Mike Douglas's Story

Mike quickly scanned the room as he walked in late, his trusted pokemon, Kalico, at his side. He tried to rub some of the tiredness out his eyes as he just heard the end of the announcements. Well not that it mattered. The trainer figured it would be the day they got their group assignments since the staff didn't exactly shut up about it for, oh say, about the past three months. And they kept it secret that one day we would be partner up. The most Mike could hope from a partner was someone who didn't hound him about his past. Any other way the person acted was manageable.

Noticing that his shoes were untied, he bent over to tie them, giving Kalico the chance he needed to run up his trainer's back and perch himself on Mike's shoulder. The trainer stood back up carefully so the cat wouldn't fall, but it'd take a whirlwind to knock the pokemon from it's place. How Kalico found a way to comfortably sit on Mike's shoulder without being a bother or falling off, was something he'd never figure out.

Smiling a bit at his pokemon, Mike looked towards the board with all the team selections. It was still swamped with people and each seemed to be shoving their way towards that board. He, on the other hand was more then content to wait it out and find out after everyone else. In a way he found it kind of funny, that as you went to see who your partner is, you might have elbowed them in the face to find out. Well in the end, the only partner that mattered to Mike was Kalico.

Robin woke with the sun. Koishi was snoring at the foot of his bed. He smiled at the sleeping form of his best friend and partner, patting the top of her head softly as he walked by. Robin walked over to the wardrobe in his room, and took off his pajamas, throwing them in the nearby hamper. He stood there for a moment in his boxers, stretching and enjoying the breeze from his open window. After a few seconds, Robin grabbed his training gear, a pair of light shorts, a sleeveless black shirt, some ankle socks and his sneakers. He smiled again at the sleeping Koishi before kneeling down and patting her gently on the head once more, this time, speaking. "Koi. Wake up sweetie, it's time to get ready for school." Koishi yawned, her mouth gaping wide before she sat up, stretched her wings, and clambered up Robin's shoulder, and took her place on his right shoulder. The pair ate their breakfast, did their morning training, showered, changed, grabbed his pack, and visited Robin's grandmother's grave at the local cemetery as they always did before coming to school. "Today's the day grandma." Robert said, speaking softly at the gravestone. His words were only for her. "I get to meet my teammates today." Robert said, smiling. He stood there for a moment. His perfect silence was only disturbed by the rustling of the wind through the trees. "I'll see you later Grandma. I love you." Robin turned on his heel and walked out of the cemetery. He took the short walk to school and attended class right on time with the rest of his classmates.

As the lecture droned on, Robin couldn't help but start to feel excited. Koi had fallen asleep on his shoulder and was resting against his head. She was breathing loudly, but not enough to disrupt class or keep him from hearing the lecture. Robin felt the corners of his mouth curl into a smile. He was so happy. He got to meet his partner and be a part of a team that would begin the process of healing the world's wounded pokemon. He'd been through a lot, and grandma's death had been particularly hard on him, but he knew what he was doing would make the world a better place. His grandma would have liked it. Slowly, Robin reached his hand into his pocket. His fingers closed around the warm, worn metal of his harmonica. He smiled; she'd be so proud of him. Finally, after a good long talk about what the meeting was about, the formation of teams and the ideals of the school, the teacher dismissed them, saying, "We hope to have a wonderful year with you all! Please, on your way out, check the roasters for your group and team assignments." Robin instantly stood, and made his way to the back of the room. He managed to make it before the rest of the students crowded around him, trying to see who their partners were. Robin smiled. 'Iyana Liadon and Robert Adams, group 3, team 2.', he thought to himself. 'I've seen her around, and she seems nice enough.' Robin walked over to his seat, grabbing his pack and slinging it over his shoulder. It was rather small despite the massive amount of supplies in it, and even though it was heavy, Robin was used to the weight.

Robin looked around, trying to listen for someone calling his name. He didn't hear anything that sounded like it was directed at him. He did, however, see that Team 2 was grouping up, and thought it was a good idea. He stood up on top of a nearby chair and called out to the remaining trainers. "Group two over here! Thomas Arclight's group come meet up over here." Robin called, trying to attract the attention of the remaining trainers. He thought about it for a moment. Shouldn't Thomas have done this himself? "Oi! Where is Thomas Arclight anyway? Shouldn't the leader be doing something like this?" He called. After the group had gathered around him, he spoke up. "I'm Robert Adams, you can call me Robin. This is my partner Koi." Robin said, gesturing to the Gligar resting on his head. Robin felt Koi stir on top of his head, but he paid no attention to it. "I'm paired with Iyana, where is she?" Robin asked. At that, Robin felt Koi launch from his head and he gazed in horror as she tackled the hat off of a nearby girl holding a Shinx. Koi placed the hat on her own head, dancing around like a giddy little munchkin. "Koi! Knock that off! I'm sorry," He said, swiping the hat off of her head, and returning it to the girl it belonged to. "Here's your hat back." Robin said smiling, he handed the girl back her hat. Robin turned back around, looking for the girl whose name was Iyana.

Kira was lying asleep in bed her alarm clock blaring. Nova woke up and realized that Kira was sleeping, as usual, she walked over to Kira's face began pawing at it but Kira kept sleeping. Nova sighed and built up an electric charge in her fur and used spark to jolt Kira awake. She jumped awake and glared at Nova "Really Nova? I was enjoying my slee....Oh wow I'm late for the meeting today!" She said interrupting herself as she went to take a quick shower and got dressed in a pretty yellow sundress and a matching large sunhat. She walks into the meeting hall and sits at the back with Nova in her lap, not drawing attention to herself. “We hope to have a wonderful year with you all! Please, on your way out, check the rosters for your group and team assignments.” Well looks like we have to go meet someone new... she thinks to herself a nervous smile on her face. She walks over to the wall the rosters are posted on and waits at the back of the group for a chance to look at her partner assignment.

“Anyone on Songrose Liadon’s team, over here!” she heard someone call and about half of the people in front of the rosters walked out of the way and she finally got a glimpse of the board "Group 2: Mike Douglass and Kira Takashi; Team 2 leader Thomas Arclight" Kira looks down to Nova who was in her arms "Maybe Mike is a really nice guy." She looks around the group of remaining students, and only recognizes one person, well she recognizes one pokemon and her trainer, a Female Gligar resting atop the head of a young man, she stands next to him, the closest thing to anyone she knows here. She pets Nova for comfort, she doesn't like meeting new people but at least she can meet new pokemon. She saw all kinds of pokemon among her peers and she took comfort in the fact that she would get to meet them as well as their trainers. Just as she was thinking about all the pokemon she sees the boy next to her speaks up "Group 2 over here, Thomas Arclight's group come meet over here. Oi, where is Thomas Arclight anyway, shouldn't the leader be doing something like this?", Kira also found it strange that someone else had to step up to lead the group. After everyone grouped up he spoke up again "I'm Robert Adams, you can call me Robin. And this is my partner Koi." The Gligar's head snaps up and looks at Kira, more specifically her hat. Kira smiles at her. And just then Koi launched herself off of Robin's head and directly at Kira's hat, she stole the hat and glided to the ground. At first Kira was shocked and reached for the hat but the pokemon was too fast. She frowned for a moment but then saw how happy the Gligar was as she wore Kira's hat, which was bigger than the small pokemon. The boy rushed over to his partner snapping the hat back and then handing it to Kira "I'm sorry here is your hat back" he said turning around to find his partner before Kira could thank him. Just then Nova's head snaps around and she sees a boy with another Shinx whom she smiles at before turning back to Kira a devilish look on her face that Kira knew spelled trouble.

Figuring that the crowd had finally died down enough, Mike walked toward the board, scanning it for his name. After several painstaking moments, he finally found his name. "Group 2: Me and someone named Kira Takashi." He mumbled quietly. Almost immediately after he found his name, a girl wearing all yellow with a female shinx came over. She quickly checked the list over and found her group. When Kalico saw the female, he puffed out his chest trying to look as manly as possible. Mike watched his pokemon a bit, noticing that the female didn't give his shinx even a glance. But suddenly the trainer's attention was focused on the girl.

"Maybe Mike is a really nice guy." Which Mike could only assume meant that she was Kira, the girl who he was partnered up with. But, before he could introduce himself, she left just as quickly as she came. Sighing, he looked back at Kalico, who had stopped his little display once the other shinx was gone, and had started cleaning himself a bit. Smiling a bit, he scratched behind the pokemon's ear, which caused it to purr softly. "Looks like we know our knew partner. And you got a little crush on her pokemon."

Kira looked down at Nova in her arms who was smiling up at her deviously. "What do you have planned now?" she asks the pokemon sounding slightly annoyed. Nova just continued to smile back as she jumped to the ground took a few steps away and then stopped and turned. Kira stood her ground "No Nova, I don't want to go talk to anyone" She said pleading with the pokemon to stop. Kira just turned and ran off through the nearby people, Kira had no choice but to follow. Nova arrived stopping next to a male Shinx on the ground and purred softly. Kira arrived shortly after "Oh you just wanted to meet this Shinx, He is kinda cute" She said smiling at her partner. "I wonder who his trainer is?" She said as she crouched down and pet him. When she stood up she noticed a boy wearing jeans and white shirt with a blue hat. She smiled at him nervously, "Um, hi....I...I'm Kira, this is Nova" She said gesturing to her friend. "Is this your Shinx? If it is, it would seem you have raised him well, Nova sure seems to like him." She continued her voice soft at first but her confidence built towards the end as she was talking about his pokemon, she loved to talk about pokemon and it was one of the few topics she felt comfortable with around new people. Nova stopped purring but it was clear that she was happy to see her trainer talking to someone, it was rare and she really wished that Kira had more friends.

After losing sight of Kira, Mike looked around for her, but without moving it would be difficult to find anyone unless they were giant or had some kind of pretty oblivious feature. Kalico, getting bored since his trainer wasn't doing anything, hopped off his shoulder and looked for that girl Shinx. Lucky for him, he only had to take a few steps since she ran right up to him. She started purring, which caused him to do the same. Quickly Kira came up after her Shinx and petted Kalico, which only caused him to purr more. Mike, lost sight of his pokemon, and went to look for him.

He say the little Shinx a few paces off with the girl from before petting him. "He is kinda cute. I wonder who his trainer is?" Mike heard her say. He watched her for a few moments before she noticed him. "Um, hi....I...I'm Kira, this is Nova. Is this your Shinx? If it is, it would seem you have raised him well, Nova sure seems to like him." The trainer felt a blush spread across his cheeks, not used to hearing compliments and wasn't sure how to respond. "Well um hi. I'm Mike, and this little guy," he said as he gestured to his Shinx, "is Kalico." He then quickly stuck out his hand, waiting for her to shake it. "N..nice to meet you. And I apparently we are going to be partners." Mike pulled his hat down a bit with his other hand, trying to keep from showing how nervous he was. Kalico, not wanting to watch his trainer embarrass himself, playfully pounced on Nova, hoping to play.

Robin was looking around, trying to find his partner and other teammates while simultaneously scolding Koi for being a nuisance when he heard a voice. He turned to see a cute blonde girl holding a teddy bear walking over towards him. "Hi! I'm Iyana Liadon! I'm in Group 3 of Team 2? I'm guessing you are as well." Robin chuckled. "Oops, I meant Team 2, but yeah, I'm in Team 2." Robin said with a big smile on his face. She shifted the bear to the other arm and held out her hand towards the boy. "Its nice to meet you! You wouldn't happen to know where Robert Adams is, would you? I'm horrible with faces ... only really know my sister's and brother's." Robin reached out and shook her hand. At that, they were almost finished being properly introduced, but before Robin could say his name, Iyana reached into her bag, releasing her Purrloin from its pokéball. "This is my Purrloin! She's a little stubborn. You can call her anything you want, but she most likely wont respond." The Purrloin began to lick its paw in almost an arrogant manner. "And this is Zuri! She my biggest most fluffiest teddy bear," she said, holding out the over sized thing. Purrloin got up and started hugging Iyana's legs, purring like crazy. "Wow! This is the most affectionate you've been in forever!" She scooped up the Pokémon, hugging it tightly.

Robin just laughed. The girl was nothing if not full of eccentricities. She was also full of energy. Robin could see he had his hands full. "Well would you look at that. I've been looking for my partner, and my partner is you! I'm Robert Adams, you can call me Robin if you like. This little ball of mischief that passes for a Gligar is my partner, Koishi. It's very nice to meet you, and I hope we can be good friends." Robin said with a smile on his face, leaning down to pat Purrloin on the head. It was always proper manners to greet someone else's pokemon with the same respect their trainer deserved. Koi on the other hand, made silly faces at Iyana's Purrloin, trying to taunt it into playing with her. "Koi." Robin said, standing up straight again after greeting the Purrloin, his tone stern but affectionate. "We only just met our partners and you're already trying to upset them? At least pretend you have good manners." Koi, however, made a silly face at Robin and clambered up to her spot on top of his head. Robin sighed. "Do forgive her, being silly is how she shows affection. Still, it's very nice to meet you, I suppose you wouldn't mind helping me get everyone else on Team 2's attention? I can't find our leader and it would be good to group up. What do you say? Will you gimme a hand?" Robin asked.

"Group 2 over here, Thomas Arclight's group come meet over here. Oi, where is Thomas Arclight anyway, shouldn't the leader be doing something like this?" Ebony's head snapped up. She looked around and realized that she had actually and accidentally dozed off. She remembered sitting down on one of the chairs after looking at her team composition. Anyhow, this wasn't the time for napping. She heard someone calling out to group 2 so she stood up, Junior in her arms and walked over to the scource.

She walked over to a white haired boy. He was introducing himself to a cute blonde girl. She approached them both with a gentle smile on her face. "Hi there! My name is Ebony, I am actually the partner of Thomas and maybe I should have helped gather the members of group 2 but I accidentally fell asleep for a few minutes there." She chuckled and raised her hand and scratched the back of her head. "Anyway, it's a pleasure to meet you both." She bowed, making her hat almost fall off as all her hair ended up in her face. She smiled wider and straightened up. "This is Junior. As you can see, he's a Growlithe and he can be quite the trickster." She looked around. "I heard you needed help with rounding up the group members?"

Mike blushed a little as he responded "Well um hi. I'm Mike, and this little guy is Kalico" As he stuck his hand out to be shook Kira shook it, a little meekly. "N..Nice to meet you. And I apparently we are going to be partners." he said pulling his hat down over his face. Kira blushed a little in return "It's nice to meet you too, I hope we can help a lot of pokemon together!" She said smiling at him. "H-hi, I'm your *huff* group leader." she heard from over by where Robin and Koi were. "OOH it looks like Thomas is here, we should go meet up with the rest of our team and see if we have an assignment yet." she said to him. Kira bent down and to pet Kalico again but he had pounced on Nova and the two were playing "Never mind you two have fun" she said mostly to herself, "Nova catch up with us when you two are done, we're gonna go meet up with everyone." YAY he does seem like a nice guy, and he has trained his pokemon well. This is gonna be fun! I wonder what kind of pokemon we'll meet and help first. Once we get good I hope Mike will help me save the pokemon my dad and brother have hurt... as she thinks to herself her smile slowly turns into a frown as she plays with her badge, which was a bright blue and white at the top, shaped like a violent wave. She takes the badge off and holds it in her hand squeezing it tightly "I will save them" she says quietly.

Ciel listened to the last of the introductions, noting how everyone acted and their partners. He wasn’t surprised at some of the senses he got from some of the other … team members, but life was life and his didn’t have time for them. Ciel didn’t notice that Finnie had been staring at him ever since he stopped talking, looking worried about being in a group with so many boys. He crouched down next to the little Electrike, patting it on the head for reassurance. “It’s okay, Finnie,” he said to only his Pokémon. “I’ll be fine and so will you. No need to worry.” He stood once again as he saw his Electrike’s smile.

“My only concern is Iyana …” He looked at Songrose, who seemed as nervous as usual. He grabbed her free hand, giving her the same look he had given to Finnie not even a minute ago. “I’m here for you Rose.”

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"Well would you look at that. I've been looking for my partner, and my partner is you! I'm Robert Adams, you can call me Robin if you like. This little ball of mischief that passes for a Gligar is my partner, Koishi. It's very nice to meet you, and I hope we can be good friends." Robin said with a smile on his face, leaning down to pat Purrloin on the head.

“It’s nice to meet you, Gligar,” she said politely.

Koi on the other hand, made silly faces at Iyana's Purrloin, trying to taunt it into playing with her. "Koi." Robin said, standing up straight again after greeting the Purrloin, his tone stern but affectionate. "We only just met our partners and you're already trying to upset them? At least pretend you have good manners." Koi, however, made a silly face at Robin and clambered up to her spot on top of his head. Robin sighed. “Do forgive her, being silly is how she shows affection. Still, it's very nice to meet you, I suppose you wouldn't mind helping me get everyone else on Team 2's attention? I can't find our leader and it would be good to group up. What do you say? Will you gimme a hand?" Robin asked. Iyana nodded delightfully, looking around as she threw a hand up in the air.

“Team Two over here,” she said loudly. Iyana looked excitedly as her team started to form. “This is exciting,” she said to her now squirming Purrloin. Iyana squeezed her companion in a hug along with her teddy bear. “So what if we aren’t in the same group as brother and sister! We can make friends here! And we still get to play with brother and sister when we can. This just might be the best year ever!”

Just as Robin and Iyana had finished exchanging pleasantries, they were approached by another trainer; girl with a growlithe. Robin bowed politely to her while Koishi snoozed on his head. Just as Robin had finished attempting to give his unruly Gligar a dirty look, the girl introduced herself.

"Hi there! My name is Ebony, I am actually the partner of Thomas and maybe I should have helped gather the members of Team two but I accidentally fell asleep for a few minutes there." She chuckled and raised her hand and scratched the back of her head. Robin spoke up, "Hi! Yuck, must have been that boring lecture, eh?" Robin joked. "I'm Robin, the miscreant on my head is Koishi, a Gligar. The lovely lady to my side is Miss... Iyana?" Robin said, finishing their introductions while confirming his partner's name. Robin smiled as Ebony spoke up again.

"Anyway, it's a pleasure to meet you both." She bowed, making her hat almost fall off as all her hair ended up in her face. She smiled wider and straightened up, her hair whipping back to its normal position. "This is Junior. As you can see, he's a Growlithe and he can be quite the trickster." She looked around. "I heard you needed help with rounding up the group members?" Robin only chuckled, "He'll have to get in line behind my Gligar, she's a handful. As for rounding up the group members, that would be great, what do you say we all call out to the remaining members?" Robin asked. Once they were agreed, Robin threw his hands in the air and shouted, "Team Two group up here please!" Robin smiled as Iyana and Ebony followed his lead. There was no way any team members could miss them now. Great.

“This is exciting,” Iyana said to her Purrloin which was now squirming with, what appeared to be, anticipation. Iyana squeezed her teddy bear and her pokemon. “So what if we aren’t in the same group as brother and sister! We can make friends here! And we still get to play with brother and sister when we can. This just might be the best year ever!” Just as Robin was about to congratulate her for stepping outside of a comfort zone, he was interrupted by someone barging into the door, a wheezing cubchoo in tow.

"CRAP! I'm the LEADER!" He appeared to see his teammates and made his way over to Robin and the others. He was apparently trying to catch his breath as it looked like he'd been running. "H-hi, I'm your *huff* group leader." He said. "Ahh, well if you're the Team Two leader, you must be Thomas. Nice to meet you, I'm Robin. These two lovely ladies are Miss Ebony, your partner, and Iyana, my partner. It looks like we're just waiting on the last group to meet up. What do we say to, once they get here, moving this meeting to the assigned private room? That way we can get to know each other in a team situation." Robin suggested. He was starting to become emotionally exhausted. Taking a leadership role wasn't his type of thing. The smiling was perfectly normal, but the talking and the introducing was terrifying. What if he got one wrong? He'd be much happier once he and his partners were on the road, healing pokemon and having real fun.