After their meals, the entire family sat down together to discuss what was going to happen from now on, planning out their plans for the future. Valerie still had a somewhat awkward atmosphere about her, but from what Larry could see, she had managed at Michelle's for now. Even with a stepfather she’d never met before.
With Sybil and Larry sitting next to Valerie, Michelle began broaching the subject to her, “So, now that we are in Viridian City, let’s talk about your journey.”
“Yeah, let's.” Valerie nodded resolutely.
“We have a few things to prepare. First, registration. You should sign up for the circuit this year, either online or at the town hall.” She explained, “Once you’re signed up, considering we already bought all your trainer equipment, you should be ready for the circuit year. Have you read up on it yet?”
Valerie shook her head, “No. I’ve been so focused on training that I completely forgot about it.”
“Then let me explain, because I did some research.”
“All people are allowed to own a Pokemon, but training a Pokemon for a specific purpose needs a specific license.”
“You mean the trainer license I got?” Michelle nodded in response to Valerie's question.
“Correct, your trainer license allows you to train your Pokemon for combat.” Michelle pointed over to her husband, “Actually, Gustav never went on his journey, but he still has a trainer license because of Brio, she is trained to work in the kitchen with him.”
Gustav smiled at the confused expressions on Valerie and Larry’s faces, “She is more help than you might expect.”
“Anyway,” Her mother brought her back on topic, “Practically anyone can get a trainer license, so that isn’t the big issue. But that registration for the journey is the big thing you’ll need.
“Once registered, you’ll be given a monthly stipend for your journey, and it will also allow you to earn the gym badges required for you to be able to attend the conference at the end of the year. You’ll only be allowed to attend if you manage to get eight badges, but no pressure. I don’t think anyone expects you to get all eight badges in a year.” Michelle explained.
‘I see so Valerie is getting paid by the government for the fact that she’s basically running around the region and earning badges.’ Larry hummed to himself, ‘That is pretty wild. What's stopping people from abusing the system?’
“Badges stay for multiple years, so you won’t be forced to do every Gym every single year. Also, Star Badges are badges earned by beating a Gym Leader's strongest team.” She explained, “I don’t think Drew ever earned a single one, so I don’t expect you to do so either, but Star Badges don’t expire until a new Leader has been appointed for a Gym, so professional trainers do try and go for them.”
Valerie nodded along, before responding with a question of her own, “How do Gyms actually work then? I know you have to beat the leader, I’ve seen the fights more than enough on TV, but what else is there to them?”
“That is what I was going to tell you about next.” Michelle nodded, “Gyms offer gym challenges to trainers to allow them a chance to fight the Gym Leader to earn a badge. Most Gyms use gym challenges to weed out trainers before they can challenge the gym leader. Here in Kanto, fighting gym trainers is the standard challenge, but some gyms have alternatives as well.”
Gustav cut in, “The nearest town to my hometown in Kalos has a giant tightrope maze which looks like a spider web you’re forced to navigate to be allowed to challenge the gym leader.” He shook his head, “From what I’ve heard, it certainly does not sound fun.”
“For a local one, take Giovanni's Gym, for example.” Her mother motioned with her thumb over her shoulder, “He has either gym trainers who challenge trainers to a battle or a Gym challenge consisting of some sort of puzzle. I still remember watching your father challenge him as his last badge. He had a pretty close battle, all things considered.”
Gustav nodded along, “Correct, most challengers complete his gym as the last one, since he doesn’t keep teams for weaker competitors.”
“Is he allowed to do that?” Valerie asked with a quirked brow.
Gustav shrugged, “I have no idea.”
“From what I’ve read, Gym Leaders are allowed to design their gym challenge however they want.” Michelle explained, “It has to be approved by the league, but many people have beaten Giovanni's gym, so it's not like it's impossible.”
Valerie had a hand on her chin, thinking, “I was planning on taking it on first after registering for the circuit, since it's already here…”
“Don’t,” Gustav advised, “we have some better ways to prepare you, already planned out.”
Michelle nodded as she slid a pamphlet in front of Valerie, “Yes. I signed you up for a 1-week course at the trainer school here in Viridian.”
Larry was surprised at the idea, and Valerie recoiled at the idea as she picked up the pamphlet, flipping through it, “What? You want to put me into a school? Why?”
“I know about your education.” Michelle accused, “You never actually went to any school, Drew had you be homeschooled.” Valerie had a hesitant expression on her face at her mother's tone, “Look, I don’t have anything against it on a conceptual level, but it's a fact that because of that, you’re missing a lot of education.”
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“Oh, really?” Valerie's tone was combative.
“You’re fourteen, and if you had gone to a normal school, you would’ve had optional courses and electives for stuff like sports, home economics, other languages, and for a trainer most importantly, Pokemon care and simple battle strategy. But from what Drew told me, your tutors and Drew only gave you the essential parts of education and the ones they knew how to teach, so you’re missing a lot of knowledge a normal trainer would have.”
Their trainer crossed her arms in denial, “I don’t need a school, I can take care of myself. I’ve been teaching myself how to take care of Larry and Sybil after all. They rely on me.”
Michelle put a hand on her daughter's shoulder, “Valerie, please. If you’re not going to take the course for yourself, take it for your Pokemon.” Valerie's demeanor softened at that, actually meeting her mother's eyes again, “The trainer schools courses focus on stuff a trainer might know anyway, stuff like Pokemon care and important stuff you’ll want to know in the heat of battle. You said it yourself, they rely on you.”
“I know you’ve been reading up on this stuff on your phone. But getting the essentials taught to you by an actual teacher and reading it up online are two entirely different things.” Michelle pleaded, “So please, take the course. It's only a week long, six hours every day. That leaves you more than enough time to prepare, considering you’ve still got two weeks till the circuit starts.”
“Sorry…” Valerie apologized with her head hung low, “I just don’t like teachers and learning…” She took the pamphlet and rose from her seat, “I’ll take the course.”
“Oh, that's great, honey.” Michelle rose, pulling her daughter into a hug, with Gustav watching on fondly from the sidelines, “I signed you up to begin tomorrow at eight in the morning. Make sure to wake up on time!”
…
Valerie was shown her very own room next, a full bed, with a dresser, an office desk, and other things already prepared for her. ‘Why do these two have all these things prepared for Valerie?’ Larry questioned rightfully, ‘That couldn’t have been cheap.’
Valerie, for her part, decided against doing any training today. Instead, she signed up for the circuit on her phone and then simply changed into her Pyjamas and dropped into her bed with Larry and Sybil next to her. The teenage girl was spent for the day.
She hugged both Sybil and Larry close to herself. Larry reciprocated the move, nuzzling into her neck just underneath her chin in an attempt to calm the emotional teenage girl. She let out a sigh as she hugged her Pokemon close, whispering quietly, “Haaaa…Thanks you two…I just don’t know…”
Larry gave a trill of agreement, while Sybil also shook her head at the comment.
“I…I know they’re being nice and trying to help me, but…it just doesn’t feel…good.” She trailed off, “Gustav is nice, he makes good food…But…I don’t know, I feel so anxious about everything…”
‘I never had to live through a family breakup.’ Larry thought, ‘Hell, I don’t think I remember the friends and family that weren’t other people online, so I can't connect very well to her emotional state. But what I do know now is how hard it is, being separated from a parent you care about a lot.’
Larry hugs himself closer, giving off a whine of affection. His trainer looks down at them at the noise, so Larry points between the three of them with a smile on his face, “Don’t worry, you’ve got us, Valerie!” He turns to Sybil next to him, “Right?”
“Correct,” She nods smartly, “We’ll protect you.”
“Not what I was trying to say, but I guess it fits.” Larry nods back.
Valerie puts a hand on each of their heads with a smile. She hadn’t understood them, but got the message regardless, “Thanks, guys.”
“I…I just can’t wait to get out of here and finally go on my journey.” She confessed, “I guess the Trainer School is a good distraction, but…Well, I kind of hate school…”
“Well…Whatever. For these next two weeks, let’s throw ourselves into training, alright, guys?”
The squeak and trill she got in return made Valerie smile just a smidge more.
…
It was the next day, and Larry was following along Valerie's side towards the trainer school they were supposed to attend. The urban parts of Viridian were a mishmash of rowed buildings of various architectural styles, interspersed by parks, gardens, and various other greenery.
Larry hadn’t noticed it back in the League Reception Town, but curious eyes still followed him everywhere he went. Admittedly, they had reduced somewhat. It seems that as you move away from Mt. Silver, fewer and fewer people begin to notice a Pseudo-Legendary Pokemon in their wake. He didn’t manage to move away from his stigma entirely, though, as he caught someone photographing them on their phone. He rolled his eyes at the sight, ‘The vanities gonna have to wear off at some point, right?’
Following her phone's directions, the trio walked deeper into the city until they happened upon a baroque-looking two-storied building. It had an aged look, even older than the other buildings in the city, giving off a weathered air of storied history. A small plaque next to the door read “Viridian City Trainer School”.
“...This has got to be it.” Valerie looked around herself with slight confusion, “I kind of expected an actual school building, not this. Where are the students?” Pressing down the handle, she opened the door to a groaning, loud creak, which echoed through the aged hallway of the interior.
Larry walked in first, allowing Valerie, who still carried Sybil on her shoulder, to close the door behind herself. The door latched back closed with an even, loud snap, which bounced off every single wall of the interior, echoing around them for what felt like several seconds.
‘Well, this place doesn’t look like a normal school, but it should be fine if they do good work, right?’ The place looked like a baroque apartment building which had been repurposed as a school, stone walls, marbled staircases, and high ceilings gave off the air of classical comforts, while the cramped hallway they’d just entered was nothing short of utilitarian in its design.
A heavy, weathered wooden door to their right had a black-and-white printed, laminated paper stuck to it using clear adhesive tape. The paper read "Faculty" on it in a simple WordArt, underneath it in far simpler text instructed them on their next move, “Please knock”.
Following the paper's advice, Valerie did as instructed. Through the stained glass window of the door, she could see a figure rise from their seat and approach the door, “Hello, how can I help you?”
Valerie gave the young man who answered a courteous bow, “Hi, my name's Valerie Riston. My mother signed me up for a one-week course here?”
“Ah, Valerie! I've been expecting you! Hello-Hello!” The young man gave her a handshake before ushering her into the faculty office, "The name is Cal. It's nice to finally meet you!”
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