Chapter Text
“It's a classroom of highschool freshmen. How crazy could it be?”
Buizel’s words echoed in Aipom's head. Aipom takes a deep breath and goes to open the door to the classroom. As soon as the door opens, Buizel’s words immediately become coated in irony as an explosion sends another student flying through the doorway and straight into Aipom, slamming him into the floor.
“Aipom!” Minccino shouts and runs to her brother’s side. “Are you okay!?”
Buizel runs over to the other student. “Frogadier, what the heck happened!?”
Frogadier stands and wipes soot off himself before speaking. “Eugh… I’m fine, some girl left around a suspiciously pushable button! Turns out it was an explosive! Whowouldathunkit!”
“I told you not to push that!” A girl walks out into the hallway to scold Frogadier. “I wasn't done with that machine and you went and blew it up!”
Buizel looks down at Frogadier. “I figured it would be your fault somehow…”
“If you don’t want something pressed, don’t put a button on it! Buttons are meant to be pushed!” He pleaded, as if to say it wasn’t his fault.
“In his very slight defense, he did ask first,” The girl says. “But I said no and he did it anyway.”
“Meh meh meh meh meh,” Frogadier mumbles in a mocking tone. “IT WAS A BUTTON! IT WAS CALLING TO ME!!”
Aipom finally gets back up. “I'm fine. I was pretending to be unconscious in case another explosion happened.”
The girl walks over to Aipom. “Sorry you got hurt because of my machine. My name’s Tinkaton. I guess we're classmates?”
“Uh, yeah, I guess so. I'm Aipom.”
Inside Aipom's head: “I DID IT! A SUCCESSFUL SOCIAL INTERACTION!”
“Is he okay? He hasn’t said anything in like…,” Frogadier starts counting on his fingers, stopping at four. “...Like twenty seconds.”
“I just met the guy, but I'm pretty sure he's just like that,” Buizel replies. “Also it's only been, like, ten seconds tops.”
“He's just nervous.” Minccino explains. “We're from a really small town, so he's going through a lot with the huge city and the school.”
After everything is sorted out, the group enters the classroom.
“Well, if it isn’t The Barricades themselves! Glad to see you found your way to the classroom after taking soo long!,” A familiar voice called. “I didn’t introduce myself last time, my name’s Morgrem!” The same rat-faced student from earlier walks up and shakes Aipom’s tail.
Aipom pulls his tail away from Morgrem. “We really have to share a class with this guy?”
“Unfortunately.” Minccino replies. “Maybe if we ignore him, he'll stop existing.”
“I won’t!” Morgrem chimes in.
“That guy doesn't seem pleasant,” Tinkaton remarks.
“Look at his hair,” Buizel adds. “It looks like he hasn't washed it in years.”
“I am RIGHT here,” Morgrem shouts.
“I kinda wish you were over there…” Tinkaton says, pointing at the door.
“And I wish I was home, but I’m not, so you have to deal with meee!,” Morgrem retorts.
“Lucky us…” Tinkaton pouts.
A loud intrusive snore echoes around the room, followed by a robotic shout.
“Joltik, Wake up! You must stop sleeping in class!”
“Hm? What's going on over there?,” Minccino wonders.
“Come on, Joltik! Class is close to starting! I’m done with this!,” The sound of someone falling out of their desk follows the yelling. “How are you not awake from that!”
Minccino and Aipom run over to where this commotion is happening.
“Did you just throw him out of his desk!?” Aipom shouts. “What the heck, man!?”
“Oh, don’t worry, he’s fine. He has slept at the beginning of every class we have had with each other since the 3rd grade! I rarely manage to wake him,” the robotic voice says, remaining still and emotionless. “I’m Porygon by the way, well technically I am Porygon2, but I prefer not to talk about my predecessor.”
“Sorry if this sounds rude, but…are you a robot?” Aipom asks.
“That I am, though, I assure you, I am a conscious being,” Porygon says as Joltik’s snores draw on still.
“Is he… healthy?” Minccino asks about Joltik and his snoring.
“As far as I am aware, yes. Though I am not a licensed pediatrician,” He (He? It? They? Let’s just go with he) states. “Oh, he seems to be finally getting up!”
Joltik rises back into his desk, groaning as he does so, “Ugh… Why was I outta my desk?”
“Your friend knocked you off the chair,” Aipom answers.
“Porygon you goddamn robotic jerk, let me sleep!” Joltik says, his voice filled with annoyance.
“No.” Porygon says, a screen appears in the air and displays an emoticon. “:>.”
“Excuse me, can you quiet down a little bit? I’m trying to read…” a voice behind them squeaks.
“Oh, we didn't see you there!” Minccino says apologetically. “Sorry that we interrupted you. Oh, but we're classmates! I should introduce myself. I'm Minccino! It's very nice to meet you!”
“Oh… Uhh… I’m Espeon.” She says, in a near whisper.
“Sorry, didn't quite catch that name there,” Buizel cuts in.
“I… My name’s Espeon…” She repeats a little louder.
“Oh, I'm Buizel! Nice to meetcha!”
“Y-you too!” Espeon says as she buries her face in her book.
“Hm. Nice girl,” Minccino says as Espeon ends the conversation.
“Are you all done chattering? It's time to start class.” An unknown voice booms from the front of the classroom.
Frogadier squeals as he turns towards the source of the voice, “W-what the hell?!” he musters out as he stares towards the podium at the front of the classroom.
“You can call me Mr. Venusaur. I'm your homeroom teacher,” Venusaur explains to the class. “Now, find your seats.”
“When did he get in here?” Joltik asks.
“Probably whilst you were sleeping,” Porygon responds. His voice, though monotone, gives a hint of snarkiness.
“I said to find your seats!” Venusaur stomps one foot on the ground. As he does so, the windows open up suddenly. Dozens of vines shoot into the room, snatching up the students and lifting them into the air.
“Wah!,” Aipom yelps. “What's happening!?”
“AHHH I DON’T WANNA DIE!,” Frogadier screams.
“THAT WAS A CHEAP SHOT!,” An angry, orange student shouts.
“UNHAND ME!,” A sleazy, reptilian student yells.
The vines slam the students down into different seats. The arrangement makes it clear that there must have been a premade seating chart.
“My butt hurts…,” Aipom complains after being slammed down into his chair.
“Let me cut straight to the point,” Venusaur says bluntly. “I'm not going to be taking it easy on you while you're in my class. You're in high school now, I'm not going to coddle you. Especially with what kind of school this is.”
“Wasn't expecting the first day of class to be this intense…” Buizel says under his breath.
“No talking while I'm talking,” Venusaur demands.
“Y-yes sir!,” Buizel shouts as he straightens his back.
“Moving on,” Venusaur continues. “You all already know that this school is one of the best high schools in the country. Students who graduate from Maple Hill Academy have the highest success rate in any field they choose to enter. But we choose to do more than that.”
“More than practically guaranteed success?,” Tinkaton asks.
“Yes,” Venusaur answers. “The main goal of Maple Hill Academy is not only to prepare you for college or whatever trade job you go into. We also aim to cultivate and strengthen the natural abilities and powers that you students are born with, otherwise known as your ‘Perks’.”
“Why is it that we must strengthen our Perks?,” Porygon questions.
“Because,” Venusaur begins to answer. Before he can get the rest of the sentence out, an unfamiliar man kicks the door open.
“Because the more you familiarize yourself with the limits of your Perks, the more options you'll have for the future!” The man says.
“Uh, who is this guy?” A purple student asks.
“Call me Mr. Chesnaught!,” he exclaims. “I'm your gym teacher! Also, the football coach. Go Magikarps!”
“I guess it is about that time,” Venusaur says, looking at the clock. “Everyone get your gym gear ready. It's time to see what you can do.”