It has been a couple of days since Zach’s first day of the academy, and everything seems to be going quite well. Today, he stands among other pokemon of the academy as the instructor gives his lecture in an open field. Spectating on the side are the headmaster and a few other guild masters from other teams, including Ezma with Cindy beside her.
To give you a context of what goes on here: Guild masters can come and observe some of the students in the academy to see how well they do and what their skillsets may be. It may lead to a pokemon student getting possible endorsement or having a spot in one of the guilds, despite still being trained. Some get pulled into guilds at the first sights of their training, while for others, it takes them a while in the school to improve. Since Ezma is a guild master herself, she is allowed to oversee the demonstration of the first day of training among other guild masters. Cindy stands beside her because of her status of second command and learn from the process for the future.
Well, as I have written, many pokemon have gone up and shown off their skills. Zach is still in line, waiting his turn.
Cindy turns to her master. “How long is this going to take?”
“Patience, Cinthia,” Ezma tells her. “It is tradition that pokemon are to show off their moves and display their character.”
“Is the runt riolu going to be last? I don’t want any other pokemon to spring some of my traps.”
“They won’t. It seems the riolu is standing near a manchamp and scrafty. Start your ‘pester trick,’ will you?”
Cindy sneers. “Gladly.” Cindy’s “pester trick’ involves her using telekinesis to make another pokemon feel they are being touched. It is not a normal celebi move, yet Cindy has learned to master this by herself. She starts off by using her magic to “tickle” or “touch” the two pokemon standing beside Zach, causing them to think the riolu is trying to play pranks on them.
The manchamp turns to Zach. “Hey, knock it off, will you!”
Zach looks at the grey pokemon, confused. “Knock what off?”
“You’re touching me and it’s annoying!”
“What? No, I’m not…” He’s grabbed by his blue bandana, threatened by the muscle creature. “Whoa, hey!” This action causes the test to halt. “I’m not touching you! I swear!”
The instructor stops and approaches. “What is going on here?!” He learns the story from the manchamp, who lets go of Zach and states the riolu keeps touching him. “Are you trying to incite trouble, Riolu?”
Zach shakes his head. “No… I’m not…”
“Let me remind you that this is a place of learning, not to play one of your tricks…”
“I’m not, though… I swear, I didn’t.”
Cindy snickers under a whisper. “Strike one…”
“Okay,” says the instructor. “Riolu, since you insist on shifting attention onto yourself, why don’t you go up and show off your moves, then?”
“Um… okay…” Zach walks up to the middle and prepares to display his move set; force palm, metal claw, rock smash, and quick attack. This part of the class is when a pokemon shows their most learned and practiced fight style. Cindy, using her abilities, makes it where the riolu slips and falls at every single move he does, or makes the motions that seem different. The other students begin to laugh with some masters scoffing at what appears to be a “circus-like” moves.
“Riolu!” The instructor calls out. “What do you think you’re doing! Stop that this instant!” Zach struggles to his feet as the dummy ceases in place. “What the hell are you thinking?!”
“Instructor,” begins Zach. “That didn’t happen yesterday… I-”
“If your behavior continues, you’re out of here! Understand?!”
“But, I…” The instructor returns to their position on the sidelines. Cindy continues to smile as she calls a “strike two” on Zach. The next part of the “test” is that pokemon have to face off against a mock dummy as if battling an opponent. Zach takes a deep breath in and out before targeting the wooden dummy. Using his attack moves and dodging, he’s able to hit the mannequin with no other disturbances, even dodging some mock advances to show how quick he is in evading. That is, until Cindy uses her mind to increase the intensity of the fake battle and cause Zach to dodge and block more frequently. “Hey, what’s going on?!” He finds himself in a harsh battle against what is supposed to be an easy foe.
“What are you doing now?!” The instructor questions. “Another one of your circus performances?! Stop that!” Zach struggles to cease as the dummy continues to attack. The instructor then orders everything to stop, causing the mock battle to end.
Zach fights to catch his breath, near exhausted from what had transpired. “Geez, what was-”
“Riolu, I’m tired of this!” interrupts the pokemon. “I’ve had enough of you messing up and causing mischief! A circus pokemon like you has no decency, respect, or a place here in the academy!” Zach’s ears droop and his face bears a frown. Cindy marks this as “strike three.”
The wigglytuff is next to approaches. “Hey, hey, time-out! What’s going on here?”
The instructor points to the riolu. “Your ‘newest student’ is nothing but a silly circus clown! I have no idea what led you to believe he could work as an adventurer/rescuer, however clearly, he cannot do that!”
The wigglytuff turns to Zach. “Zach, what is going on with you? You were not like this before when you showed me your initial moves.”
“I don’t know, Headmaster… To be honest, I’m not sure what’s going on… I was practicing everything yesterday and nothing like this ever occurred…”
“I thought you were better than this, Zach.”
“Headmaster, I-”
“Leave… Get off the campus… Do not come back…”
“But, Headmaster-”
They point toward the gates of the academy. “Get out!” The wigglytuff’s voice nearly cracks upon yelling in a raised tone, causing Zach to flee off the grounds and disappear. As the riolu vanishes, much of the crowd cheers with glee.
