewing it lazily.

“I mean,” Sandbar said, “it’s not great that Alice lost her title, but imagine how Mr. Brier is feeling right now. His own sister…”

“Yep.”

“Smolder?” Mikael asked. “You’re not mad at Alice, are you?”

“No, of course not.” Her sarcasm was palpable. “Why wouldn’t I adore someone who let me down that hard?”

“C’mon. Don’t be like that.”

Smolder gulped her morsel of food as loud as she could to disturb him. “Be like what exactly? What, like I’m not allowed to be upset that the one trainer I looked up to the most choked her big champion title match?!”

“No one’s saying that, Smolder,” Jacqui piped in. “You have every right to be upset about her losing, but you shouldn’t hold her loss against her.”

“Then who should I hold it against?”

“If I had to pick,” Gallus interrupted, “maybe you should be mad at the dude that beat her with a super-rare Pokémon that no other trainer in the world has? Maybe?”

“Thanks Gallus. You’re a real help.”

Gallus shrugged. “I tried.”

“Besides,” Sandbar mentioned, “it was a pretty close match. I’m sure if she trained a little and took him on again, she’d beat him real easy.”

Smolder scoffed. “And all he has to is train a little himself, and then it’s last night all over again.”

Mikael pinched the bridge of his nose and the corners of his eyes. “Smolder, okay listen. You really need to knock off whatever shit you’re doing now.”

The slits in Smolder’s eyes narrowed in fury. “Excuse me?”

Jacqui patted Mikael’s arm, trying to prompt a quick apology. “Mikal, perhaps you should–”

“You’re sitting here all upset that Alice lost her match like she did it just to hurt you, but you and I both saw her before they cut the cameras. Do you think she looked like she wanted to lose that match?”

Smolder’s eyes went to normal as she sputtered, trying to find a rebuttal. “No, but… She–”

“She’s probably beside herself right now wondering how she’s going to face her family, her friends, and her fans knowing that she’s no longer a champion, and you’re sitting here hating her guts for it.”

“And why shouldn’t I?!” Smolder shot up and banged her fists on the table, causing many of the students of the surrounding tables to turn her way. “She’s everything I wanted to be as a trainer! Do you think I want to, or should look up to a loser?!”

Mikael stared at her, stonefaced. “Do you really think Alice is a loser?”

“She lost her last two matches didn’t she?”

“But do you think she’s a loser?”

Smolder let out a couple of dry sobs of frustration, both over her inability to confirm Mikael’s question as well as his seeming inability to see things from her perspective.

Gallus let out a sigh. “Look, I’m pretty sure I know what Mikael’s trying to say. Yes, she lost her match, which would make her a loser in that sense.” Mikael pressed his lips closed, wanting to let Gallus make his point. “But I’ve known you long enough that you definitely don’t consider her a loser-loser. Just because she lost a championship match doesn’t make her any weaker of a trainer; she just faced someone stronger is all.”

“Is all,” Smolder sardonically repeated.

“First of all,” Jacqui came in, reaching over putting her hand on Gallus’s talon, “thanks Gallus. Second, as much as I disagree with how he put it, Mikael’s also mostly right. Alice needs all the support she can get right now, and she certainly needs it from one of her biggest fans.”

The sound of such a title was certainly humbling, calming Smolder down as she sat back at the table, though it didn’t seem to ail her pained expression. Just then, Divvy looked away and up, spotting someone standing near their table. Mikael took notice and looked over to see Sam watching their conversation.

“Oh, Sam!” Hearing him say his name, Mikael’s friends looked to see their teacher was indeed eavesdropping. “We didn’t see you.”

“That’s okay,” he said, “I actually wanted to talk to you real quick.”

“What’s going on?” Sandbar asked.

“First of all, I wanted to inform you that I’m cancelling my Pokémon classes for today.” The others blinked over the news, but kept silent as Sam continued to speak. “I’ve pretty much been on the phone with my sister and our parents all morning. She packed her stuff up last night and went to Hau’oli to be with our mom and dad for a while. I had to cancel the morning classes just so I could be with her through it, and I just thought it would be easier to cancel the rest of the day. I already let the others know, so don’t feel like you need to go looking for them to spread the word.”

“But why are you telling us this?” Gallus asked. “I’m sure we would’ve found out if you left a note on your door or something.”

“The reason I’m telling you in person is that my sister wanted to get away from Alola for a bit; she just needed a little support from mom and dad before she went running off again. Anyways, once she’s calmed down a little, I was going to pick her up from Lumiose City this afternoon and she’s going to be staying with me for a little while.”

Smolder’s eyes widened as she began to understand where he was going with this. “If neither of you have too much homework or stuff to do, I wanted to invite you to come with me. I’m sure having a bunch of her fans greeting her is going to do wonders for her spirits.”

“Absolutely!” Mikael blurted. “Just give us a time and we’ll be there!”

“Mikael,” Smolder hissed, waving his hand at him, “maybe you should see if the rest of us–”

“We’re in,” Gallus answered conclusively. “I’m guessing Silverstream and the others are in too?”

Sam nodded, smiling warmly and appreciatively. “I told them to meet me at the southwest gate to Route 5 so I can give them clearance to leave with me.”

“Clearance?” Mikael asked.

“I mean, you and Jacqui are already residents of this world, so you’re free to come and go through the Kalos region as you please, but since Poniose Town is considered shared territory between Earth and Equestria, the others would need accompaniment by a teacher if they want to set foot into our world. With your student passports, you and Jacqui would likewise need accompaniment by me or one of the other teachers if you wanted to explore Equestria outside the Ponyville campus.”

Mikael nodded, understanding the logic. “And what time are we meeting up then?”

“I told them to meet at the gate by 3:00 sharp. That should give you more than enough time to drop your books and stuff at your dorms and head over.”

“Cool,” Jacqui answered. “Thanks a lot, teach! We’ll see you there!”

“Excellent. Enjoy your lunches.”

Sam walked away, allowing Smolder to drop her calm defenses and look amongst her friends with worry. “Why’d you have to rope me in? I don’t know if I can–”

“You can,” Jacqui interrupted, “and you will. And believe me, I’m sure she’s going to be so excited to see you there, and I’m sure you’ll feel better too.”

“I don’t know…”

“Don’t sweat,” Sandbar assured her. “We’ll be right there with you. It’s not like you have to face her alone. We’re all here to make each other feel better, alright?”

Smolder slowly nodded as she sat up straighter. “Alright.”

“That’s the spirit,” Mikael happily grunted, pounding on the table. “Now, let’s finish eating before the bell. I’m sure a full stomach will also help clear our heads.”

“And how!” Gallus replied.

With only minutes to spare for the remainder of their lunch period, Mikael and his friends silently scarfed the rest of their meals down to ready themselves for the rest of the day ahead.

Sam stood in the lobby of the Lumiose City EarthQuestria center, his Holo Caster in his hand. Mikael, Divvy, Jacqui, and their six Equestrian friends stood away behind them as they too awaited for Alice’s arrival. Sam checked his Holo Caster, watching as the time changed from 5:06 to 5:07.

“Hey, teach!” Gallus shouted. “You said your sister was coming at five, right?”

Sam shrugged. “With her, that could be anytime after that.”

“UGHH! If we knew it would take this long, we could have stayed in Poniose and greeted here–”

“There!” Silverstream mounted Gallus’s back as she pointed past him at one of the terminal hallways. “I think that’s her!”

While their friends looked in that direction, Sam was already well aware as his sister walked out into the lobby with a stuffed backpack and a large rolling suitcase. Without missing a beat, Sam walked up to her, and upon noticing her brother, Alice let her suitcase stand up on its wheels and quickened her pace toward him.

“Hey,” Sam softly cooed as he opened his arms, allowing her to rush into them as he put his hands on her back over the top of her bag. “That’s it, there…”

Alice let out two long, drawn out breaths into his chest, rocking to and fro with him. With Alice now there just a few feet from her, Smolder nervously tapped her claws together as she felt her feet gluing themselves to the floor.

“Go on,” Ocellus encouraged with a nudge. “Go say hi!”

“Okay, okay!” Smolder swatted her hand away, frightening the young changeling.

As Sam and Alice’s embrace began to settle down, Smolder walked alone toward the two, her steps not feeling less unsure the closer she got. Once Sam and Alice stepped back away, Alice could see the young dragon coming her way.

“Hey, Smolder!” She then glanced up to see the other five of her friends along with their three additions standing away from them. “And you brought the whole gang!”

“Hey, Alice.” For all her efforts, Smolder couldn’t get the disappointment out of her voice.

Alice knelt down and pulled the dragon into a hug, making her body stiffen in sudden worry. “I’m so sorry. I didn’t mean to get your hopes up for nothing.”

Smolder’s muscles relaxed as she finally mustered the strength to slip her arms around the trainer’s back. “I know…”

Sam smiled, happy to see Smolder make amends. Understanding the anxiety she was causing the dragoness, Alice stood back up and grabbed her suitcase, walking over to the rest of Smolder’s friends, who all surrounded her and gave her a quick group hug.

“Hey yeah,” Alice said with a peppier boost in her voice, “I remember you guys from my visit last year! Well, most of you guys…”

“Oh yeah!” Silverstream grabbed hold of Mikael and Jacqui and pushed them forward so that Alice was standing directly before them. “You probably haven’t met our new friends, have you?”

“Nope. Can’t say I’ve been around long enough to meet them.”

Jacqui put her hand to Alice’s first. “Jacqui Sweeney.”

After turning to Mikael, Alice shook his hand next. “Mikael Wallström. And that Bronzong over there is Divvy. He’s with me.”

“Very nice. Can’t wait to get to know you a bit more once I settle into this new town of yours. Speaking of, how far’s this place. Already getting kinda’ hungry.”

“It’s about an hour’s walk. Normally, I wouldn’t mind treating you all out to one of the bistros here, but I gotta’ get these kids back home so they can get their homework done.”

Alice sighed, hiking her bag on her back up. “The lives of teachers and students are never over. Come on, let’s get a move on.”

As Alice left, Sam followed her, followed by Mikael, Divvy, Jacqui, and the others. “There’s plenty of places in Poniose,” Sam explained. “I’m sure there’ll be something there you’re in the mood for.”

Alice exited the building with the others, taking in the busy metropolis of her old hometown. “You know, I was kind of hoping you’d get to make me one of your famous dishes, big bro.”

“Yeah, sorry about that. I was planning on grocery shopping tomorrow after classes; I can make something for you then.”

Alice made a quick shrug, forced to accept the situation. “That sounds nice. Thanks.”

As they walked on, a building on one of the corners of the intersections aired a news report on its massive, semi-cylindrical screen, the image of two female trainers posted beside the anchorwoman. The woman on the left appeared to be in her late 20s and wore a red jumpsuit with a black blouse over it, a pair of white sunglasses inside her ponytailed blonde hair. Beside her was a woman in her early-to-mid 30s whose enlarged photo revealed only a white formal jacket with a blood-red cravat around her neck. With her image considerably brighter than the image of the trainer on the left, the purple tint of the right trainer’s hair shone.

Sam and Alice couldn’t help but look up at the screen as the newscaster’s voice could be heard and the crowds of people began to congest the sidewalks as they looked up to watch themselves. “…former assistant for Kalos’s Pokémon professor, Sycamore, had defeated her less than an hour ago, effectively taking the title of Champion for herself.”

More and more people began to crowd around the building, keeping Mikael and his friends still as they too looked up on the screen and red the lower third as it stayed upon the screen: “Champion Serena Defeated by Challenger Sina.”

“What?” Sandbar gasped. “Another one?”

“This is the third in a recent string of regional champion defeats following former Galar champion Victor Mulligan’s defeat to John Tanner three nights ago as well as Alice Brier’s recent loss of her title last night to challenger Jordan Wylie.”

Alice scoffed as she pulled the visor of her cap down to obscure her face as best she could, beginning to squeeze through the crowds and reach the crosswalk where she could get some space. The attention of most people were still on the newscast, allowing her to escape undetected.

Sam took notice and began to force his way through the people after her. “Alice?! Alice! Wait up!”

Hearing their trainer’s voice, Mikael helped lead his friends away from the tight grouping of people before jogging after him and Alice so they wouldn’t get left behind.

“Wait, hold on.” The newswoman looked off to the side as she pressed the earpeice on the side of her head further in. “Yes? I’m also just getting word that Ethan Thompson, the now former champion of the Kanto and Johto Pokémon Leagues has also been defeated by a challenging trainer, his name being Aaron Hammond. We haven’t heard word from the Hoenn, Sinnoh, and Unova regions about the states of their champion trainers yet, but considering that half the world’s now-former champions have been dethroned in such a short amount of time, it’s certainly not outlandish to say that their reigns could also be in jeopardy soon…”

Sam unlocked his front door and quickly stepped in before his sister could charge in, pushing her suitcase into the middle of the living room and letting her other bag slide off her back and plop onto the floor. Relieved of her baggage, Alice sat on the sofa in the living room, sprawling herself out to get as comfortable as she could. Sam kept his front door open as Mikael and his friends stood outside his door, waiting for his response.

“We’ll be okay, guys,” he said with a wave. “See you in class tomorrow.”

“‘Kay! See ya’!” Jacqui bid him and his sister farewell with a wave before she and her friends walked off down the street in the direction of the Poniose campus.

Sam closed his door and returned back inside, his sister having not moved from the same position in her seat since settling in.

Hoisting her back with one hand and grabbing the handle of her suitcase with the other, he made his way to the stairs. “I’ll go place these in your room.”

Alice lifted her head to follow her brother’s movements. “Wait. Room?”

“Yeah. When this town got built, I asked to have my place built with a couple of guest bedrooms in case you or mom and dad wanted to visit.” He began to make his way back up. “…Sorry.”

“About what? That’s awesome.”

“Sorry. I didn’t mean… I mean–”

“What?” As if pulled up by a phantom marionette, Alice got out of the sofa and walked to the stairs. “Are you scared that you offended me or something? Like you think I’m not a guest and I’m now just a freeloader in your house or something?”

“What, no!” Sam picked up his pace, and Alice stayed the same distance behind him as he reached the top. “I didn’t mean–”

“You didn’t have to take me in, you know? I’m sure there are plenty of cheap motels in Lumiose that I could crash at so that my friends and family don’t have to be reminded over how much of a loser I am!”

“You’re not a loser, Alice!”

“Oh, gee, you’re right! Then I guess I should just hop back to Alola so I can keep living my amazing life as its undefeated Champion trainer!”

“Come on, that’s–”

“Oh! WAIT! That’s right! I lost my championship which is why I’m stuck here with you!”

“Stuck here? Last I checked, I invited you to stay with me and you were happy to accept! If you’re so keen on holing up in some dive motel someplace, you’re free to go back the way you came!”

The two stood there as the echo of Sam’s yell died down in the hall. Sam was tense in both body and mind, though as he maintained his taut composure, he watched as Alice’s energy began to deflate, causing him to settle down as well. He set down her bags and approached her, putting his arms out in case she collapsed in sadness.

“Alice?” Hearing his voice, Alice’s knees got weak as she fell, Sam catching her before she could land on them. “Alice, no, stop…”

Alice’s tears freely flowed and her bawling was loud and seemingly inconsolable. “I’m such a fuck-up. Jordan’s right; I’m not strong! I’m a terrible trainer!”

“No, stop, I’m sorry. I shouldn’t have said that.”

“Yeah, you should! I let everybody down and I don’t deserve to be taken in!”

“Alice, Alice hey!” Sam gently shook his sister, quickly silencing her and allowing her to look into his eyes. “You didn’t let anyone down. You know Mom and dad would never think less of you, just like they told us when we faced each other for the championship. And Smolder and her friends all came to greet you in Lumiose because they support you too.

“And besides, when all is said and done, you’re still a stronger trainer than I am, and I know that’s probably hardly a consolation right now, but trust me when I say that there are far worse things than not being the champion. Now come on, let me show you to your room.”

Sam stood to his feet and picked her up to stand on her own. As he picked up Alice’s backpack, she grabbed her suitcase and followed her down the hallway before entering the first door on their left. The room was only furbished with a single bed, a dresser, a barren desk, and a closet to the left. The window in the back of the room allowed sunlight to stream in and provide a cozy view of the street where the other townhomes were lined up.

“This okay?” Sam asked.

“Yeah, it’s fine,” Alice quickly replied. “Thank you.”

Sam felt a buzz from his Pokédex in his pocket, beginning to back away so he could check the notification he received. “Are you still up for dinner, or should I go and pick something up?”

Alice turned back and nodded softly to him. “Yeah, takeout sounds nice.”

Sam nodded in approval and exited the room to let his sister unpack. As Alice stood around the extremely modest room, she forlornly scanned about at how and where she’d put everything.

“Holy shit…” Alice heard Sam’s voice not far from the hallway, leaving her to leave to see what was happening to make Sam react in such a way.

She saw Sam still in the hallway with his face leaning over the screen of his Pokédex. “What? What happened now?”

Sam saw fit to simply hand Alice his Pokédex for her to read. Looking closely at the headline of the article, she felt her stance weaken from just the first words alone:

WORLDWIDE DETHRONEMENT. KANTO/JOHTO, HOENN, SINNOH, AND UNOVA LEAGUE CHAMPIONS DEFEATED.

Scrolling on, she skimmed the details of each champions’ defeat at the hands of their challengers, including their names, pictures, and some of the details of which Pokémon they used. The first image, labeled Aaron Hammond, featured a fit man in his late twenties with medium length hair with a single blonde streak running down the front-right side. The next, a young-woman named only as Zinnia, appeared to be in her early thirties and had black hair that looked to have been cut with a knife.

The next woman, Mara Flannagan, looked to be in her mid to late 30s, whose dyed-red hair matched the intensity of her eyes. Finally, the last image showed another man in his late 20s or early 30s, whose dark-purple hair was ruffled like intentional bedhead.

“What the fuck…” Sam turned on her head and walked into her room, her face glued to the screen as she read it over once again. “What’s happening?”

“I don’t know,” Sam replied. “Obviously, this can’t be a coincidence.”

“All of them… All the leagues, they just…”

Sam snatched the phone from her fingers before digging it back into his pocket. “Yeah, whatever it is, it’s probably not good, but we can work that all out tomorrow. Please, let’s just get some food in us and try and have a good night’s sleep. Today’s already been stressful enough. Now, what are you in the mood– actually, I’ll hand you the map so you can see what’s around.”

Sam jogged downstairs, leaving his sister alone again. With the new news still stuck on her mind, she walked to the window and leaned onto the sill as she looked out, taking in every detail of the street that she could in a vain attempt to drown out the worst thoughts of what was happening in her world.

“Jeez, all of them?” Jacqui looked at her phone, reading another article on the defeat of the champions. “In a matter of days too.”

Mikael, Divvy, and their Equestrian friends were crowded around both Mikael and Jacqui’s beds as they discussed what they too had just learned.

“But why would they do it all at once?” Ocellus asked. “What are they trying to accomplish?”

“We really don’t know if these guys are even related in some way,” Mikael added. “Still, kind of hard to argue against it all things considered.”

“That Jordan person didn’t have many nice things to say about Equestria during his match with Alice,” Silverstream noted, the fear in her voice making her voice crack. “What if he and the others are planning on doing something terrible to Equestria?”

“Okay, let’s not go that far.” Sandbar stood in the center of his circle of friends to ensure the best audience. “They may be the new champions, but as far as I know, they don’t have access to Equestria to be able to attack it in the first place.”

“That’s true,” Gallus concurred with a snap and point. “Not to mention, I doubt they’re going to give this Jordan any access after all the smack he talked about Equestria.”

“Still,” Ocellus said, “the former champions all had really good relations with Equestria and its inhabitants. I certainly hope that these new champions don’t ruin that.”

“Who care what seven trainer say or think about Equestria?!” Yona blurted, pushing Sandbar aside. “Sam, Alice, and all other human are friend to Equestria, and theirs is only good opinion that matter!”

“Perhaps, but Alice and the other champions used their titles to really help strengthen the bonds between our worlds, and we already know that one champion has no plan on doing that…”

“And maybe these new champions will be just as cool with Equestria as the old ones were,” Jacqui hypothesized. “It’s really too early at this point to be calling any shots.”

“Still,” Mikael noted, “it still feels like quite a stretch to believe that these trainers all randomly decided to face and defeat each region’s champion in the same week. And if they’re all on the same page as Jordan, then Equestria, or at least my world’s relationship to it, could be in big trouble.”

“Back to my original point,” Gallus sneered, “if they hate Equestria as bad as Jordan seems to, they won’t be given access either.”

“They also didn’t seem to be so vocal about it as Jordan was, so unless they just go on TV and spout some ‘Death to Equestria’ nonsense, they can just smile, act sweet, and they’ll be given the keys to the kingdom, so to speak.”

“And what are we supposed to do about it?” Smolder asked. “It’s not like we can just breeze through a Pokémon League and take out one of their new champions all willy-nilly! One of them beat Alice for crying out loud!”

“I mean, sure, neither of us can do that right now… but it would be a nice goal to work toward, wouldn’t it?”

“Nice goal?” Silverstream approached Mikael, wanting to be sure she heard him right.

“He’s got a point,” Jacqui replied. “We’re being taught by Alice Brier’s brother of all people, and he himself came really close to beating Alice during their championship battle. Perhaps if we ask him to help kick our asses into shape, we can actually go off and face one of these champions on our own. Who knows? Maybe we’ll actually win?”

Smolder approached the sitting Jacqui and patted her on the back. “I can tell you that I am fully behind this plan!”

“And not only do we have one of the best teachers,” Sandbar enthusiastically stated, “we’re about to get our own Chaser Battle arena that I’m sure will get our Pokémon stronger in no time!”

Mikael nodded, glad to see that everyone was getting on his same page. “So it’s settled then? Starting this weekend, we work to get our Pokémon league-ready?”

The Equestrians let out their own various confirmations and agreements, leading to a joyous and rousing cacophony that compelled Mikael to stand from his bed and hold his hand up above the floor.

“Bring ‘em in,” Mikael commanded, “we’re doing this!”

Sandbar’s hoof went on top of Mikael’s hand, which was stacked by Yona’s hoof, followed by Gallus and Silverstream’s talons and then Ocellus’s hoof. Smolder walked up to the group with Jacqui and put her hand over the pile, with Jacqui being the last to add hers. The group looked around at the circle of friends they created, excited over the prospect of getting to face this challenge together.

Mikael looked at the hands, hooves, and claws of the creatures putting their weight on his, feeling incredibly thankful and blessed to have made such an eclectic and loyal bunch of friends.

Chapter 10 - Battle Night

“In the two weeks since the champions of every region in the world were defeated by seven individual Pokémon trainers, participation in the various gym challenges, as well as the Island Trials in the Alola region, have quickly slowed to a near halt–”

“–the handful of trainers who had managed to defeat the Pokémon League and face Jordan Wylie–”

“–Aaron Hammond–”

“–Sina Manx–”

“–were viciously defeated–”

“–weren’t able to defeat even half of his Pokémon–”

“–one of the quickest championship matches in Kalosian history–”

“–gym leaders in Galar seem to be too frightened to face newest champion John Tanner after Raihan’s crushing defeat in his challenge against him–”

“–Jordan Wylie’s remarks about Equestria during his match against former Champion Alice–”

“–small numbers of anti-Equestrian protests–”

“–leaving many of our Equestrian neighbors worried about a potential attack by–”

“–other champions have refused to comment on–”

“–though no acts of violence or vandalism have been committed thus far, tensions between both worlds have begun to rise as a result.

“In other news, the final match of the Chaser Team Battle championships between the Shalour Sharpedos and the Hau’oli Z’s will be underway tomorrow evening at the Mega Stadium in Shalour City. The playoff matches this year have been quite heated compared to the matches during the regular season due to recent personal endorsements of select teams in each region by the new champions. Sina Manx and Jordan Wylie have respectively endorsed the Sharpedos and Z’s, so we can only expect nothing less than one of the most spectacular matches in this first season of Chaser Battling…”

Silverstream’s Grapploct drove its balled-up tentacle into Yona’s Bouffalant’s head, managing to penetrate through its thick afro and strike it in the forehead. As the Bouffalant stumbled back, a bright orange aura pulsed from the end of Grapploct’s arm and ran over its entire body, making its already taut and toned muscles swell even bigger. Sam and his students encircled the large dirt battlefield behind the Poniose Campus, the garage door to the classroom wide open with no one inside to miss the match that was happening.

“You got this Yona!” Mikael cheered with several booming claps.

“Come on, Silverstream!” Gallus cheered. “I think you got her this time!”

Yona winced as her Pokémon’s stance appeared to waver, the hits it took appearing to take their toll. “Don’t let mean Grapploct get Bouffalant down! You almost got this! Use Swords Dance!”

“Sheesh,” Smolder commented, “another one?”

The class watched as Bouffalant gracelessly hopped to the left while moving its head in a clockwise motion. As it reached the apex, it leapt to the right, landing once its head was leaned furthest to the right. Once it’s head got low, it widened its front legs and shot its head up with a roar, two fiery wisps of white energy radiating off of its horns.

“Nice try, Yona,” Silverstream squawked, “but my Grapploct’s not gonna’ let you get away with whatever you two are planning! Hit him with another Power-Up Punch, Grapploct!”

With a furious slithering of its lower tentacles, Grapploct sped over to the Bouffalant before launching itself up, this time clocking the buffalo Pokémon at the base of the snout, causing its front legs to buckle in pain. Grapploct retreated slightly as its shook its arms with the hot bands of energy running through it from its successful attack.

“Bouffalant, no!” Seeing her Pokémon not get back up on its front hooves worried her. “Get up, Bouffalant! Don’t let Grapploct beat you!”

Hearing its trainer’s voice, Bouffalant strained as it pushed off its shins, getting back up one hoof at a time.

“Yes, Bouffalant, yes, yes!” Yona hopped around happily, her plan finally coming into fruition. “You do it now! Attack Grapploct with Reversal!”

With a thundering roar, Bouffalant galloped at Silverstream’s octopus Pokémon, the front hairs of its afro glowing red and then yellow as they ignited from its sheer determination.

“Quick!” Silverstream shouted, sensing the danger. “Finish it with Brutal Swing!”

Winding its right tentacle back, Grapploct threw it out, the force stretching it over twice its length to strike Bouffalant in the side of its head. Bouffalant jerked its head to catch the tentacle in its mouth, eliciting loud gasps from Silverstream and her fellow students gathered around her. With its attack stopped and feeling the extra pull by Bouffalant’s grab, the elasticity of Grapploct’s arm slingshotted it forward straight at its opponent. With another whip of the head, Bouffalant drove the tip of its left horn into Grapploct’s upper chest.

Silverstream gasped through her bared teeth as her Pokémon went flying back straight at her. “Grapploct! I got you!”

Hopping up with and hovering still on her wings, she caught Grapploct in her arms, the recoil softening its landing. Returning to the ground, she laid her Pokémon down, who was limp and its eyes facing in different directions.

“Grapploct is unable to battle!” Sam called. “Yona wins the match!”

“Yes!” After pumping her arm in celebration, Yona ran to her Bouffalant and hugged it tight. “You were awesome, Bouff–” Her Pokémon let out a strained honk of pain, getting its trainer to back away. “Oops. Yona sorry.”

Silverstream breathed out a sigh of disappointment as she returned her fainted Pokémon to its ball. She looked back up to see Sam approaching her.

“Don’t worry about it, Silverstream,” he said. “Yona’s got a real solid strategy on her, and you and your Pokémon did a pretty good job working against it.”

“You really think I’m getting stronger?” she asked, almost satisfied by his first answer.

“You all are, and if you want to be able to face a champion in the Pokémon League one day, just keep working at it and I’m sure you’ll get there.”

“Thanks, Mr. Brier!” Silverstream gave her teacher a quick hug before returning to the company of her friends.

As Yona returned her own Pokémon to its ball and went to join her friends, Sam walked to the center of their group to address them all.

“Alright everyone, listen up!” The group straightened themselves to pay attention. “We’ve just ended our third week of classes, and you’re all already much further along than I expected you to be. Between the battles and the bond-building exercises, I’m already feeling that this year is going to be very promising for all of you. Silverstream, Yona, I already have your slips, so you can go ahead and get your Pokémon healed up before the bell rings.” Silverstream and Yona both broke from the group and trotted into the school through the garage door.

“Anyone else who hasn’t given me their permission slip who still wants to attend the field trip to Shalour City to watch the championship game, please do so before you leave. Everyone else who has, meet me at the eastern gate at 10 AM sharp tomorrow morning. And with that, you’re all excused for today. Great job, and have a great weekend!”

Bleatings of “thank yous” and “see ya’s” erupted from the students, most of whom scattered off toward downtown Poniose to enjoy their Friday evenings. Mikael, Jacqui, and the rest of their friends stuck around as the former, along with a couple of others, lined up to Sam and handed them signed sheets of paper. After a pegasus stallion gave his sheet to Sam, Mikael unfolded his and slid it onto the small stack in his teacher’s hands.

“Right under the wire,” Sam teased.

“Been so busy training I almost forgot to send it to my aunt,” he replied with a shrug.

“Don’t let training get in the way of life, man. No matter what Jordan may have said, there’s more to life than being the strongest.”

“Touché. Well, I’ll see you tomorrow, Sam!”

Mikael flashed a two-fingered peace gesture before turning to regroup with his friends.

Smolder led the group back toward the classroom, Sam following closely behind. “I can’t believe you nearly missed out on getting to see the championship game in person.”

“Seriously,” Gallus added, “even Grandpa Gruff doesn’t forget to sign my permission slips for that long.”

“Well,” Mikael retorted, “I’m going, so you can stop busting my chops about it now!”

“I’m really looking forward to it!” Ocellus chirped. “I always love getting to explore Earth.”

“Can’t exactly say the feeling’s mutual.” Jacqui’s wry comment prompted the others to turn their heads to allow her to explain. “I mean, Mikael and I already live there, so it’s not quite as exciting on our end. Speaking of, when do you think we get to see some of your world, guys?”

“We usually do plan out some trips throughout the year,” Sandbar replied, “but my guess is that they’re just wanting to take it a bit easy the first few weeks so everyone can get settled in.”

“Well, we have our first field trip tomorrow, and of all the cool places we could go, it’s gotta’ be somewhere I’m already pretty familiar with.”

“Oh, don’t be like that!” Ocellus scolded. “I think any time we can go out and explore any part of our worlds is a fun time!”

“I mean, if you’re so familiar with it,” Gallus egged further, “maybe you can be our tour guide?”

“Hey now!” Jacqui raised her hands. “I said I’m familiar with the city, it’s not like I know the address of every restaurant and clothing store there!”

By now the students were back inside the classroom, and with Sam coming in after them, he pressed a button on a console on the wall that allowed the door to lower itself down.

“Come on!” Mikael already began bounding up the stairs to the classroom entrance door, Divvy close behind. “I wanna’ pack real quick before we do stuff tonight!”

Jacqui nodded. “Good idea.”

As she came up at a similar pace, Sandbar, Gallus, Smolder, and Ocellus raced after them. Just as Jacqui left the room, Twilight Sparkle poked her head in to enter, only to be forced to move aside as the other four Equestrians spilled out to join the two humans. With no one left, she entered the room, Sam raising his head over his surprise guest.

“Hey, Twilight!” As she trotted down the stairs, Alice walked inside after her. “Alice? What are you both doing here?”

“Hi, Sam,” she greeted. “Listen, I know you’re very excited about taking your students out to Shalour City tomorrow, and I’m glad that you’ve taken the proper precautions given the… erm….” Sam crossed his arms, as if begrudgingly giving her permission to say what she needed to. “…state of your world.”

“And that’s why Alice is chaperoning with–”

“Sam,” Alice interrupted, “actually, that’s why I’m here. I don’t know if I want to go anymore.”

“What?” Sam’s voice was filled with hurt and annoyance. “Why?”

“Listen.” Alice was already getting irate. “I would have been happy to go if Hau’oli didn’t make it to the finals, but I’m not sure I’m ready to go there if Jordan’s going to be there, and considering he’s sponsoring their team, I just…”

Twilight butted in, already certain of Alice’s hesitation to explain. “What’s important is that I’d now like for you to find another chaperone for your field trip tomorrow.”

“Sam, look, I’m sorry for springing this on you last minute, but Twilight’s assured me that Starlight, Fluttershy, or literally any of the other teachers would be happy to join you tomorrow in my place.”

Sam’s mouth hung open, unsure what else he could say that could further explain what he thought was bleedingly obvious. “I thought the whole reason that you were joining me was so that we could push back against any protesters we may come across.”

“And you don’t think Starlight or any of her friends can help you out there?”

“Of course not, but if it’s two human trainers, a former Champion at that, they may not even mess with us, and I’m just nervous that they’ll feel more emboldened to bully my students and whichever teachers I bring with.”

Twilight slightly rolled her eyes, the obvious clearly not dawning on Sam either. “If you’re that concerned about it, you’re more than welcome to call up someone from your world to serve as a last-minute chaperone, but I can’t imagine that anyone is just going to drop their entire weekend plans to help look after your students. My friends are all aware of your field trip and are happy and fully prepared to join you whenever you ask. I’m sure they’ll also be more than happy to show how ‘weak’ Equestria really is.”

Sam drew a sigh, one that Alice could easily translate as a concession. “Sam, please don’t make this a bigger deal than it has to be. I’m already bummed that I can’t go, so I–”

“You mean won’t?” Sam indignantly corrected.

“…What?”

“I mean, I get it, you’re having second thoughts, but it’s not like you have the flu or have some super important commitment this weekend keeping you from going. You just don’t want to go because you don’t want to face Jordan again.”

“Okay, fine! I don’t want to go! Are you happy now!?”

“No, because I really wanted you to come with me!”

“Sam, Alice, please!” Twilight used her magic to push the siblings apart by a foot, the sudden movement shocking them both into silence. “Sam, I know how disappointed you are that Alice is no longer interested in joining you and your class, but you need to respect her wishes and find someone else.”

Sam ran his hand through his hair in frustration. “Okay, fine. I mean, I’m pretty sure Jordan wouldn’t’ve any idea that you’d be coming anyway, but imagine how big a kick to the dick it would be–”

“Sam!”

“Sorry! Anyway, imagine how big a blow to his ego it would be that the person he thought he humiliated out of the Alola region showed up at a place she was certain he’d be.”

“Sam,” Twilight quietly snapped, “that’s enough of this discussion. Please go talk to one of my friends or call someone to serve as your other chaperone or I’ll have to cancel the field trip.”

Sam groaned out a sigh; not the worse loss he could have had, but still a huge disappointment. “Okay. I’ll go ask Starlight.”

As Sam walked between Twilight and Alice to make his way upstairs, Twilight cupped her hoof around her mouth. “Starlight should be free in her office!”

Sam gave her a two-finger wave before slipping out the door. Now alone, Alice felt comfortable hugging her own arms and quickly seating herself down in one of the vacant desks, letting out a vulnerably shuddering breath.

“It’s okay, Alice.” Twilight approached her and stroked her back consolingly. “You shouldn’t have to do anything you’re not comfortable doing.”

Alice rocked gently as Twilight stood by and kept her company, allowing her to let out her pent-up frustrations in complete privacy.

Sam was the first to step into the Grand Lumiose Train Station, holding the door open for Starlight and Lady, who held the door beside it to allow their group of students to pour inside with their own luggage and saddlebags in tow. Once they accounted for everyone in their group, Sam and Starlight let the doors go to stay close-by, looking out amongst the dominantly-human crowd that made up the interior. With seemingly no one paying them any notice, the two of them felt safe to return their focus to the students, who awaited their teachers’ instructions.

“Alright, guys,” Sam called over the ambience of the busy station, “we have our own car reserved and you all packed pretty light, so we shouldn’t need to wait in line to check our baggage or board. I just want to do one last headcount before we board, and then we can–”

A particularly loud wheeze of a station door opening drew Sam and Starlight’s attentions to the entrance. Smolder was the first to smile wide as she saw Alice with her rolling suitcase in tow approaching their group.

“Alice!” Sam put his hands up as his sister approached. “What’s going on? Are you okay?”

Sam let her bag stand as she hunched over and loudly panted. “I… changed my mind last minute…” After a couple more breaths, Alice appeared and sounded more composed. “You’re right, Sam. I’m not going to give that bastard the satisfaction of feeling like he scared me into hiding.”

“You know we don’t think that,” Starlight defended. “We just don’t want you stressed out just to feel like you need to show him up.”

“I’m coming because I’m stressed out. If he’s going to be there, I don’t want him antagonizing you, my brother, or any of your students, because I’m certain he’d hold my absence above each of your heads. Well, he won’t be able to do that now!”

Sam stepped forward. “And I don’t want you having a panic attack if he comes after you again.”

Alice mildly scoffed, knowing she deserved some of what was coming to her. “Yeah well, I helped save the worlds from a super ancient psychic monster, so I shouldn’t be letting some dou–” A quick glance to the students kept her profanity in check. “–jerk with a chiseled physique push me around harder than it did.”

Sam, taking a moment to take in her words, smiled as he approached her and put her hand on her shoulder. “That’s the spirit. Now, let’s count these kids so we can get a move on.”

“No need,” Starlight exclaimed. “I took the liberty on checking attendance while you two were talking.”

Sam threw his arms out, as if poking fun at himself for keeping his students this long. “Then there’s no more use standing around here, let’s get going!”

As Sam, Alice, and Starlight made their way back through the station, the students let out a short cheer before surrounding their teachers and following them to their next destination.

Sam looked in the mirror as he vigorously combed his fingers through his hair to give it an appropriately slightly-messy look to it. Every so often, he’d step back to see how his hair matched his outfit: a long-sleeved shirt with a light-grey torso and dark-blue sleeves and a pair of black jeans. On the shirt’s chest was an image of a Pokémon that looked like a large shark’s head with four large fins on each side of its body.

Alice peeked behind him to look at her own hair, wearing an identical shirt to his along with a pair of dark skinny jeans. “What time are we supposed to meet in the lobby?”

“In about fifteen minutes.” Sam nodded at his reflection, happy with his appearance. “I want to get down there before Starlight and the students do so they aren’t alone.”

“Fair enough, but I bet Starlight and the kids could all hold their own if someone tried giving them shit.”

“I suppose, but I really don’t want them to have to deal with that at all if at all possible. This is supposed to be a fun weekend for them.”

“I obviously can’t speak for every one of your students, but I’d think smacking down some asshole bullies could be considered ‘fun.’”

“I certainly know Twilight wouldn’t think so.”

“If Twilight was so concerned about them having to defend themselves against those people, she’d probably have cancelled the trip altogether.” Alice turned herself to face Sam fully. “Look, I’m not trying to knock what you and Twilight have been doing here, but I’m sure she and I both know that conflict’s gonna’ happen regardless. I mean, your students have been training their Pokémon a lot harder for just this reason.

“Now, am I saying that they should start going out and picking fights? Absolutely not, but if someone wants to start something, they should be able to defend themselves. I know it’s not what you and Twilight want for the school or the students, but… the road to peace is hardly never bumpy.”

Sam breathed through his nose, processing the validity of his sister’s words. “I suppose you’re right. Man, why aren’t you teaching at the school and I am?”

“Pfft, I mean, I have been a champion for the past year… But I’d be happy to help you get a recommendation bonus if they’d have me on.”

Sam and Alice laughed as they looked one last time in the mirror, looking for any last touches they felt they’d need to make before heading downstairs.

Sam’s Equestrian students pressed their faces against the glass of the bus windows as they approached the Mega Stadium, a massive gleaming structure overlooking the northwestern shoreline and an ancient castle-like tower connected to the beach from a long sandbar. As they entered the parkway, where valets helped sharply dressed men and women exit their cars so they could arrive through the main entrance, the bus continued its way around the more sparsely populated side end.

Silverstream tracked the cars that they passed before whipping her head toward Sam and Alice’s direction. “Mr. Brier, where are we going? We’re supposed to go in over there!”

“That’s okay, Silverstream,” Sam called back, “we get to go in through the special entrance.”

“Oooh! We’re like VIPs!”

“Of course we are!” Smolder guffawed. “How many other Equestrians are getting to see this match in person?”

The bus finally reached its end of the stadium and parked along the sidewalk. As the side door opened, Sam and Alice got out of their seats and exited first. “Alright,” Sam called, “you know the drill, single file, follow my sister and I!”

Sam and Alice slowly backed toward the closed doors that the pavement led to, allowed Mikael, Jacqui, Divvy, their friends, and the rest of their classmates to pour out of the bus and form a slightly-unorganized line. As they followed their teacher to the doors, lit only by a single fluorescent light, the others felt more uncertain of where they were being led.

“Hey,” Gallus called, “Sam? Not that I’m judging your eyesight or anything, but I’m starting to get the feeling that we’re not supposed to–”

As Sam and Alice got within ten feet from the door, two ushers wearing pristine black pants and bee-yellow polo shirts pushed the doors open from within. With the inside of the stadium now visible to them, the students felt enchanted into dividing themselves into two lines to enter through each doorway.

Sam and Alice passed the two ushers as they stepped in. “Thanks, guys.”

“No problem, sir,” the male usher among them replied.

“Enjoy the match, everyone!” the female usher chirped.

The ushers were met with a steady stream of “thank-yous” from the students as they passed them and came inside. As more began pouring in, those who already entered stood around in a cluster as they observed countless vendors of dozens of different types of food, drinks, and merchandise that lined the winding hallways.

“Oh my gosh!” Silverstream squealed. “I never thought I’d see so much food in my life! I wonder if they have nachos!”

“I’m sure they’ll have you covered, Silverstream.” Sandbar assurance left the hippogriff beaming. “Now, if someone around here’s selling some hot pepper poppers, then we’re in business.”

“Guys,” Starlight informed the group, who had all finished arriving, “we need to wait for the person who will show us to our seats, then we can get you some food.”

“Whoa, no way!” Sam looked in the direction of the shrill voice of a teenage girl coming his direction. “It’s really them!”

Sam spotted three teenagers: the correctly-suspected girl and her two male friends, all dressed in various Shalour apparel, quickly approaching them. Sam moved in between them and his students, his hand resting at his side near the Poké Balls on his belt.

The girl and her friends stopped, getting the hint from Sam’s motions. “Oh, sorry! You’re Sam Brier, aren’t you?”

“Yes?” Sam tried his best to tamp his suspicions down. “What can I do for you?”

“Sorry, my friends and I are really huge fans of you and your sister!” Alice felt her body get lighter upon hearing this. “We just wanted to ask if we can get a selfie real quick, please?!”

“Heck yeah!” Alice gripped her brother’s wrist. “Sam, get in here! Guys, let’s do this!”

“Nice!” One of the male teens shuffled behind Sam and Alice as the other one handed Sam his phone. “You guys are the best!”

“Actually,” the other male said, “you wouldn’t mind letting one of your Pokémon out, would you?”

“Uh…” Sam glanced around quickly. “Sure, no problem. I bet you’d prefer…”

Sam detached a Poké Ball and lobbed it out in front of him, his Aegislash forming from the white energy upon the ball’s opening.

“Nice! Perfect!” Alice followed suit, letting her Noivern out of its ball. “And the Noivern too?! We are going to trend so hard!”

“Here,” the girl giggled, pushing her phone into Alice’s chest, “use mine!”

As Sam, Alice, and their Pokémon got into position for their selfie, Starlight couldn’t help but smile, glad to see her longtime human friends get the treatment that she knew they rightfully deserved. After a couple of snapshots from each of their phones, Sam and Alice returned them to their owners to look through.

“Looking good?” Alice asked.

With the smiles of the three growing wider as they looked through the pictures, they, save for one of the boys, put their phones back into their pockets.

“Perfect,” one of the boys replied. “Thanks so much again.”

“Say,” the other one piped up, “what’s with the ponies and stuff?”

“Class trip,” Sam explained. “Thought I’d take them to their first Chaser Battle match.”

“Wow,” he gasped, “I didn’t think they’d be into that, but great on them! You wouldn’t mind if we got your pictures, would you?”

Overhearing the conversation, the students all began to clamor excitedly. Glancing behind him, Sam grinned before turning back. “That’d be great. Thank you. You’re all from Kalos, aren’t you?”

One boy pulled on the bottom of his shirt, whose design matched the one on Alice’s and Sam’s, his phone still in hand. “It’d be kinda weird rooting for Shalour if we weren’t. Now, who’s going to hold the–” Starlight’s magic glowed around the woman’s phone as it floated away from her grasp and faced the screen and the front camera toward her and her group. “Awesome!”

As Sam, Alice, their fans, and the Equestrians all bunched together to get in frame, Sam glanced to the side to see an usher approaching them. “Alright everyone, let’s get this one and done! ‘Go Sharps’ on 3! One, two, three!”

“Go Sharps!” The phone snapped a photo right in the middle of “Sharps.”

“Yeah!” the phone’s owner said as he snatched it from the cyan aura. “I can already tell that’s perfect! Thanks so much again!”

“Sir?” The usher walked around Sam’s group and came up to him. “We’re ready to escort you to your seats.”

“Sorry, just a moment?” The usher bowed and stepped away as he came up to the phone’s owner as his other two friends rejoined him. “You don’t mind if you shared that with me, would you?”

As Sam pulled out his Holo Caster, Alice smiled to see the night take such a great start.

“Looks like someone brought the petting zoo in here!” Alice felt her head twisted back toward a group of jeering men standing before the Equestrians and cackling loudly at the remark one of them made.

As the Equestrians closest to them turned around to look at their bullies, Alice jerked her head back to Sam and the boy with the phone, who were touching the tops of their devices together to transfer the picture over.

“Nah,” another man mocked, “they’re the emotional support animals for whoever loses tonight’s match!”

Alice pursed her lips as she watched many ears of the ponies in the group droop sadly as the men carried on with their laughter.

Starlight broke through the group, a deeply-annoyed frown on her face. “Can I help you gentlemen with something?”

“Well well!” A third man insultingly guffawed. “It looks like you and your herd are the ones who’re in need of help, Lady Bubblegum! The Sissy-Pants Clip-Clop Show is all the way in Laverre City, so you all must be really lost to find your way here!”

Starlight refused to waver, even as their laughter grew more boorish. “I’m here with my students to watch the Sharpedos game, but if you’re looking to make the ‘Sissy-Pants–’”

“Listen, horse bitch.” Starlight felt her words stop in her throat and heard the sharp gasps of those she was defending as the frontmost man in his group bent over and pointed his meaty finger just shy of her face between her eyes. “These sports aren’t meant for your kind! If you think that you’re going to spoil Chaser Battles like you’re already spoiling all other Pokémon battles with your little ‘love’ and ‘magic’ bullshit, you’ve got another thing coming!”

Before Starlight could fight past her scowl to remark, Alice slipped in between her and the man invading her space. “And which one of you brave, tough meatheads is going to do something about it?”

“And what do we have here?” The sheer confidence in the voice and crossing of arms of the man to the leader’s right only served to anger Alice more. “The disgraced champion of Alola finally comes out of hiding with her cutie Equestrian caravan!”

The man to the leader’s left spoke up next. “Losers leading the losers of a new generation, am I right?”

“So you can only imagine how embarrassing it would be for you and your grade-school dropout buddies to get your asses handed to you by a loser like me, huh?”

Once again, the leader of the group showed no fear, opting to step forward with less than an inch between them. “Knock yourself out, miss. Being the gentlemanly type that I am, I’ll even let you even take the first swing.”

“Alice,” Smolder groaned from the center of the students, “please don’t. They’re not worth getting kicked out of here over.”

“Yeah Alice,” the left one spoke in a voice mocking Smolder’s, “walk away from the first real fight you’ve had since becoming Champion!”

The remaining students pouted angrily before turning away from them and following each other single-file into the arena, Sam standing near the entryway as he tried to quickly get them in before more abuse could be slung their way. For the first time since approaching them, the three men looked nonplussed to see their targets leaving them, finally followed by Starlight and Alice who stuck close behind.

“And where do you think you’re going?!” the leader loudly growled.

“To our seats!” Sam shouted to them through a cupped hand. “On the floor right against the glass! Have fun in the nosebleeds that you can barely afford!”

Alice her arm and single middle finger high before walking in with Sam beside her with Starlight. As the man and his two friends tried to follow them, they were stopped and cowed by the approach of the usher who kept his hands up to assert his authority.

Even with the stunning sight of the stadium seats quickly filling up on either side of him as he made his way down with the others, Sam couldn’t help but look ashamed. “I was trying to get the students in quickly before things could escalate. Sorry I made you deal with those jackasses by yourselves.”

“Don’t worry about it, Sam,” Starlight said, her expression having calmed. “That’s why I’m here.”

“And that’s why I decided to come,” reminded Alice. “I totally could have decked either one of those guys though.”

“Yeah, yeah,” Sam breathed, “let’s pretend we did and just enjoy the rest of the night.”

Alice shrugged. “I certainly am.”

Ultimately, Sam couldn’t help but smile, finding genuine sincerity in her statement. With half his students already having found their seats along one of the curved ends of the track, Sam could also rest assured that at least the spectacle of the game from their vantage would more than make up for their rocky arrival.

As Alice and Starlight began to take their seats, Sam took out his Holo Caster and pointed it out towards his students. “I’m going to get some grub. Anyone want anything?”

“Nachos!” Silverstream crowed with her pointed talon in the air.

“Fries?” cried a unicorn stallion.

“Popcorn!” Gallus shouted.

“Casteliacone.” Sam could see Ocellus mouth the words as they failed to overpower the orders of her other students, nodding so that he would not forget on his end.

Once the noise of his students’ orders finally died down, Sam read through the list of foods and drinks that his Holo Caster was able to pick up, seeing that it was about as close to accurate as the number of items implied. With another nod, he jogged up the steps by two and back into the concessions area, where a pair of ushers were already standing by.

Sam looked between both of them as they looked to him. “Hey. So, about those guys.”

“They’ve been shown to their seats,” one replied. “They shouldn’t be bothering you again. I’m guessing you already got your guests’ orders?”

Sam rattled off everything as the other usher jotted it all down as fast as Sam could read from his list.

Once he read back through everything, the other usher looked back up to Sam. “I just put everything in. We’ll bring everything to you when it’s ready.”

“Thanks a million, guys.” Sam suddenly couldn’t help but turn back away from them as he saw a lumbering presence walk its way toward him.

At first fearing it was one of the three bullies returning for retribution, he felt his eyes widen to find that it was instead Jordan Wylie, now wearing a pair of designer jeans with a snug orange t-shirt with a golden ‘Z’ insignia surrounding by wisps of bright light.

“I thought I recognized a beanpole when I saw one!” Hearing his voice, the other ushers turned to Jordan’s direction and felt their weights lighten, starstruck.

“Oh, wow!” an usher gasped. “It’s Jordan Wylie!”

“Yeah,” Sam grumbled, his eyes locked on his. “I know…”

“Hey, come on.” Jordan’s friendly rasp in his voice was exaggerated just enough to sound genuine to everyone but Sam. “I’m just here to say a friendly hello. So, your little sister around?”

“She’s in her seat now. She’s more than ready to say hi if that’s what you’re actually here to do.”

“So she did make it! And ready? That certainly doesn’t sound hostile.”

“Certainly not as hostile as the people who are bullying my students thanks to your rhetoric.”

Jordan weakly stuck his hands up. “Listen, man, I don’t have any control over what people say and do, and I’m more than free to express my dissatisfaction with the school you work for and the mission you help preach.”

Sam smiled, resulting in a sideways pucker from Jordan’s lips. “If it makes you feel any better, I’m helping my students work especially hard to get their own Pokémon stronger, specifically so they can take on you and the other new champions one day.”

After a small staredown between the two, Jordan’s fixed expression turned to an earnest-looking grin. “Wonderful! Now that sounds like a mission I can get behind! Perhaps I can come up to the school sometime and show your students my Pokémon’s strength up close and personal! I bet they’ll enjoy that!”

Sam couldn’t help but squirm, quickly realizing the threat he all but invited Jordan to make. As the lights inside the stadium began to dim behind him, Sam turned around to see the inside turn black save for a sea of phone flashlights and the glow from the jumbotron up above the center.

“It’s been a pleasure meeting you at last, Sam.” Sam spun around to see Jordan slowly walking backward as he began to make his way to his own seat. “Do let Alice know I said ‘hey.’”

With a small wave of his hand, Jordan spun back around and entered an elevator that was being held open for him by an usher wearing a more formal, but similarly colored uniform with a vest, tie, and buttoned-up shirt. Sam didn’t even wait for the doors to close before he gave a thankful, final nod to the ushers and headed back to his seat.

Swinging himself quickly into his spot right beside Alice, he kept his eyes on the arena, wanting nothing more than the match to erase his encounter with Alice’s usurper

Alice quickly noticed Sam tapping the back of his heels on the floor in rapid, nervous succession. “Yo, Sam, calm down! The match hasn’t even started yet.”

“Sorry…” Sam shook his head, ashamed that he almost let his meeting slip. “Just can’t stop thinking about those assholes…”

Up above, in one of several skyboxes one level above Sam and his classes’, Jordan looked down over the section where the varied group of Equestrians sat. It was incredibly easy to spot Sam and Alice amongst them, and he smiled over how easy everything involving them had so far been.

Part I: Poniose Town - Chapter 1 - A Skater and His Bronzong

Sam trudged through the snow that seemed to rise up his calves with each step he took. With the blizzard becoming too thick to see more than a couple of yards out in front of him, he checked his Holo Caster again. From what he could read through the flurry, he appeared to only be a few hundred feet from Snowpoint City’s border, but his destination was further west.

Sam continued on and followed the trees that he began to see up ahead, picking up his pace so as to put himself under the branches and between the trunks that kept the wintery storm from raging in. Once inside the small forested sanctuary, Sam felt comfortable enough to vigorously brush the clumps of snow that clung to his coat, pants, scarf and hat. Plopping his large backpack down, most of the snow that stuck to it bounced off in small, soft shards that broke around it as they hit the ground.

After stomping his booted feet down on the mostly dry ground of the little bit of snow that was left, he ventured onward, leaving his bag safely behind. As the opposite edge of the forest quickly approached, he could barely hear the sounds of skates running along ice just up ahead. Sam smiled behind the warm protection of his scarf.

He found him.

Stepping back into the blizzard, Sam cautiously inched ahead, unsure where the ground ended and a potential shallow patch of ice on the shore began. Strangely enough, as he got closer and closer to Lake Acuity, the snowstorm began to quickly subside, providing a clear, unobstructed view of the water and the small island cavern that was in its center.

He also watched as young man only a few years younger than him twirled gracefully in the air before the blade of his skate touched down back onto the ice. Also observing him as he skated back on one leg to maintain his balance was a large, blue, bell-shaped Pokémon with flat red rings for eyes who monitored him closer to the lake’s center. As he put his other skate down on the surface and gained speed for another axel jump, he noticed Sam standing near the shore, the jolt and gasp his body made no doubt visible and audible to his stalker.

The young man slid to a stop before pointing out at Sam. “Divvy, Zen Headbutt!”

His Pokémon tilted the top of its body toward Sam and shot out like a rocket, a magenta cone forming around it.

Sam grunted in surprise himself as he tossed a Poké Ball out to land between him and the attacking Pokémon. “Aegislash, King’s Shield!”

With a blast of white energy bursting from the ball, Sam’s shield and sword Pokémon formed out from it and maintained the defensive stance it was already in. With a flex outward, Aegislash met the Pokémon’s attack as it ended up crashing into a blue-barrier of Aegislash’s creation. It limply fell into the snow and rolled around before floating back upright, shaking the cold powder caked on itself off.

“Divvy!” the man skated over to the shore before sliding to another stop and jogging back up onto solid ground.

As the man checked on his Pokémon for any injuries, Sam returned Aegislash back into its ball. “Relax, man! I’m not here to hurt you or your Bronzong. I also didn’t mean to startle you or interrupt your… practice, or…?”

“Yeah, practice,” the man grumbled. “Sorry, I don’t like being interrupted while I’m practicing, and I assumed you wanted to bother me for a battle.”

“No, I…” It suddenly dawned on Sam how muffled his scarf made him sound. “Sorry, let me start over.”

Pulling his hat off his head, Sam revealed a head of sand-blonde hair with a faded buzz surrounding the longer, messier top. Upon tugging the scarf covering his mouth down, his fully-visible face was one that the young man recognized almost immediately.

“Oh, you’re–” He couldn’t help but feel a bit embarrassed now. “You’re Sam Brier!”

“And you must be Mikael Wallström.” Sam reached his hand out, and Mikael firmly shook it. “And I’m guessing this Bronzong of yours is Divvy?”

“Mmhm! I just keep him around to keep the wild Pokémon away, so anyway, uh… what are you even doing up here?”

Sam shrugged, a little off put by the attention he was receiving. “I mean, if you’re not quite done with practice, I can come back a little later–”

“No, it’s alright, I can cut it short today!” Mikael already began to untie his skates. “So, what’s up?”

“Well then… if you actually don’t mind gathering your stuff, this is something that I’d also like to discuss with your… aunt, I believe it was?”

“My aunt?” Suddenly, Mikael’s motions as he donned a black-and-bright-blue jacket became slower and filled with suspicion. “What’s she got to do with this?”

“She didn’t tell you?” Sam pulled his hat back on over his head. “She’s actually the whole reason I’m up here.”

“And that reason is…?”

Sam softly chuckled; his tenacity was already very apparent. “Come on; show me to your house and I’ll tell you all about it.”

Once Mikael finished tying his last boot, he zipped his duffel bag up and hoisted it up so the long strap could rest comfortably on his shoulder. “Okay then.”

Sam stood still so as to let Mikael and Divvy lead the way. As he began following him, Sam couldn’t help but notice his waist did not have a single Poké Ball attached to it.

“Your Bronzong doesn’t have a Poké Ball?” Sam asked, clearly hoping to start a conversation to make the journey back to Snowpoint a little bearable.

“Mm-mm,” Mikael replied with a shake of his head. “Never. He just likes to stick around.”

“I see. What kind of name is Divvy anyway?”

As the snow began to pick back up upon leaving the lake area, Sam slipped his scarf back over his nose and mouth before entering the white with Mikael and Divvy not far ahead.

A knock on the front door interrupted an older woman as she stirred an iron pot of stew that hung over a bed of coals inside the fireplace. After placing the lid back on, she strode across the cozy living room to the door and opened up to see Sam and Mikael standing side-by-side with Divvy floating behind them. Sam already had his hat and scarf folded in his grasp, allowing the woman to see his uncovered face.

The woman beamed as she threw the door open wide and let it pull her aside to make room for Mikael and their guest. “Mr. Brier, it’s so good to see you at last! And I see you’ve already met Mikael?”

Sam stepped in as he searched for a place to hang his sopping clothes. “Found him right where you said I would. I…”

“Oh, let me get those!” Once Mikael was inside, the woman let the door go and swept in to take Sam’s hat and scarf. “I’ll take your coat too.”

“Thank you, Ingrid.”

“Wait,” Mikael softly snapped, “you know him? Like, personally?”

“We spoke on the phone,” Sam grunted as he dropped his bag on a large rug and lugged his heavy coat off his shoulders, revealing his zipped-up gold hoodie, “but yeah, we’ve discussed already.”

“Discussed what? I mean, we’re all here now, so can you please tell me what’s going on and why you’re here?”

“Yeah, just give me one extra moment.” Sam unzipped his bag and pushed through a pile of folded clean clothes until he pulled out a laptop. “Here we go. Please, sit down.”

After motioning to a couch sitting in front of a low, small table, Sam put the laptop onto the table, opened it up, and logged himself in before stepping aside to let Mikael down in front of it. Once Ingrid had hung Sam’s coat, scarf and hat on the rack along the wall next to the door, she joined her nephew on the couch.

“Just press play whenever you’re ready,” Sam instructed.

Mikael hesitated for a few moments before he reached over to the keyboard and pressed the space key. Divvy rose up behind the couch, wanting to watch itself. After a few moments of awkward black silence, the screen faded to reveal the alicorn Twilight Sparkle sitting at her large wooden desk with a tall window behind her. Mikael’s breath caught in his throat, but Twilight began to speak before he could.

“Greetings, Mikael!” she chirped. “Of course, I assume this is who I’m addressing in this vid… I mean, anyways… I hope you’re doing well. If this video has made its way to you, then I’d love to first to inform you that you have been accepted as one of the first humans to attend my School of Friendship in the land of Equestria.”

“Aunt Ingrid?” Mikael turned to look at her, but she simply clutched his hand, prompting him to continue watching the video as Twilight continued talking.

“I don’t know how much Sam has already told you, unless he’s somehow not the one who delivered this message, but allow me to explain.” Twilight faded away as a slideshow began, starting with a picture depicting a large purple building nestled in a large hill, a waterfall running underneath it into a pond below. “Last year, I decided to open a School of Friendship to all the creatures of Equestria and beyond.”

The image changed to a class photo featuring a majority-pony alumni, though it also appeared to include an orange dragon, a pink hippogriff, a light-blue changeling, a blue griffon, and a brown yak. It then transitioned to Sam in a classroom, watching as a young green stallion engaged in a Pokémon battle with the pink hippogriff, her small cream-colored monkey Pokémon with a blue head fighting against the pony’s small green turtle Pokémon with two leaves growing from its head.

“During the first school year,” Twilight explained, “I asked Sam to serve as our Pokémon teacher so as to help teach Equestria all that his world has to offer in the wake of our unification following the defeat of Necrozma and Team Prism.” Another picture appeared, this time showing the orange dragon’s Pokémon that appeared as a deep-blue shark-like dragon playing with the blue griffon’s dark-brown lion cub Pokémon as both of their trainers laughed. “I believe Sam did a wonderful job introducing my kind to his world, and I believe that his efforts are a crucial next step in further integrating our worlds together. Which is why I’m speaking to you today, Mikael.”

Twilight and her office came back on. “During my time in Equestria, I saw that your world, like mine, is fully capable of strong friendships, and as the headmaster of this school, it is my duty to help pony and creature-kind alike to experience the power and magic of friendship. But, if we are to truly unite my world and yours as one, I believe that we should begin to allow our human neighbors to experience Equestrian friendship the same way Sam has helped Equestrians experience friendships with Pokémon. Now, please don’t take this the wrong way, Mikael, but I believe that you are a perfect candidate to learn the friendships our world has to offer.”

“But…” Mikael stammered, “I–”

“You may or may not have heard the announcement earlier this year regarding my request for human students for the upcoming school year, but your aunt Ingrid took the initiative and applied you for enrollment on your behalf. After reading her letter and learning more of your story, I couldn’t think of someone more worthy of being taught under my roof.”

“What is…” Mikael was soon at a loss for words.

“Please let me reiterate that your admission into the School of Friendship does not mean that you are ‘bad’ at friendship or that your aunt feels that you are. She, like me, believes that you have the potential to be a great friend and ally to my fellow Equestrians and that you can help bring our worlds closer together.” Mikael’s mouth was hanging partly open by this point. “If this message has been brought to you in as timely a manner as I would hope it has, it should be late May or early June on your world. I believe that should give you plenty of notice to allow you prepare yourself for the start of the fall semester in the next couple of months or decline my offer if you feel like the School of Friendship isn’t for you.

“And please don’t feel pressured into accepting because you feel that you’ll throw our next school year off balance if you decline; we have plenty of other candidates that we can reach out to next if you’re not up to it. Just know that you should feel honored that of the thousands of candidates that have applied to be one of our first human students, you rose to the top. And my apologies if that puts added pressure on you to make you feel like you need to accept, but know that I, along with my friends and fellow teachers, would feel equally honored to have someone like you under our roof as one of our pupils.”

Mikael sat motionless as if his soul had departed his body.

“I understand that this may be a lot to take in, so I’ll give you as much time as you need to respond, but I’d like to be clear that if I don’t hear from you within the next week or so, I will have to inform the next candidate to give them as much time to prepare as well. In either case, I’d love to hear from you soon. Thank you so much for listening to me, Mikael, and congratulations.”

The video faded to black, and Sam felt comfortable enough to close the laptop shut. The small click of the screen coming down seemed to wake Mikael from his trance, causing him to jolt awake.

Sam stoically stored the laptop back into his bag before he began to carry it over to where his winter outerwear was being hung. “I can understand how much of a shock this has to be, especially given the situation. I just want you to know that your Aunt meant no harm nor disrespect to you for doing this.”

“Aunt Ingrid…” Mikael and Divvy slowly turned to her. “How much did you…”

“I only told as much as I knew,” she defended. “I only know as much as you told me. I know that you came back from Nimbasa City a much different person than when you left, but I…” Ingrid took a deep breath through her nose, trying to keep her eyes and nose from running. “Look, can we talk a bit more about this over dinner? I made your favorite!”

Mikael also took a deep inhale, though he focused more on the aromas filling the room than the emotions building up inside. Savory, umami, with clear scents of beef, mushroom, and red wine.

Bourguignon.

As mixed as his feelings were, he couldn’t help but let nostalgic joy bubble to the top as a small smile grew on his face.

Sam cut a piece of the tender beef with his fork before spearing it, letting gravity and the weight of the half that failed to hang on pull itself off, allowing him to eat the bite that he had. Sam hummed as he chewed, admiring the tenderness just as much as he loved the full-bodied flavor.

“The bourguignon is delicious, Ingrid,” he commented.

Ingrid nodded. “Thank you very much, Sam. Mikael has always loved it.” She then turned to Mikael. “You always used to beg your mother to come visit me just so I could make you my bourguignon. I always wondered whether you loved me or my bourguignon more–”

“Aunt Ingrid, please!” Mikael didn’t pick his head up. “I just want to enjoy this.”

Ingrid let out another sigh, sensing tension rise up in him. “Mikael, please listen. I know life has been much harder since your mom died, and I miss my sister just as much. I just… I just miss you, Mikael. I miss how happy you were around her; when she was around.”

“And you think that–”

“And I know that sending you to this school won’t change that she’s gone, and I would never expect whatever friends you could make there to ever replace her. Hell, from the way you talked about your friends from Nimbasa City, I hoped with all my heart that they would help bring that part of you back. But then you came back and… the only times I ever get to see you anymore are when you leave and come back from practicing or when we have dinner.”

Mikael and Sam were both silent, letting themselves absorb her words as she spilled them out.

“I figured, if I barely get to see you anyway… I’d at least help you find someplace where you could make friends and be happier again.”

“I’m happy enough,” Mikael breathed out. “Like Twilight said, it’s not like I’m ‘bad’ at friendship, right?”

“No,” Sam jumped in, “but she also did say that she saw a lot of potential in you. I can also tell that you have a strong bond with your Bron… Divvy over there. So yes, clearly you’re still perfectly capable of making and keeping friends, but having taught the students that I have already, I really think you’d really benefit from having some of them in your life.”

“Sam, thank you.” Ingrid put her hand on Sam’s arm to stop him from talking, and with a pressing of his lips, the gesture was perfectly understood. “Mikael, I understand that ultimately, this is your decision to make, and if you really feel like you don’t need to attend this school, I’ll accept that. All I ask is that you take the night to think about it. This is a big step in your life that you’re having to take all at once, so please just consider it… for me…” Ingrid nodded, struggling to keep from invoking her. “Just… do it for me. Don’t do it for Sam, or Twilight, or anyone else at that school. Do it for Aunt Ingrid.”

Mikael sat in silence, staring down at the wisps of steam billowing out from his bowl and getting weaker and thinner by the second. With a deep, deciding breath, and a scoop of beef and broth, he managed to nod before speaking.

“Yeah, I’ll think about it.” He shoveled his spoon in his mouth, his word on the matter finalized.

Ingrid nodded in acceptance before returning her attention to Sam. “Sam, you wouldn’t by chance have somewhere else to stay while you’re here, do you?”

Sam wiped his mouth as he stared at the second half of his meal that he had left to finish. “As a matter of fact, yes, I found a cozy motel downtown; you’ve already catered to me enough today, Ingrid. Dinner was delicious, and I don’t think I could impose on your hospitality any more than I already have.”

“Hmm… I suppose it’s too late to cancel your reservations now, isn’t it? No matter. Were you only staying the evening and returning home in the morning?”

“Mmhm. I figured Mikael should have time to come up with a decision before I left, but in either case, I don’t really have a ‘home’ per se during the summer. I like to take my free time between semesters exploring the Pokémon world, so if I wanted to stay in Snowport, I could, but–”

“Then, perhaps if you do stay, maybe you wouldn’t mind staying the remaining nights here?”

“That’s very kind of you, Ingrid, but I really only planned on staying the one night. Plus, I don’t want to pressure Mikael into making a decision with my being here.” After a moment of silence, Sam placed his napkin from his lap onto the table and stood up from his chair. “My apologies, Ingrid. Dinner was very good, but I simply can’t eat another bite. And now that Mikael’s caught up on everything, there’s really no other reason for me to be here, so I’ll be off shortly.”

“Hold on! Mikael, can you please go into the kitchen and get–” She stopped her request as Divvy floated into the kitchen, heading right where Mikael’s line of sight was aimed straight at.

With a telekinetic tug of the drawer, Divvy pulled out a plastic tub and lid that it carried over into Ingrid’s grasp. Sam couldn’t help but let out an audible gasp that brought Mikael and Divvy’s attention back to him.

Sam quietly cleared his throat. “Sorry, the way you and Divvy work together reminds me a lot of me and Aegislash when he was still a Honedge.”

With a snap closed of the container, Sam looked to Ingrid, who pushed the container filled with his leftovers into his hands. “And don’t worry about returning it; I have too many of them to know what to do with.”

Sam nodded as he walked over to where his clothes and bag were. “Thanks so much again.”

As Sam carefully put his leftovers into his bag, Ingrid and Mikael both got up from the table. As Ingrid walked to the door in preparation to see him out, Mikael headed toward the stairs, Divvy close behind him.

“Mikael?” Ingrid’s soft call stopped him just before he could disappear behind the first-floor ceiling. “Aren’t you going to say good night?”

“I just want to go to my room,” he breathed out. “…but I will think about it.” He and Sam then shared a respectful nod as Sam hoisted his bag onto his back. “Good night, Sam.”

“Hope to hear back soon, Mikael.” With that, Sam placed his scarf over his mouth and nose, allowing Ingrid to open the door for him and let him outside.

Once she could see that Sam was on the road, she closed the door and returned to the kitchen to gather the plates and silverware to be washed. Mikael was tempted to continue his climb upstairs, but couldn’t help but be compelled to look back downstairs. Peering past Divvy, who stayed dutifully behind him, the living room was mostly empty and quiet save for the running faucet and clatter of dishes being left to dry in the rack.

Mikael breathed through his mouth, the weight of Sam and Ingrid’s words starting to weigh on him. With a sniffle, he began to feel tears welling up behind his eyes that he knew he couldn’t let his aunt see or hear. With another hard inhale through his nose, he patted Divvy on the side to keep him still.

“Stay right here, Divvy,” he whispered, “I’ll be back in a sec.”

Passing by his Pokémon, Mikael bounded down the stairs before nearly jumping into his boots that he left by the door. He left them untied as he threw the front door open, Ingrid turning around just as her nephew’s foot slipped out behind and out into the cold.

“Mikael!” she cried out. “Mikael, where are you–”

Mikael ignored the open-air echoes that were left of Ingrid’s voice and turned down the street, immediately sighting Sam as he continued his trek to his motel. Mikael hoped his frantic running toward him would get Sam’s attention, but he seemed not to hear him.

“Sam!” He visibly slowed his gait, prompting Mikael to slow down as well, getting close enough to speak at a normal volume. “Sam…”

Sam turned back to see Mikael panting as he looked up into his eyes. “Mikael?”

“I…” With his mild exhaustion and the sting of the cold making his declaration even harder to announce, Mikael finally spat it out. “I’ve made my decision. I’ll go. I accept the invitation.”

Sam relaxed himself and grinned as he faced his entire front as a show of respect to his future student. “Are you sure? You still have the whole night–”

“Yes! Yeah, I’m doing this, I’m in! Now please let me go inside before I catch a cold.”

Sam pulled his Holo Caster from his pocket and read the time that was projected out the top. “It’s about 6 o’clock now. I have to imagine Twilight’s still up. You think you’d like to tell her yourself?”

Mikael was left silent, clearly unaware that he would be capable of that.

“That’s wonderful to hear, Mikael,” Twilight spoke from the other side of the laptop’s video call. “I promise that you won’t regret doing this.”

Behind him in the living room, Sam and Ingrid stood out of Twilight’s sight, though looking down on him proudly. Divvy stayed far enough back so as not to be a distraction, but was still easily visible on Twilight’s end.

“Yeah,” Mikael deadpanned in reply, “that’s what I’ve been told…”

Twilight giggled. “I know a student that’s also quite sarcastic. I think you two may hit it off.”

“Neat. So, is there anything I need to do or get before I leave?”

“The vast majority of your school supplies, as well as your room and board will be provided to you. You’re more than welcome to bring your own, but the most important things will obviously be whatever clothes you need and whatever personal effects and belongings you feel you need to take with you.”

“So…” Mikael made an exaggerated shrug; perhaps this wouldn’t be so terrible. “That’s it?”

“That’s it! I’ll send you more information in the coming months, but other than that, we’re done here! I’ll be sure to get you enrolled right in and you’ll be all set!”

“Great. I guess I’ll look forward to meeting you in pers– pony? Is that how we’re supposed to…?”

Twilight laughed again, but a little harder. “I also look forward to seeing you in person, Mikael. Thanks so much for reaching out to me, and welcome to the School of Friendship. Take care, Mikael. Goodbye.”

“Bye.” Mikael waved a single time before disconnecting the call. “So… in person… okay…”

Ingrid’s arms draped around Mikael as she kissed him on the top of the head. “I’m so very proud of you, Mikael. I know this will be great for you.”

“I…” Mikael leaned into one arm. “I think so too.”

Sam inched his way over to the laptop, trying not to intrude on the tender moment while also wanting to leave them alone. “Well, I guess that’s that then.”

Sam closed the laptop and put it back into his bag, surprising Ingrid. “Wait, that’s it? You’re leaving right away?”

“I mean, yeah. Mikael’s officially a student of the School of Friendship, so my business is done. Like Twilight said, we’ll give you more information in the coming weeks, but when it’s time to come take you, I’ll be the one picking you up. Sound good?”

“Y… yeah.” Mikael was a bit unsure about it, but since he was going to be his teacher… “Sounds good.”

“Great.” With his coat, scarf, and hat back on, Sam swung his bag onto his back. “Then I’ll see you in a couple of months. Take care, guys!”

“Thank you so much again, Sam!” Ingrid bid.

Sam daintily saluted her before walking out the door, closing it behind him. With him gone, Mikael stood up to face his aunt before hugging her tight, an embrace that she was more than enthusiastic about returning. Divvy nearly tackled the two down wrapping its handle arms around both of them, neither its trainer or his aunt unable to hold back their laughter over it.