To Become a Trainer

Flora returned, and finally sat down with Avril. Their food had gotten cold but that didn't much bother the two. Flora didn't seem to mind, and for Avril, this food, cold or not, was much better than the stuff she forced to eat out in the forest. As they ate, memories of when Avril tried to find alternative food sources surfaced in her mind. Compared to the taste of tree bark Avril found this to be heavenly, however it couldn't compare to the food Mrs. Michelle would make her for breakfast.

It had been a while since then, she started having to cook for herself starting when she turned about seven, but she was feeling exceptionally homesick recently. She didn't like thinking about the labs though it frequently crept into her mind. It was her whole world up until here recently and the thoughts of whether or not the people in the labs were bad people, was nothing but fuel for migraines. Nevertheless it was a frequent question that burdened her mind.

Avril and Flora ate in silence. Avril's attention was soon caught between ensuring Samantha, and Noah were eating alright, assessing at her unfamiliar surroundings, and eating herself. Meanwhile, Flora was intently appraising Avril. Flora didn't exactly trust Avril, however Avril's aloofness, and genuine fascination of the otherwise boring room and other kids dissuaded her from acting on her suspicion. Their silence was soon disturbed by a sudden bang, accompanied by a loud shout.

"~Floraaaa! Why did you leave me!?~" Charlie cried after bursting through the large double doors. Her outburst drew the attention of everyone in the room, and warranted a sigh from flora. Avril was starting to doubt Charlie could ever be reserved.

"I left because I was hungry. Why else would I come to the cafeteria?" Flora feigned ignorance, keeping a calm tone. Charlie didn't appreciate it. Sliding beside Flora around the table, She stole the peace of toast Flora was about to eat, however she reeled back dropping it on the ground after she realized too late that it was a trap and that Flora had set, having covered it in slices of Cheri berry. Charlie grabbed Flora's milk, and chugged it before, she started panting from the unexpected spice. Flora started to giggle slightly at her trap working beautifully.

Sending a glare at Flora, Charlie immediately swapped tracks as if nothing happened and shot towards Avril grabbing her by the arm and pulling her out of the room. " Come along Avril I need your help with something."

Avril wasn't sure what was going on but she had no reason to protest, so she followed along scooping up samantha. Noah noticed Avril was leaving and followed in tow, Leaving Flora all by herself with a mess to clean up.

" Charlie, why are you like this." Flora sighed, and slowly started to clean up the mess on the floor, and the dishes Avril left behind with the help of Valerie, and Neon.

Outside the cafeteria, Charlie continues to pull Avril along. " Where are we going?" Avril asked after a moment. Charlie's abrupt change of pace befuddled Avril. She found it amusing yet irritating at the same time.

" Oh, yeah I forgot to tell you didn't I? Tehe~" Charlie laughed trying to act cute.

" Tehe?" Avril mimicked in confusion unsure of what the gesture Charlie meant.

" Nevermind. We're going to get me out of trouble." Charlie said more to herself than Avril, before continuing along, this time Avril kept pace.

Coming to an inconspicuous wooden door, with a small silver plate containing the word 'Dean' Inscribed in the center, Charlie opened the door.

" Good morning, Miss Donna, I heard you wanted to see me." Charlie asked signalling for Avril to stay outside for a moment.

" I'm sure Miss Evergreen has filled you in on what had transpired last night. Now I want answers, so please enlighten me. Why did I have to help Flora get a spare cot out of the storage room at two in the morning?"

" You know you kinda look a little like Flora when you get mad." Charlie let out a bit of a laugh.

" Miss Mellan. Now." The tone of the principal's voice caused Avril to flinch.

" I left the school and brought back a souvenir." Charlie quickly replied shivering at the principal's demeanor.

" A souvenir? What on earth does a souvenir have to do with the cot? And no I haven't overlooked the fact you left young lady." The Principal's voice lost its previous annoyance, and in turn took on a guise confusion.

" Yes, a souvenir." Charlie exclaimed, walking into the hall and bringing Avril inside. " This is Avril, I found her in the forest. She's a real live forest person."

Charlie had a smirk on her face, while Avril just stared at her, unsure if being called a 'Forest person' was supposed to be as offensive as it sounded.

The principal was evidently having some issues with of her emotions as her gaze shifted between anger, exhaustion, surprise, before she gently laid her head down in the palms of her hands and rubbed her eyes, as if they were the problem.

After deciding she didn't like being called a forest person, Avril Kicked Charlie in the shin, causing her to fall to the ground clutching her leg in pain.

Collecting herself, the Principal stood from her chair, ignoring Charlie. " Your name is Avril correct?" She questioned.

" Yes." Avril replied.

" I am sorry, but I am going to have to ask you to leave." She said with a sigh. "Forgive me, but legally I am not permitted to allow you to stay."

" I understand. Thank you for the bed, and the food. And the shower." Avril said sadly. She didn't want to leave, but if she had to, then she would respect that.

" But, Miss Donna, if she goes back home, she could be in danger." Charlie protested. " I know Avril's super cool, but what if she get hurt in the forest."

" Charlie, be quiet! You do know this is your fault to begin with. You aren't supposed to bring others here without permission. If she were a bad person you would have endangered the lives of every student here. I put up with your antics in light of your mother and the potential I see in you, however you have taken advantage of that kindness and could have put all of your peers in danger." The principal berated Charlie.

" I know Avril's a good person, she would never hurt anyone here, why else would she have saved me, when she had no reason to." Charlie cried out, then covered her mouth like she said something she wasn't supposed to.

" Charlie, what are you talking about?" Miss Donna pressed, now, woefully aware of the fact Charlie was hiding something.

" Nothing, I mean, it wasn't really anything worth sharing." Charlie tried to deflect. " Isn't there any way to let Avril stay?"

" This isn't just nothing. I don't care how 'boring' you think this is, you will explain everything that happened last night in extreme detail this instant young lady!" The exhaustion extruded by Miss Donna turned to alarm, as she exploded at Charlie.

Charlie Looked pained before she relented. Her earlier pep had been drained as she began her story.

" Yesterday, I managed to get myself some sleeping pills from the local Pokemart, while Luma and Nibbles were getting checked up on at the pokemon center. There's a girl there that gives them to me sometimes to help Flora get to sleep. She says that children shouldn't have sleepless nights, so she slips me a bottle or two, knowing Flora wouldn't take them if she herself was offered. Then, Later that day I found myself thinking about the tragedy that happened at Professor Cottonwoods Lab so I thought I would go see how things were going, and ... the fastest way was the forest we're banned from entering, otherwise it would have taken a few days to get there. In the end, I decided I would sneak through. I had this plan once before, but Flora stopped me, and since I managed to get those pills I thought she would be asleep so she wouldn't notice. I was caught by Kyle, after I ran into him lurking around the ground floor. He tried to tell me no, but ended up following me anyways, something about not letting me go alone, I wasn't really paying attention, it was just sort of nice to have company. We made it into the forest and made some progress then, we ran into Avril, or rather she ran into us. Literally. A Mandibuzz had spotted us and tried to attack, and she saved us by knocking us out of the way. We ran for a little before we hid in a hole in the ground until it gave up. Then we returned here. Avril looked hungry and dirty so I thought I would help her since she saved me. You know the rest."

Miss Donna was still taking in everything Charlie said, her face pensive and calculating, while Charlie stood there still and silent with her head down. Avril felt out of place, and unusual. The change in Charlies character was drastic and Avril felt herself responsible. Walking over to Charlie she hesitated before holding her hand. Pulling Charlie to her she wrapped Charlie in a hug that seemed to snap Charlie out of her trance for a moment.

There was so much Avril wanted to say, wanted to try and convey to comfort and fix the seemingly broken Charlie, but she couldn't order them. They didn't fit right in her throat so she clutched on tighter, in hopes she may be able to convey her appreciation, her apologies, and her worry. Slowly Charlie moved to return the embrace, closing her eyes and lying her head on Avril's shoulder.

" Alright you two. Charlie, as your Principal, your actions have warranted extreme punishment, I'd even say that I should expel you right now, and send you back home. However as your caretaker, and an educator of this institute I hope that you have learned a very important lesson about the danger of not listening, therefore I will allow you one last grace. You have two options currently. One, you will leave and will no longer be allowed back into this facility. I will set up transportation for you to return home, and I'm sorry but Avril will have to leave with you. The second option is you make me a promise that you will abide by the rules of this school. You will stop acting out, and will conduct yourself as a responsible student. This also means another infraction of any kind will result in immediate expulsion. If you agree to the second, I will see what I can do about arranging temporary boarding for your savior. Also, don't think I am overlooking your illegal handling of a prescribed substance, however I feel that conversation can wait until later." Miss Donna's voice was forceful, and Charlie started to cry, but Avril could tell Charlie was grateful. Happy even.

" I assume I already know which option you have chosen, so you are dismissed. Charlie for your own sake, make sure something like this doesn't happen again. This is the last time I can save you from the repercussions of your actions." Charlie nodded her head weakly and slowly walked over to the door Firmly holding onto Avril's hand.

Standing up from her desk Mrs Donna Approached the pair on their way to leave "Now wait just a moment, you two. Mrs. Avril, You and I need to have a word. Charlie please give us a moment if you would. I best suggest you head to class now. Here's a slip excusing you from being late. Take a minute to breathe if you need to. Now hurry along." Charlie hesitated before letting go and continued out the door and down the hall.

Returning to her desk the Kind and sympathetic gaze in Mrs. Donna's eyes, vanished as she began intently appraising Avril. The gaze made Avril's skin crawl.

"Grumpig your assistance please." A pig standing on two legs and with multiple black pearls adorning it's head and chest, comes out of a PokeBall that Mrs. Donna had on her Desk. "Now, Miss Avril, I am going to ask you a series of personal questions. You will answer each of my questions completely and to a level that satisfies me. If you lie, Grumpig here will tell me. Lying or refusing to answer will get you immediately removed from the building. If you wish to just leave, that too is an option, however you will not be allowed back on the premises. How would you wish to continue?"

Hesitating, Avril looks at the door, then back over to Miss Donna. Time stretched on as she tried to decide what to do. There were pros and cons to both options. Finally, Avril made a decision. " I'll try to talk."

" Try?" Miss Donna asked intrigued, " Well then, I guess I'll start off simple. Please state your full name."

" Avril."

" That's it? You don't have an middle or last name?" Miss Donna asked to clarify.

" Not to my knowledge."

Looking to her Grumpig for it's opinion, it just shook it's head. " Intriguing, now for the next question, where are your parents?"

" Dead."

" Any living relatives, guardians, anyone responsible for your safety?"

" Gone, all dead." Avril said, as a near nauseous, feeling arose inside her. Her heart burned at the thought of everyone being dead.

Grumpig hesitated for a moment before affirming Avril's statement. Miss Donna's Face changed to one of disbelief and sympathy, as she looked at the girl in front of her. shifting back to seriousness, she collected herself and continued questioning..

" I'm truly sorry for your losses, and I'm sorry for prying, but I have one final question. Do you have any plans to harm anyone here at this institution?"

Shanking her head vehemently, " Avril quickly replied " I don't want to hurt Charlie or Flora or anyone."

Grumpig once again agreed that Avril statement was true, and Nodded her head Softly. "Hmm, Well then, I suppose that I can trust you for now."

Standing up, she moved over towards Avril and placed her hand on the head of the child in front of her. "There is a way for you to stay here for a time, however it will be difficult. If you wish I will allow you to try."

Nodding her head enthusiastically Avril accepted the challenge.

Moving back behind her desk she looks out the window, to the front courtyard of the building, taking a breath before turning back to Avril. "Alright, then I suppose some formal introductions are in order. My name is Catherine Donna, the Principal of the Cermose City Pokemon school."

" As for your stay here ... Our elite school prides ourselves on nurturing children in the ways of raising pokemon, so that they may contribute to society alongside pokemon. Raising includes not only working along side them in profession, but training them for battle as well. In a few weeks I will personally assess your abilities, and if they are to my satisfaction, you will receive an endorsement to join the pokemon league as a competitor. The time you spend studying and preparing for the exam, you can spend here, in the school's dorms. Once you're ready you will go on a journey to fight the leagues gym leaders and elite four, with a chance to combat this region's champion. Now the question remains, do you wish to stay here and learn to be a Pokemon Trainer? "

Avril's eyes lit up as she heard what she was offered. The chance to be a real trainer and challenge the pokemon league was a dream of her's since she was little. She would occasionally see the dramatic fights of the different competitors as the warred for a victory against each other and the elite four and she aspired to follow them. She was going to be the champion with Thomas and Lucy as her twin aces. She couldn't exactly do that with them now, but she could still follow through for them. She could become strong with Noah and keep her promise with Clover. She could protect him and he could protect her. They could make friends and become the strongest together so that no one could hurt them anymore. This offer was her second chance.

Avril took a moment of pause to process, and soon tears were falling from her eyes. " Yes, I accept! Thank you, thank you so much!"

Nodding pleased, Mrs. Donna says," Study hard, you'll have to push yourself to do well. I'll have your accomodations ready. In the meantime feel free to wander around, and explore. Just don't cause any trouble. You're dismissed."

Nodding respectfully, Avril left the room with a slight skip in her step as she explained what exactly happened in the room to Noah, who despite being there was still a little confused. Hearing he would be able to grow stronger with Avril made him happy as well.

Aimlessly wandering around the large building, Avril found herself lost winding down halls and staircases as she began mapping out the school. Letting Samantha's out of her PokeBall the three of them explored the various places the school had to offer. A seemingly countless number of rooms lined the long halls, as they would occasionally peak in one or two. Some rooms were full of boxes and containers of unknown contents, others held Desks, chalkboards, and occasionally children, and teachers that were interrupted by her. Avril quickly learned to not aimlessly walk into the ongoing classes. After exploring most of the building they took their adventure out behind the school.

Having only been here once when it was dark, the yard was much larger than Avril would have guessed. Easily containing four smaller battle arenas and some foliage as decorations. No one seemed to be out at the moment.

A shrill ring startled the group, as Movement began to echo lightly echo from inside the building. Curious as to what was going on, they returned inside to investigate.