How to Train Your Pokémon

Final Exam

How to Train Your Pokémon

A/N: Okay, I think this is the chapter where things start to get ugly. If any of you guys know HTTYD, you know what I'm talking about. Anyway, let's get on with Chapter 21. Roll it!

Bold italics- Pokémon speech

Chapter 21

Final Exam

The morning of the Final Exam finally came. Almost all of the Trainers in Pallet Town had arrived at the Arena to see what was expected to be a most amazing event. There was loud cheering and shouting ringing all throughout. Dawn was on a podium positioned outside the Arena, greeting the crowd.

"It's a good day to be here!" She started as the crowd's cheering started to die down so that she could speak. "If someone had told that in a few short weeks, Mari would go from being who she was to placing first in training, I wouldn't believe it! Not that I have faith in my daughter's abilities."

The crowd laughed at that comment before Dawn continued speaking. "And yet, here we are. And no one's more surprised or more proud than I am. Today, my daughter becomes a true Trainer. Today, she becomes one of us!"

The crowd resumed cheering as Dawn concluded her speech. Meanwhile, waiting at the Arena's entrance, the guest of honor felt her spirits sink rapidly at her mother's words. All she ever wanted was for her people to accept her, and now that she knows the truth, she realized that the adults knew that she would never live up to the false idea of a Trainer that was implanted in the brains of her generation. She really was too much like her father.

She looked down at the ceremonial brooch that adorned her chest. As the chosen recruit, one wears the symbol of their faction, as is tradition. The thin metal brooch showed a Poké Ball symbol on a shield seemed very heavy on her.

Just then, she heard movement behind her. She slightly turned around and saw the twins and Aiden approaching. "Be careful with Lucario." Aiden warned.

"It's not Lucario I'm worried about." Mari admitted, her eyes somewhere else. The boys followed her gaze and saw Dawn coming up to her seat.

"What are you going to do?" Luke asked his sister.

Mari had a solemn look on her face. "Put an end to this." She answered. "I have to try." She then turned to the boys behind her. "Guys, if something goes wrong, just make sure that they don't find Elysia."

The boys felt chills go up their spines by what she meant by that statement. However, they gave her their word.

"We will, sis." Evan said, hugging her tightly. She returned it just as tight. Luke joined in after a couple of seconds. After she released her brothers, Mari turned to Aiden, who nodded at her. But before she could turn back to the Arena, he grabbed her hand.

"Just please promise me it won't go wrong." He suggested, a worried look in his eyes.

Mari felt her stomach plummet at the sight of her old friend so concerned for her. "To be honest, I don't think I can make that promise." She admitted, swallowing a lump in her throat.

Aiden was about to say something else when Gary appeared, and he closed his jaw. "It's time, Mari." The older Trainer said. "Knock them dead."

Mari nodded at her mentor, and shared a sad look with her brothers and her friend. She slowly pulled her hand away from Aiden's gentle grip and entered the Arena without saying another word. The cheering started up again as she came in, and she could hear Aiden's sisters, Keira and Jenna among the many cheering voices. She went up to the weapons rack and chose her signature lance. She put on the shield watch and took a deep breath.