Chapter Text
“Is the subject prepped for-”
“-should be. So long as-”
“-ry well. We’ll activate the mach-”
“3… 2… 1…! Here we go!”
… … …
‘Where… am I…?’
“Florian? Honey, it’s time to wake up. Today’s the big day!”
I sluggishly opened my eyes to see my mom opening my blinds to let the sun into my room.
“The big… oh!” I muttered as I got out of bed. “Right! When did the director say that he’d arrive?”
“In about two hours.” Mom replied. “That should be more than enough for you to get ready.”
I nodded and ran off to take a shower. After all, I needed to be representable on my first day of school!
I turned the knob all the way to the hottest setting and let the hot water disinfect my body. It was a simple way to clean myself, and I was happy to have thought of it.
After getting out and drying off, I dashed to my room to select my clothes out of the uniforms that were given to me when I enrolled into Uva Academy. Seeing as it was still warm enough outside to reasonably call the season “summer”, I decided on the summer uniform. I opened my wardrobe and quickly yet meticulously searched for the correct articles of clothing. The shirt was hanging over to the left, the shorts were to the right of my topmost drawer, the socks were in the middle of the bottom drawer, and the tie was hanging nearby on the wall above my shoes. I put everything on and went downstairs to eat some breakfast before going to brush my teeth and hair.
‘Everything must be perfect.’ I thought as I swiftly ran through my hair with a brush. ‘In order to make a good first impression, every single strand must be in place. No cowlicks, no stray hairs, no-’ SNAP!
I sighed as I reached up and carefully pulled out the now useless head of the hair brush and threw it away, along with its handle. I then quickly pulled out a comb from its drawer and finished my hair, down to the last detail.
“Mom, I broke another hairbrush!” I called out as I exited the bathroom.
“Really?” Mom replied as Skwovet peered out at me from around the corner. “I thought that you had finally stopped doing that…”
“So did I…” I muttered, a frown on my face. “I will be more careful in the future. I suppose I let the excitement get to me.”
“Well, you did get ready a lot faster than you normally do. You must be excited!” Mom said as she picked up Skwovet. “This is your first day of going to an actual school, after all, and it’s the prestigious Uva Academy!”
“Yeah.” I said, a smile on my face as the front door opened. “I was surprised by how easy their entrance exam was.”
“If that is the case, then perhaps we should raise the difficulty of the exams for next year.” Mom and I turned to see an older man enter the house.
“My apologies for intruding, but I have come to deliver these enrollment documents to the family of one Mister Florian Violeta.” The man said.
“I’m Florian Violeta, so you’re in the right place.” I said, holding out my hand. “It’s a pleasure to meet you, Director Clavell.”
“It’s a pleasure to meet you as well, Mister Florian.” The Director said as he shook my hand. “There are a few things that I need to talk about with your Mother, so why don’t you go and finish getting ready?” I nodded and quickly excused myself. I went up to my room and grabbed my hat, backpack, and other miscellaneous things before returning.
“-and that should be about it.” I heard the Director say as I walked down the stairs. “Now we need to wait for- oh, you’re right on time, Mister Florian.” The Director got up and walked to the door before glancing back at my Mom. “Now then, if you’ll excuse us, Ms. Violeta, I must be off. There are a few things that I need to go over with your neighbor, one Miss Nemona Escarlata.” The Director then turned to me, a smile on his face. “Once I am done, I would like to ask you to join me, Mister Florian. There is one final thing that must be done.”
“What is it?” I asked. Director Clavell paused to take a look around.
“Well, I’m afraid your living room may be a bit small…” He muttered before walking toward the door. “If you would, please meet me outside.”
After my mom handed me a sandwich for my lunch (full of vegetables… yuck!), I walked after Director Clavell, starting the first day of the rest of my life.
“Director Clavell, might I ask what you called me out here for?” I asked as I exited the house.
"Of course. We provide each student entering the academy a Pokémon of their own.” The Director began as he let out three Pokémon. “I'll ask you to choose which among these three-”
“Fuecoco.” I said, cutting the Director off as I picked up Fuecoco, who smiled. I smiled back.
“Erm, excuse me?” Asked a shocked Director Clavell. “Are you sure that you wish to be so hasty, young man?”
“There is not a single thought behind those eyes.” I declared as I stared into Fuecoco’s eyes. “I can not tell you why, but I find that very appealing.”
“Well, it seems that you have already made your choice…” The Director said as he handed over a Poké Ball to hold Fuecoco in. “Most trainers typically take a moment to think before choosing, after all.”
“Maybe, but I’m not everyone else, am I?” I asked as I set Fuecoco down.
“I suppose not, no.” The Director said, as professional as always. “If you’ll excuse me, I must be off. I need to deliver a few things to Miss Nemona next door. If you wish to introduce yourself to her, you may come with me.”
After a very brief moment, I made up my mind.
“I think I would like to meet Miss Nemona.”
‘This may have been a mistake.’
If I were to sum up Nemona Escarlata in one word, it would be… energetic. She took one look at the Poké Ball on my belt and quite forcefully asked me for a battle. After I defeated her and the Sprigatito she borrowed from the Director, she declared me her rival on the spot and readied up for another battle.
“I’ll have to decline.” I said, picking up Fuecoco. “Fuego looks tired, and I don’t want to push him too far.”
“Fuego, eh?” Nemona said, before nodding. “Right. I should’ve paid attention to how your Pokémon were feeling after the battle… Sorry ‘bout that.”
“You are fine.” I reassured Nemona as I recalled Fuego. “I wouldn’t mind battling again in the future, either.”
“That’s great!” Nemona said, eyes wide and shining. “I’ll hold you to it, Florian!”
“I see that the two of you have made fast friends.” The director noted. “Miss Nemona, could I ask you to take Mister Florian under your wing? I’m sure he could learn a lot from you. And yes-” The director said as Nemona opened her mouth, “you can keep Sprigatito. I’m sure she’d like to learn a lot of things from you as well.
“Gotcha!” Nemona said, giving a determined nod. “I won’t let you down, sir!”
“Thank you, Miss Nemona. If you’ll excuse me, there are a few things I need to speak with your parents about, so I will trust you to guide Mr. Florian to the Academy.” The Director then turned to leave, but then stopped. “Oh, and Mr. Florian, once you are situated at the academy, you’ll receive an email containing important information, including your class schedule and the newest version of the Paldean Pokédex. Make sure to read this email, and any others that come from the Academy. Wouldn’t want to be left in the dark about crucial information, after all.” Director Clavell then returned his Quaxly before heading inside Nemona’s house.
“So, you’re my neighbor…” Nemona said as we started to walk. “That means you’re Ms. Violeta’s kid, right? I thought she wasn’t married.”
“I am adopted.” I said. “Mom said she found me near the lighthouse near Poco Path about a year ago.”
“Really? How’d you end up there?”
“I have no clue.” I muttered. “I can’t remember anything from before that day.” Nemona looked at me, shocked.
“I… you… you don’t…?”
“No.” I replied.
After a moment of silence, Nemona shook her head and jogged forward. “S-so, do you know how to catch Pokémon?” She asked, trying to take our minds off of it.
“Yes.” I said, a small smile on my face. “I do. Remind me to buy some spare Poké Balls when we get to the nearest Pokémon Center, if you would?”
“Well, actually…” Nemona then dug through her bag and pulled out some Poké Balls. “You can have these! I’ve got plenty extra, so don’t worry!”
“... Thanks, Nemona.” I said as I took the Poké Balls and put them away. “Let’s get going, shall… we…?” I stopped walking as I took a look around. What was that?
“Florian, what’s wrong?” Nemona asked, noticing that I had stopped.
“It’s just… there’s something-”
“Guh-GYAOHHH!”
“What was that?!” Nemona exclaimed as I turned toward where the cry came from and rushed toward it. I didn’t know how, but I knew that sound was a cry of a Pokémon in trouble.