Chapter Text
To say Vi was nervous at choosing her starter pokémon was an understatement; she was terrified.
Enrolling in Pokémon Battle Academy felt like the beginning of a new adventure. She was the first in her family to attend. Next year, Mylo and Claggor will be joining their older sister on these adventures. But until then, Vi grabbed the bill of her hat and shoved it to the back, at 12 years old she was ready to take on anyone and anything. Vi was sitting on a bench just out the registry. She was holding a pokédex though not even scrolling through it. She was waiting for someone before even thinking of looking at her potential starters.
“Hello, Violet.” A high-pitched posh voice greeted, followed by a pair of perfectly polished loafers appearing in front of Vi. Caitlyn Kiramman; still wearing her Piltover Battle Academia uniform. “Since you’re not front in line at the gym, can I assume you haven’t chosen your starter yet?”
Causing the adolescent to grin. Vi quickly glanced up, noticing Caitlyn Kiramman came empty handed, “You haven’t chosen either,” she stated, then she saw the Mystic pin above her heart, causing Vi’s stomach to drop, “Cait. You did choose without me.”
“I didn’t!” Caitlyn quickly glanced down, “My mother’s pin. She gave it to me for good luck.” She held out her hand for Vi to take, “Although with our family research ingenuity, it’s only logical for me to be placed in the same club.”
“I guess,” Vi didn’t need the help, though she accepted Caitlyn’s outstretched hand knowing her best friend loves to hold hands anyway. She held up her fist and flexed her tiny muscles, “But you know battling is literally about strength!”
Caitlyn rolled her eyes, “And how you train your pokémon. Come on, now. Before classes start without us.”
They were a close pair of opposite social statuses, yet everyone at the Academy was accustomed to seeing them together.
Caitlyn Kiramman, daughter of the most renowned Pokémon gym leader Cassandra Kiramman, pulled Violet to the registry. “Good! There’s no line!” She was getting taller, so her strides were like a giselle’s eager gait.
Vi was used to all eyes being on them whenever they entered a room or arena, though now she preferred to be invisible at a delicate time such as this one. “Right. No lines,” She felt sick again. “What if—” …they don’t like me?
“What if, what?” Caitlyn innocently asked, unaware of Vi’s rising anxiety, “Oh! We get to take the starters back to our dorm rooms to incubate. How exciting!” She rubbed her chin and read through the index and her assignment that came through, “Hm, I’ve already been assigned a starter without being able to choose. Mother,” Caitlyn hissed her disdain, yet accepted her responsibility right away, “I’ll go get my egg then. Wait for me afterwards?”
“Of course,” Vi muttered. She wiped her sweaty hands on her pants and approached the registry. Without even putting much thought into it (She’s actually put every single aching thought into this) Vi selected a fighter type—and slowly exhaled, “Oh, that wasn’t so bad.” She jogged to catch up with Caitlyn who was approaching the nursery. “Hey, Caitlyn, wait up!”
~~~
The two 12 year olds were temporarily separated at the nursery.
Caitlyn was ushered to a more secured area to be given her egg and temporary incubator until the egg hatched. While Vi was standing outside a large window that had a bundle of starter fighter types. There weren't many to choose from as fighting type is a leveled up skill to learn, but Vi still made it a point to not rush this decision. Vi chuckled as a few of them were rough-housing with each other.
“Oh, look at this one!” Two boys were in front of Vi pointing to the toughest looking pokémon.
Vi rolled her father’s ring in her hand, thinking while looking at the potential starters. She thought of Vander’s words, It’s not about the visible strength, but the connection between you two.
“Violet Pallet,” One of the nurses addressed Vi,
Game on, Vi cleared her throat, “That’s me,” She followed the nurse inside… and immediately fell in love. “Whoa—,” Vi whispered.
The nurse seemed to catch on, grinning in equal excitement, “That was fast. Which one is it for you?”
Vi ignored the nurse and stepped into the playpen area. She walked past the rolling younglings and knelt in front of a red round ball. The baby fighter pokémon barely looked aware of her own existence, let alone Vi’s, “Look at this lil guy,” Vi cooed, reaching out to pet it.
“That’s Vino,” The nurse pointed out, “She’s a fresh hatchling so she’s taking a minute to adjust. But she evolves into a big—,”
Vi didn’t hear the rest the moment Vino’s eyes fell on her. The baby dinosaur appearing pokémon hiccuped from a recent feeding, “Hey,” She whispered, reaching for Vino.
Vino smiled as she was picked up and Vi knew this was meant to be, “I choose you, Vino.”
Caitlyn’s incubator took up a huge portion of their dorm room. Good thing gym leader Cassandra Kiramman was able to pull some strings and get the girls a large suite.
After a few days of getting used to her starter, Vi decided to let Vino roam outside the pokéball. Both girls were laying on the floor in their living room space while watching Vi’s starter roam the room.
“She’s so chunky,” Caitlyn cooed while petting Vino.
Vi was laying on her stomach, kicking her feet, “I just fed her,”
Upon hearing this, Caitlyn perked up, “What’d you feed her?”
Vi rolled her eyes, “Calm down, Commander research. I gave her the nurse-issued soup.”
“Soup?”
“Soup.”
“Soup,” Caitlyn repeated, “Huh. Must be updated research I wasn’t aware of,”
“Ahhh, falling behind on your club, Mystic?” Vi mocked, though secretly wondering which club Caitlyn signed up for.
Caitlyn was rubbing Vino’s belly, biting her lower lip in thought, “I’ve been thinking about that, actually.”
Vi assumed she’d already chosen without telling her, “And?”
“I want to be in the same club as you, Violet,” Caitlyn whispered
Vi felt a strange lump in her throat, “Really?” she cleared her throat, “Really? I’m choosing Valor, Cait,”
“Valor over Mystic it is, then.” Caitlyn traced her fingers down Vino’s back to her tiny tail, “If we’re in the same club, they might even pair us together at the gyms.” She pointed out.
Caitlyn was right about that. If they were in the same club, it’ll be easier to pair them together while they’re young and just beginning their journey than finding a partner further down the road.
Both girls flinched at the sound of a crash.
Caitlyn instantly jumped to her feet, “My pokémon!” she yelped.
“Oh shit,” Vi followed Caitlyn to the other room and they both gasped at what they saw. “Whoa!”
“Oh my goodness!” Caitlyn yelled her excitement.