The Field Trip by: Pent Ghelsburg
Disclaimer: The characters depicted in this work are purely fictional. Any resemblance to persons alive or dead is purely coincidental. They are the original and rightful intellectual property of their creators. I use them with permission and respect. This work involves underaged characters. You have been warned.
The weekend had come to pass and the school week had begun again. It had been a short one but enjoyable all the same. Rogziel and his friends had gotten together again on Sunday back over at the park. This time they went to the lake, which was far less regulated than the pool. It had its own rules but many of them were lax compared to the much more restrictive nature of the pool. This was to be expected since the space was much larger, though it had only a few more lifeguards than the other body of water so very young patrons had to be under a guardian's watch.
Of course, this wasn't an issue for the scorbunny and his friends as they were older than that particular rule required. Outside of going to the lake, the three didn't do much. It was a fairly lazy weekend as the town was quiet and nothing was going on. They were all able to finish their assignments without much of an issue. Going into Sunday night, none of them expected anything different from school. After all, it was supposed to be routine for them.
Monday morning began the same as any other. Rogziel got up to the sound of his alarm going off. The scorbunny got out of bed and changed into his school outfit. Catching the smell of breakfast in the air as it wafted into his room through the open door. Outside of it, he could hear his parents getting ready for their workday. He knew best to keep out of their way as their Monday mornings were especially busy.
The rabbit cub made his way to the kitchen once he was dressed. A notification on his phone dinged as he silenced it since he didn't want to disturb them. His mother whisked by him and gave him a quick kiss on the forehead as she passed by him. Rogziel smiled at her and continued his way to the kitchen. Within he found some food already prepared on the counter. Some fresh fruit, plant-based sausage, and granola.
Rogziel poured himself some juice and helped himself. The radio was on so he could hear the forecast for the day. It didn't sound like it was going to be bad weather that particular day but was supposed to be colder. The boy made quick work of his meal as it was rather delicious. Once he was done, he worked on cleaning it up and made sure to put what he didn't eat back in the fridge for later.
He padded back into his bedroom to grab his bag and put his jacket on. The cub had packed it the previous night so he didn't have to worry about it. Heading back into the living room, he yelled goodbye to his parents who responded shortly after. Soon Rogziel made his way out of the front door, locking it behind him as he always did. Shifting the bag so it was over both of his shoulders, the rabbit boy made his way to school.
It was a cool autumn day and the leaves were already turning. It wasn't quite cold enough that he needed something thick but he was happy he brought his jacket. The wind brushed against him as he pressed his way forward. Making his way down the sidewalk and towards the school. He saw the usual school bus make past him with some of the students on board waving to him. Rogziel couldn't quite make them out since the vehicle was going fast enough that he didn't get a good look.
The scorbunny continued to school where he looked for his usual group of friends. Checking over by the oran berry bush showed they were not there. He wondered where they might be and went to the back side of the building. There were plenty of other cubs around, some of which he knew and others he didn't. It was difficult to make out where Pent and Nait might be and he continued searching around.
Eventually, he found them hanging out under a large nanab tree. The fruit wasn't growing since it was out of season for them and the leaves were beginning to turn color. Pent and Nait were both there along with Xavier who had perched himself on one of the branches as if he were trying to show off. The fennekin seemed the most interested in his antics and was watching with interest while the shinx was talking with some other friends and paying the other boy no mind.
"Hey, guys. Why are you over here today?" Rogziel couldn't help but be curious.
Pent looked over at him. "Xavier wanted to show us a trick."
The rabbit looked up at the Chespin who was still perched up in the tree. Xavier was touching one of the branches causing some of the blooms to open. Nothing was flowering inside but it was still a show of power all the same. He hopped down and landed on his feet right next to the fennekin who clapped at him. The smaller boy bowed as the fox cub continued to look at him and smile.
The bell soon rang, indicating that it was time to head inside. The four of them walked together, talking about nothing specifically. Each of the cubs made their way to their first class. Homeroom was to be extended today as their grade level had to plan for a little field trip. It was something that the cubs had been ignorant of as their parents had kept it from them. The whole thing was supposed to be a little treat after the next set of testing.
That morning, they found out what it was all about. A short excursion to the next town over where there was a museum. The museum in question was one that featured many artifacts of Galarian history. Things that some of the cubs had seen and others had not. It was something of a somewhat local attraction. Rogziel and Xavier listened to it. The chespin was somewhat more interested since he hadn't been to it.
The teacher went on about it for a bit, explaining the details that would be involved. They would take a bus to the nearby town and then visit the museum and town for the entire day. The ordeal would be held in a little more than a week in a half as the following week was scheduled to be testing time once again. The museum was scheduled to have one of its many rotating exhibits that it had just put out recently. However, what they would be visiting inside the town remained a mystery to keep it a surprise.
The man continued to drone on about the exhibit. The exhibit was supposed to be a galarian exhibit featuring some relics that the museum had taken on a loan. An investor had been involved in getting them over to Kalos and they were scheduled to be there for the next month or two. Only a few of the cubs were excited about it. After all, history wasn't something that interested every student. Rogziel was somewhat intrigued by it since his heritage hailed back to Galar.
The entirety of the homeroom focused on the details of the trip. Field trip forms were handed out to all of the cubs who were interested along with a printed itinerary. Just about every student took one. After all, if nothing else, it was a way to get out of classes for the day. Rogziel stashed it into his bag. He couldn't help but be curious what his parents would think of it. Little did he realize, they'd been told about it already.
The normal school day would resume in his first class. History would be taken over with a new lesson focusing on Galar. Tales of the legendary Reoxidus and mention of the various regional conflicts over the Galarian tribes. The conflicts were something that the students had learned about before but the detail for this specific class was a bit more. Of course, things were watered down to make it understandable and less violent.
Reoxidus was a Zacian who traveled the land as a wandering mercenary. Offering her services as a bladesman to the various warlords. Her swordsmanship was known across the region of Galar. Though she chose to carry the legendary Intrepid Blade, she seldom used it. She was more known for her diplomacy tactics than her prowess on the battlefield. Though there were quite a few times where she had to use it. She was one you didn't want to get on the wrong side of.
The lesson focused on her most well-known feat. The Trepidian conflict was one involving the two largest kingdoms of the Pagarian period. The warlords were known for being hot-headed and quick to action. The whole dispute was over a small territory that was lush with resources. Neither of their supporters or armed forces had a distinct advantage and so the conflict had come to a standstill.
The conflict had lasted a decade before Reoxidus got involved. The Zacian had learned that one of the warlords was to be camping in a region she was present in. The man was a fan of fine wines and liquor and so she won his favor through gifts. Even going far as to promise a grand feast in his name if he brought the other warlord to the negotiation table. After some coaxing, Reoxidus was able to get them together and bring the conflict to an end.
Rogziel listened with interest. His parents had told him of the conflict and how rough it was. Both of his parents gave him different accounts of the same thing but to hear it from his teacher brought new light to it. The activity afterward focused on crafting family banners. The crests on each of them were far from their own. It was a creative endeavor at best and one which the students enjoyed for the most part.
The class ended before long and the cubs were sent home with the same banners they made. Rogziel stashed the one he made in his bag as he wasn't the most creative boy and wasn't happy with how it came out. He made his way into the halls and continued to his next class. Pent was outside of the literature class waiting for him. The fennekin waved to him and the bigger boy made his way over towards his friend.
The scorbunny and fennekin stood outside for a few short minutes while they waited to be let inside the classroom. A substitute teacher soon walked into the room. It seemed they would have an alternate. The woman waited for her students to sit down and filed through the papers on her desk. She had just gotten in on short notice as the administration had just asked her to come in as a favor.
The woman passed out some busy work to occupy the students. Some work
pages about the latest reading they'd been assigned. A book focusing on a fictional family from Paldea who had immigrated to Kalos when the region first opened its borders to foreigners. It was an inside look into the country's immigration system and how it originally looked. Sometimes the literature and history classes intertwine with each other.
Rogziel and Pent worked together since the teacher didn't seem to care much about it. The two boys split it up into two parts. It wasn't meant to be done in groups but the woman hadn't been informed of that. So the students in the class worked together. Many of the other groups did the same thing. As such many of them finished far earlier than anticipated. Things got out of hand rather quickly.
The hushed whisper of the room grew loud enough that eventually, it turned into the sound of constant chatter. The woman remained ambivalent to it as it continued to escalate. One of the so-called misfits in the room had begun walking around. The cyndaquil was known for being a bit of a knucklehead. The boy was hanging out with his usual best friend, a female Grafaiai who was known to cling to him The two of them were making a mess of a display in the back of the room.
The substitute teacher got up from her borrowed desk and walked back towards them. The pair looked at her and quickly turned their attention back to making a mess.
"Please stop what you're doing or I will have to issue you detention." The Audino was soft-spoken and dainty in her disposition.
The cyndaquil boy looked at her and threw the books off the desk. The set of them made a muffled thud. He folded his arms, looking rather defiant and disinterested in what she was asking him to do. The teacher scowled at him the boy's so-called girlfriend stood at his side proudly. By this point, the entire class was looking in their direction. It was evident this wasn't going to be resolved easily.
The audino reached into her pantsuit pocket and pulled out two pink detention slips. Handing it over to the two defiant cubs did nothing as they disposed of them with a quick rip. The woman's face was in utter shock as she walked back to her desk. Things had escalated quickly and she knew something more drastic needed to be done. A quick call to the administration was made and the mood of the room quickly turned into a hush.
The Grafaiai and her little boyfriend sat down after the teacher got off the phone. It was far too late for them to make amends for their misdeeds. The vice principal soon arrived and immediately approached them. Without a word, they took the two cubs out of the room. All of the other students in the room were not shocked by what had happened. Still, the fact that it has escalated so quickly was surprising.
The rest of them finished their assignments without an issue. They would not see the misfits again for the remainder of the day as they would be kept in internal suspension. Rogziel and Pent pushed their issue out of their mind as it was something that didn't involve them besides witnessing it. They went about the rest of their next few classes like normal with nothing out of the ordinary happening.
The day ended on a low note. The gym class had kept the students inside since it was raining all day. No storm was expected but the coaches didn't want the cubs to get injured. So instead of what they had planned, the students had gotten to play basketball. It was far from the most popular sport but it was the easiest to organize. Those students who didn't want to participate were allowed to run the indoor track instead.
Rogziel and Pent went home with the Scorbunny still walking home despite the weather. His parents always made him keep an umbrella to stay dry during the more inclement weather. Once he stepped outside, he popped open the umbrella in hopes it would help keep him dry. As a lightning type, he had an infinity for staying warm, and cold water was far from his favorite thing. He wished Pent goodbye and began his way home.
The scorbunny walked a little faster than normal as the water pushed into him. His forward motion was causing a bit of it to get underneath. It was by no means a lot but still, it annoyed Rogziel a bit. Still, he continued forward as the cub knew his parents weren't in a position to pick him up because of work. The cub was able to make it home in good time but by the time he got there, his body was soaked wet.
The rabbit stepped inside and immediately shook the umbrella of the water outside. He shook his fur so some of him. Water came off his body. The air conditioning of the room wasn't helping his already chilled frame. The boy decided to take a warm shower and dry off in hopes it would make his situation better. He took his shoes off and peeled off his wet socks. Even his paws were a bit moist. It was apparent the rain was heavier than he thought.
Rogziel didn't bother to grab a change of clothes and immediately headed to the bathroom. Heating the shower didn't take long so he stripped himself of clothing and got in. The warm water on his body was nice and immediately heated him. He stood there a few minutes, sulking in it before he started to bathe. The cub made quick work of his usual hygiene session as he worked the soap and shampoo into his body before rinsing.
By the time he was done and stepped out, he heard the door to the front door open. He was certain his parents had come home. Already he was excited to talk about the field trip they'd learned about today. Of course, he was unaware that his parents had already been informed and were planning for him to go. Rogziel dried himself before wrapping his lower half and grabbed his wet clothing from the floor.
The scorbunny boy stopped by his room to dispose of the wet garments in the hamper. He went ahead and changed into his pajamas since he had no plans of going out. The cub soon returned to the front room. He found both of his parents drying off near the front door. By this point, thunder could be heard outside. It was apparent the weather had taken a turn for the worse.
"Do you guys need help with your work stuff?" Rogziel asked as he was trying to be helpful.
His mother handed him her briefcase and his father handed him his lunch pail. The two of them thanked him.
"Son, the weather is supposed to be crummy tonight. Your mother and I are going to order in since we're not in the mood to cook." The older male said to his son.
Rogziel shrugged. "Sure, I don't mind. What are we planning on order?"
"There are menus for a few restaurants in the drawer nearest to the fridge. Go take a look and let us know what you want. We are going to get washed up." The cub's mother responded as she hung up her rain jacket on a hanger.
The two of them retired to their bedroom. They had their private bathroom separate from the cubs and it was quite a bit larger. Rogziel did as he was asked and headed into the kitchen. Just like they said there were menus in the top drawer closest to the fridge. The cub looked through a few of them before finding a Kantan place that sounded good. It had been a while since he'd had Kantan food and especially liked the vegetable dumplings in broth.
He left the thing out so he could show his parents. It wasn't long before they returned. Both of them were in their bathrobes. The two cinderaces bodies were still moist from their shower.
"What did you decide on, kiddo?" His father asked him.
Rogziel picked up the menu he chose and showed them. "This one."
"Ah, yes. Kamosa's place. I suppose you want the dumplings? What about a side?" His mother knew exactly what he wanted without even asking about it.
The boy nodded. "Yeah. For a side, I'd like the seaweed salad. Those are good."
"Alright, we will call now. Do you have any homework?" The older male continued.
Rogziel nodded. "I have one assignment to finish for math but that's it."
"Alright, go get to work on it. By the time you're done, the food should be here." The two of them waved off their son to his room.
The cub wasn't one to put up a fuss with his parents. He returned to the living room where he'd put his bag. It was still wet so he decided to rifle through it there. Going through it, he pulled out his folder and was glad the water hadn't soaked that far in. He grabbed it and headed back to his room. Turning on his computer, he began to work on the assignment. It wasn't a lot for him to do but it still took him long enough that his parents eventually called him for dinner.
The food had been delivered earlier than they expected and Rogziel made his way to the kitchen. Already he could smell the aroma of it. It made his stomach rumble, reminding him that he was hungry. He made his way into the kitchen where the food had already been taken out of its containers and placed on plates. His mother was preparing drinks while his father was grabbing silverware and some napkins.
They all sat together before long. The husband and wife sat opposite their son.
"How was school?" His mother asked.
Rogziel shrugged. "It was fine. There was a small incident in literature class but the vice principal handled it."
"Oh? Did you learn anything new?' The older male arched his eyebrows at the mention of a potential issue.
The scorbunny spoke between bites of food. "Yeah, they talked about Reoxidus and the Trepidian conflicts. They also mentioned that we're going on a field trip soon."
"Ah yes. That old tale. Reoxidus was quite a captivating historical figure. Oh, they finally mentioned your field trip to Palan?" His mother was more familiar with it than her husband.
The boy looked surprised. "You knew about it?"
"Yeah, we were told about it. You can go so long as you do well on your tests. Make sure you study hard, alright?" His father had no doubts the boy would do his due diligence.
Rogziel nodded. "Yeah, I will."
"Good
boy. I am sure you are looking forward to it then." His mother reached over to ruffle the boy's head fur.
The rabbit boy nodded. "Have you ever been to Palan?"
"Yeah, it's an old mining town. Your little field trip is a historical excursion to the town more than the Galarian exhibit in the museum." The older male responded.
The scorbunny seemed confused. "Huh? It is?"
"Yeah, you're going for the full day. That part of it was supposed to be a surprise but it doesn't make much of a difference to tell you or not." His father smiled.
The boy perked up a bit. "Well, it does sound neat. I can't wait."
The cub smiled and they got back to eating. Both parents shared details of their days at work. When they were done, Rogziel did his usual chores. He knew his folks had a long day so he volunteered to clean the table as well as get rid of the garbage. After everything was said and done, he returned to his room to finish his assignment. It didn't take him much longer to complete it and had more free time than he expected.
Rogziel decided to use his free time to play some games. His personal favorite was Splatoon. The colorful ink-based shooter was something he was fond of. He wasn't very good at it, usually splitting his games between victories and losses. He usually didn't play it a lot because of his school responsibilities as well as his obligation to his soccer team. He played a few rounds before getting frustrated with pvp and ended up spending the rest of the night playing single-player.
The rest of Rogziels night was pretty quiet. His parents mostly kept to themselves as they'd had a long day. The scorbunny cub didn't play games the entirety of his night. Rotating to watch some television where his favorite local soccer club was playing. The team was nothing great and had a rather poor record. Even still, he enjoyed watching them play. His favorite player had even scored a goal that night, which made it even more exciting.
A few weeks came and by like they often did. Time flew with the usual repetition of school responsibilities. Soccer continued as normal but the cubs had turned things indoors to account for the colder temperatures. Testing had come and gone and with it, school had returned to a more normal regiment. The details of the field trip had been finalized and the date of the trip was just over the horizon.
The day of the trip had finally arrived. All of the cubs who could go were excited. Rogziel was no different. He knew it would be an all-day thing and that it would get him out of school. The school had been planning to leave early so he had to set his alarm differently than usual. His father popped his head in to make sure the boy was up. The young scorbunny was already up but he was still groggy from the change in his normal schedule.
Rogziel pushed himself out of the bed and got some casual clothes. Since it was a field trip the students were permitted to wear whatever they wanted. Of course, a dress code was still enforced and most of the cubs respected it. The scorbunny chose a simple graphic t-shirt along with some jeans and tennis shoes as well as a hoody. He was looking forward to the field trip and already had ideas of what it would be like in his mind.
Once he was dressed, he made his way down the hall to the kitchen. He only saw his father there so he assumed that he was the only other one awake. Rogziel busied himself with making one of his favorite breakfast meals. Some yogurt, fruit, and bagels. The simple yet delicious meal was something he was rather fond of. He heated the bagel in a toaster and pulled out some jelly while he waited.
The cub looked out the window and yawned. It was still early enough that it was dark outside. He looked back at his father who was chomping on a muffin.
"Finish up soon, son. I have to make sure you get to school before the bus leaves." The man said as he'd planned his day accordingly to drop the boy off.
Rogziel nodded and the toasted bagel soon popped out. He nibbled on it before joining his father at the table. Eating quicker than he normally did as he knew he had to. Making quick work of the meal and disposing of whatever garbage remained. He made a quick run to the bathroom to brush his teeth and take care of business. When he was done, he returned to the living room where his father was waiting on him.
The cinderace opened the door as Rogziel walked towards him. The two of them exited the home and made their way to the man's car. His father drove him to school. Traffic this time of the morning was much thinner than what the cub was used to. Only a few other cars were on the road as they made their way to the academy. The cub remained silent as he was still tired, though the excitement was starting to build inside him.
They arrived at the school before long. A few yellow buses were situated in the drop-off loop where students were normally dropped off. Rogziel's father dropped him off on the sidewalk leading up to him. The boy got out of the car and waved goodbye to his father. The chilly air of the outside temperature was brisk but luckily his hoody provided him the warmth he needed. Making his way towards the large group of students, he began to run.
Rogziel started to run and was soon stopped by one of the teachers who had volunteered to be a chaperone. They stopped the scorbunny from running who of course stopped so he didn't get in trouble. After all, he didn't want to be left out for misbehavior. The school had a strict policy for such things. He soon saw a group of friends who were hanging out near the far side of the school courtyard in front of one of the buses.
The rabbit joined the other boys. Pent, Nait, and Xavier were all present as well as some other students who happened to be nearby.
"Hey, guys. Is everyone excited for the trip to Palan?" The rabbit said to start a conversation since the other cubs were standing silently.
Xavier nodded. "Yeah, I've never been."
"Me either." Pent put his arm around the chespin. The two seemed rather chummy now.
Their conversation was soon cut off by one of the school's teachers who blew a whistle. The woman called the students to order before she began speaking.
"Students, please proceed to get in lines for each of the buses. Each of the buses can hold 60 students. There is to be no more than 3 students per seat and 6 students per row. There is no assigned seating. The buses are labeled with your homeroom teacher's name. Please proceed onto the bus with their name. You may meet up with your friend after we arrive in Palan. The trip will not be long."
The groups split up with Xavier joining Rogziel and the two of them standing in line for their bus. There were 4 in total and chatter soon overtook the ambience of the area. Slowly but surely the cubs made their way onto the bus. The scorbunny and chespin were towards the back so they ended up taking the front seats of the bus. There bus wasn't full so they got the seat to themselves. Once everyone was onboard their chaperone began taking roll call.
Rogziel and Xavier answered when they were called before settling in. The chespin already looked bored and fidgety just sitting there for a moment. The bus got underway after a few minutes. The familiar sound of the engine was all too familiar to the cubs who had been on it before. But for the scorbunny, he never got over how rickety it sounded. The thing lurched forward and got underway without issue.
"So, mind if I ask you something?" Rogziel asked Xavier as he tried to pass the time.
The smaller cub looked at him. "Sure, what's up?"
"Have you ever been to the museum before?" The scorbunny asked as he was curious.
The brown-furred boy thought about it a moment. "No, I don't think so. Why?"
"I'm just curious what it's like. My grandparents are from Galar. I have never been before." Rogziel shrugged at the other boy.
Xavier hummed. "I don't know much about the museum or Galar outside of what the teachers told us."
"Oh, well. I guess we will find out soon enough." The rabbit settled into the stiff seat of the bus.
The rest of the ride to the town of Palan they talked about sports. Both of them were relatively big fans of soccer. Rogziel was on the school team while the chespin was on a private one. It was surprising they had never competed against one another in a contest of skills but they promised that would change soon. It was a match both of them were looking forward to especially since both of them were somewhat competitive.
The trip to Palan took a little over an hour and a half. The staff of the school had taken advantage of portable televisions to entertain the cubs but it did very little to that effect. It just wasn't loud enough due to the combined chatter of the students in addition to the noise the bus was making. Still, most of them didn't care. They were much too busy talking to each other to care about the time spent on the bus.
The vehicle soon pulled into the town of Palan. Palan was an older miner's village that dated back to the founding of Kalos. It was one of the oldest towns in the entire region and famed for its antiquated buildings. Many of them were built from wood and were just as old as the village itself. The most recognizable one however was the old town hall which contained a tall clock tower that housed an old bell.
They arrived at about 8 in the morning. The morning chimes of the very same clock tower were tolling through the distance. Some diglets and dugtrio could be seen moving around the village along with sneasels. The population was mostly homogenous due to its age and not many people moved there as the place was somewhat removed from central Kalos. The students on the bus couldn't help but look out the window as they passed by some of the older buildings.
Just on the outskirts of the main part of the village was the museum. The museum
itself was one of the newer establishments. A joint effort funded by a rich entrepreneur who was from Galar and invested in the town. Her return was nothing more than tax cuts and a namesake on the building itself. Outside of it, they could see a few of the workers waiting on the various academy buses to arrive for their trip.
They came to a stop and unloaded soon after. One by one the students came off board with the teachers remaining behind for a short time to make sure no one lagged on board. Rogziel and Xavier filed off and got into a large group of students which filed in front of one of the workers. The worker in question, a Toucannon with rather thick bifocals over its eyes and beak. He waited for everyone to get situated and before long one of the teachers blew a whistle to settle the cubs down.
Things quieted after a few seconds and the man began to speak.
"Good morning, students. Welcome to the Onan Museum. We have quite the tour in store for you today with a full day of activities. To make things simpler, we will be asking you to split off into the same groups you came up with. Group number 1 will begin in the museum proper. Group 2 will begin in the town square. Group three will begin at the prospecters quarters and field. There will be a guide at each spot for information as well as to get you started on what we have in store for you."
Rogziel was one of the few students who had been told about the primary purpose of the trip. Many of the students groaned at the thought of the whole thing being about history. Sure just the museum was one thing but many of them believed they would have free time. Soon the cubs split off into groups with their assigned chaperones calling them to their area. The rabbit filed in behind Xavier and they waited for
The rabbit and his group headed back to the main part of the town. The streets were almost devoid of vehicles. Only a few horse-drawn carriages were toting about. The entire town was designed to be a living history type of place. The pokemon who walked around were wearing period clothing and one of them soon approached an old building that resembled a barracks of types. Rogziel and his group were taken inside.
Inside the building smelt of a mixture of dried-out wood, leather, and auburn. It was dusty with several piles of stuff in various corners of the room. An older dugtrio sat nearby in an antiquated rocking chair. The thing creaked and moaned with each movement it made. The older male fixed his rather thick glasses as he eyed the visitors of his establishment. The group of students and their chaperones approached him.
"Greetings y'all. I suppose ya be here to get y'er mining fix?" The man spat into a spittoon which was nearby.
None of the students responded so the teacher did instead. "That's correct."
"Come with me." He hopped out of his chair and began digging through the ground.
The wooden base of the building had been fixed to flex and fluctuate with digging taken into mind. A very distinct movement could be seen underneath. The chaperone headed out first with the students right behind her. They soon arrived back outside just behind the building. It was windy and some tumbleweeds blew through the field just in front of them. Just beyond them, they could see a small river that was feeding water into a sluice box.
The sluice box was made out of a rusted old iron that had long been past its prime. It fed down a long wooden ramp that emptied back out into the river below. At the very end of it was a rocker box where some of the sediment settled before filtering back into the water. Still further down the river was a larger metallic trommel. The thing was broken beyond repair with frayed iron showing its sheets of metal come undone.
"This here be the prospector's quarters. This be where men and women used different techniques to pan through gold."
The dug trio had reappeared near the rocker box and whistled over to one of its sneasel assistants. The other employee shifted through the sand showing some faux gold that was meant to represent the real thing. Of course, the cubs didn't know it was fake and so many of them were astounded.
"How would you cubbies like to dig?" The man asked before a few excited hands went up in anticipation.
Rogziel and Xavier weren't as excited but they played along anyways. They were taken to the riverside where some pans and saucers had been placed along the riverside. The water was shallow enough there that they could reach it without problems. Some of the other students took their socks and shoes off and got into the water. It was clear some of them were more into it than others. The scorbunny and chespin only partook in the panning of gold.
Of course, none of the students found any gold. The stuff had been long depleted but many just enjoyed the chance. The town bell rang, signaling that they were to head to the next area. The chaperone whistled once again and they continued to the next area. They were headed to the museum next and once the teacher announced that, Rogziel couldn't help but be excited. He bounced into the group behind Xavier and followed along.
The museum was back on the other edge of town. Onan Museum was the most ornate structure in the entire town. A large arch-shaped building with a domed roof that fed light into it through glass. Entering it, the cubs were greeted by some air conditioning and a large plastic sign that featured a map of the place. Rogziel tried to see over the crowd to look at what they were seeing but he was too short to gain any headway.
"Alright cubbies. Please pair off with a buddy. You have an hour to explore to museum. When you hear the bell ring, please head back to the front so we can continue to the next thing."
The teacher and other staff had decided the students were old enough to mind themselves. After all the establishment was well-staffed and had been informed beforehand of the arrangement. Rogziel paired off with Xavier since they were already together and the two waited a few moments before some of the other students walked off. Once the little sign was free of people, Rogziel looked at it to gauge their options.
The sign indicated the place had 4 wings, three of them owed to the most well-known eras of the Galarian region. The final one seemed to be dedicated to the history of the town itself, which wasn't surprising considering the nature of how the town had been presenting itself so far. Rogziel decided to start in the one that represented the oldest era. The very same era that Reoxidus was a part of.
Rogziel and Xavier continued to the first wing. It was an open space with a lot of old ink-stained art. A few scrolls were featured within, one of which was from the legendary Reoxidus herself. The creature's signature was well known as it was naught more than the blade she carried. The script in which she wrote was an older tongue of the Galarian dialect and neither boy knew how to understand it.
Nearby a large statue of Reoxidus stood in the presence of the same Trepidian Warlord who she had convinced to get to the table of diplomacy. The man wore traditional Galarian silk robes, flowing and longer than the full length of his form. The Ursaring's fur was so long around its chin that it almost resembled a beard. The staff he carried was the house sigil of his family, a relic which was pointed out nearby.
The two boys continued past it, only briefly looking at the staff. Some of the weapons of the era interested them instead. Various swords of many of the warring families. Each of them is engraved with the sigil of the family holder who bared them during the time. Rogziel was especially interested in a suit of armor worn by some of the soldiers. The ornately crafted steel was bulky and plate, bearing resemblance to the chevaliers of the Kalos region.
The rest of the exhibit featured a few manuscripts with translations of the same. A replica of the peace treaty that settled the war as well as the alliance that tied the tribes together, forever binding the region as one. It was the great unifying symbol for Galar. One whose very well-known words were uttered time and time again in official documents to this day. The cubs soon reached the end of it and moved on to the next area.
The next area was several generations removed from the Trepdidian period. Rogziel and Xavier first noticed a horse-drawn carriage with a replica of the Rapidash that might have carried the vehicle. The stagecoach was ornate, looking inside they could see the plush velvety fabric and silken lined curtains. It was obvious the thing belonged to some rich person or other aristocrat but its true owner had never been identified.
Continuing onward the boys could see replicas of the crown jewels of galar. Three faux amethyst gems that kept in sockets in the tiara of very many of the princesses. Just beyond it was the robes of one of the Kings of Galar. King Bustan II of Galar was well known for his just handling of the "Diaries of Justice". These documents were the foundation of Galarian law and some of its teachings were held to this day.
Rogziel soon found himself entranced in a model of the palace of Galar. The little structure lay within a glass case. It was a multiple-level building built from limestone with a large archway leading into a crimson-red oaken door. The windows were stained glass, each of the panes having a different mural on them. The murals themselves represented some of the most successful regents throughout the history of the region.
The cubs looked at it for a bit. Just in front of the little model was a representation of the fountain that had been built by one of the founding queens of the Galar Regency. It had a small spicket of water running it to simulate the real thing in Galar. Over the top of it was the symbol of talonflame the state bird of the family,
a homage to the family's history in falconry. The thing beak hoisted the state insignia on a banner it held.
The cubs continued forward through the exhibit with nothing else in that area interesting them. So they moved on to the final wing of the museum which hosted Galarian artifacts. The last exhibit was an exhibit on the period known as the Industrial Period. A few representations of antiquated machines which were used for all sorts of things. Neither boy was that interested in them but they looked at a few of them to pass the time.
The largest machine was a steam-built train. The locomotive's front housing had no barriers so the two boys couldn't help but go on board. The locomotive housing had a whole bunch of levers, pulleys, nozzles, and a kill switch. A sign indicating over the top blew the chain whistle which bellowed as Xavier tugged on it. The two of them chuckled as the thing caused some of the other nearby contraptions to rattle.
They got off it and continued to some of the other machines. Things like the loom, the spinner, and the first attempts at automotives were present. The car looked like nothing they had ever seen before and they got inside of it to see what the interior looked like. The inside resembled that of a much more ornate luxury car. Plush mink seats that had been refurbished to replicate their original design. Even the driver's instrument panel looked like it was almost new.
The cubs soon overheard a whistle. It seemed they had spent more time than they thought in each of the exhibits. They looked back at the car briefly and then continued back to the main promenade. The group was already waiting for them. The teacher soon informed them they would be getting lunch soon and they continued outside to the picnic area. The town's many workers had now retired as this too was their break time.
The lunch was held in a large picnic area where each of the groups converged. Rogziel and Xavier met up with Pent and Nait. The four of them ate together. Small brown bag lunches had been prepared for them. Those who had limited diets were provided with distinct labels on each of the meals. The cubs began to enjoy their meals and go back to chatting about their days so far. Many of them were enjoying their time despite not thinking that they would.
As they were finishing up, they heard a call to order from one of the teachers.
"There has been a change of plans. The final event for the day would be held with everyone. There is supposed to be a sandstorm in the area, so everything has to be pushed up. We will be leaving a little bit earlier than anticipated." One of the teachers spoke through a megaphone.
Many of the cubs groaned as they thought this meant they would be going back to school earlier.
"Don't worry cubbies. You will have free time in the gym if we get back to school early."
The cubs cheered in response to this. Rogziel and his friends finished up their meal before the entire group was led back to the town square. In the town square was an old saloon. The wooden building had a rickety battened door that swung in and out. The thing was two stories with a balcony looking over them. The doors on the balcony were shut with the windows of it shattered for reasons none of them knew.
"Silver Spur Saloon" was inscribed on a wooden sign hanging over its door. Soon they overheard the clipity clap of horseshoes on the ground. The cubs were eased back a bit so they were off the street. Just into the horizon, they could see some riders approaching them on the back of some Zebstrika's. As they came into a more visible view the cubs could see their riders, a pair of mysterious-looking Decidueye.
On one horse was a male Decidueye. His large gallon hat, spurred boots, and chaps over his denim jeans were all things the students were not familiar with. His partner, a woman was wearing a dainty red dress. Her lower half was covered by some pantyhose and her upper half was kept in shape by a corset. The pair approached the saloon, not seeming to pay attention to the large group of students on the side of the road.
They tried to enter the saloon but were stopped by someone coming out of the building at the same time. A lean-looking Zeraora wearing a leather top with a badge clearly over its breast. The thing was carrying a belt buckle with an empty holster. The yellow pokemon looked at the two birds who eyed the woman warily. She instantly recognized them and pulled herself into a fighting stance.
"Y'er under arrest, varmints." The taller feline said with a glint in its eyes.
Yet neither of the Decidueye backed down and instead pulled their guns. Both of their wings pointed at the pokemon who was the sheriff. The Zeraora chewed on the bubble gum it was eating, not seeming phased by the apparent threat. A moment of silence fell between them as the cubs from across the street watched with bated breath. The three of the adults at the door to the saloon stared each other down for a few seconds.
The Zeraora stomped its foot into the wooden panels of the porch causing the wood to spike up and hit the other woman's face. The other owl hooted in anger as it flapped backward and grabbed onto its partner to hoist her to safety. The woman was stunned and walked away slower than she would have otherwise. This minor misstep gave them a big chance to act and she whistled over to a nearby partner.
Her deputy, who was a Lucario stepped forward to take care of business. The burly man quickly rushed forward to the Decidueytes who were still distracted. The other male swooped its feet and perched its wings in a protective stance over its partner. Spraying a few quills of its feathers as it tried to shed off the woodby assault. Yet the beastly canine was quick and dodged them with ease and continued forward even still.
Zeroara charged forward with an electric attack to flank them. Its body flowed with discharge as it barraged right into them. The two birds were knocked off their feet in an instant. The pair of feline and canine handcuffed the two criminals and brought them away. The cubs looked at each other. None of them had any idea what had just transpired but little did they know that it had all been staged.
The owner of the saloon came out to speak to them, welcoming them into the establishment. All of the liquor had been removed to make it cub-friendly. Instead stained glasses of various forms of beverages hung about. The whole place smelt of aged cedar and stale tobacco, even know the stuff had not been smoked in several ages past. The cubs filed in as they grouped tightly in front of the serving area.
"We hope ya have enjoyed your time in Kalan today. What ya have just witnessed was staged."
The Zeroara, Lucario, and two Decidueyes reappeared showing themselves off to the students so they knew no real harm had been done. The whole group of students clapped as the whole ordeal had been well enough performed that it had seemed real. All of them bowed. Each of the cubs was given a small trinket, a badge, as they exited the building. It was time to head back and they needed to go back to school before the weather picked up.
Rogziel and Xavier returned to their bus the rabbit thought to himself. The whole experience had been entirely unlike anything he'd done before. The museum had a lot of interesting exhibits, some of which Rogziel never even knew existed. Palan too had been much more exciting than he anticipated, though it was mostly because of the whole ordeal at the end of the trip. It would be a field trip he would never forget and one he would share the details with his parents later.
The cubs would return to school shortly after. Many of them were tired from the long and early day so the return trip was much quieter than the way there. When they got back, they were taken to the gym. The students were allowed to do what they wished so long as it remained within the strict rules of the school's policies. Rogziel would hang out with the other boys and they played a short game of shoot 'em hoops with some of the other students.
The rest of the day would be a lazy one for the students of the academy who had attended the field trip. They were released along with the usual bell at the end of the day. Rogziel broke off from his friends and headed out with Pent. The two caught up and shared details of their favorite part of their days. Both of them enjoyed the museum more than the other parts of it but they enjoyed their time in Palan.
When it was finally time to head home, Rogziel padded his way down the usual sidewalk to his house. He yawned as the fatigue was finally getting to him, hoping he could kick back and relax when he arrived. The cub walked slower than usual but was still able to make good time in his usual travel. At his house, he found that neither of his parents was home yet and decided to go about his usual hygiene routine so he could relax and recuperate.
The older cinderaces returned home in a few hours with both of them coming in shortly before their usual supper time. Rogziel was even more lethargic by this point since he'd already gotten relaxed and his body had toned down. The exhaustion of the day's activities was hitting him hard. He shared the details of his trip, talking about the museum and the so-called show down at the saloon.
His parents were glad that he had fun. Of course, they were familiar with the experience themselves. It was something they had done when the cub was too young to remember. Rogziel went on more about the museum than he did about the town itself. Going on about the exhibits he saw in it and recounting some of the various displays. The older rabbits promised themselves they would have to see it themselves before the exhibits were rotated out.
Rogziel spent the rest of his night relaxing. He played some switch, rotating between his favorite Splatoon
and some single-player games. It wasn't long before his eyes began to flutter. His grip weakened and his arms flattened onto his chest. The boy fell asleep with the console in his hands. Only to be tucked in by his parents who returned the thing to the store. Kissing him on the forehead as the young cub dreamt of a new day, new adventures, and new experiences.
