Alliances

"Well, good morning Ian! Ain't it a fine day today?"

"Nu-Nuzleaf?!" Ian exclaimed.

Ian had woken up as usual for another day of school when he heard noises coming from the other room. To his surprise to find Nuzleaf, who had finally returned.

"How've you been? Did ya miss me?" Nuzleaf asked.

"Not really, I kinda have a lot of things on my mind lately, I forgot that you left." Ian replied, smiling nervously.

Nuzleaf was taken back by that brutally honest reply.

"Is that so huh...? Well... Alright then. Anyway, have you remembered anything about your past?"

"If snarky comments and making girls cry were from my human life, then yeah..." He mumbled.

"What did you say?"

"Oh! Um..., no, I still don't remember anything unfortunately."

"Well, that's a shame..." Nuzleaf said. "Anyway, I think you should head off to school right about now."

Ian nodded and got himself ready, after having breakfast he grabbed his bag and headed for the door.

"Hey, where did you get that bag from?" Nuzleaf asked.

"Kangaskhan gave it to me." Ian replied.

"Kangaskhan?" Nuzleaf said in surprise. "Well that's awfully nice of her. Well, you best get going now! Don't wanna be late for school and all!"

"Right, bye Nuzleaf!" He said, waving his hand to Nuzleaf as he headed out of the house, ready for another day at school.

"Hey! I just realised something!" Pancham exclaimed.

The rest of the class turned to face the panda Pokemon to hear what he had to say.

"Where did Ian come from anyway?"

The class thought about it, and noticed that nobody actually knew.

"Yeah, that is a good question!" Shelmet said.

"I'm rather curious myself..." Deerling said. "I doubt that you're actually Mr Nuzleaf's kid..."

"Huh, I actually never asked." Patience said, to Ian's surprise. Does she honestly really care about it? Or is she just saying it for the hell of it. Not wanting to seem so isolated from the rest of the class.

"Wait, don't tell me..." Pancham said. "Don't tell me you're from Lively Town?!"

The whole class reacted in surprise at that possibility. A child that came from the town to the east? That seemed too farfetched to be true.

"Wow, Lively Town! We got us a city folk here! So sophisticated!" Shelmet mockingly said.

"Wa-wait! I never said anything like that!" Ian defended. To be honest, he didn't know HOW was he going to tell the rest of the class where he actually came from. It was something none of them might not even believe.

"Then WHERE did you come from then Ian? Another continent? Hah! Don't be ridiculous!"

No point lying. Ian thought, it's not like he has any other choice.

"Well... You see... I come from a place where none of you are most likely expecting." He vaguely said.

"Well...?! Don't just stop there! Tell us!" Pancham demanded.

"I'm from... the human world."

The whole class stood silent, processing what Ian had just said.

"S-say that again one more time...?!" Patience asked.

"I'm from the human world." Ian said again.

"Wh-WHAAAAAATTTTT?!" The class yelled.

"Y-you...?! A human?!" Shelmet exclaimed.

"B-but you're clearly a Pokemon right now! Mudkip and everything!" Deerling exclaimed.

"I do find it hard to believe..." Espurr said.

Yeah..., that probably didn't went well. Ian thought. Then again, it wasn't surprising everyone finds it hard to believe his story.

"Heh heh, AHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!" Pancham started laughing.

"What are you laughing at?" Ian asked.

"Oh, it's nothing... It's just that I haven't heard a very bad lie in a long time!"

"Wh-what...?!"

"I mean seriously! Who would believe such nonsense! We all know humans only exist in myths and children's stories!"

Ian gulped nervously, when he put it that way, there was no way he could prove that he really was a human.

"But what would Ian gain by telling such a lie?" Espurr stated. "It just seems illogical."

Thank you, Espurr! Ian thought, at least someone can sort of understand.

"Does it matter? Ian is nothing more than big fat liar!" Pancham said.

"Ring-ding ring-ding ring-ding"

It was the class bell. And immediately after that, Farfetche'd walked into the class.

"Alright everyone, class is about to begin!" He announced.

"Mr. Farfetch'd!" Pancham yelled. "Ian is telling lies!"

"Wait what?! But I didn't-"

"Huh...? Lies...?" Farfetch'd asked confusingly, not fully understanding the situation.

"B-but I was-!"

"And what if he wasn't lying?"

The class all turned right and saw Simipour, who had heard the entire thing.

"How can any of us really tell if Ian is really lying or not?" He continued.

"But Principal Simipour!" Pancham protested. "You know there's no such thing as humans! They're nothing more than fairy tales!"

"Can YOU prove that he wasn't a human? Any evidence to back your claim?"

Pancham had nothing to say, and decided to remain silent.

"We live in a big world, where anything can happen. Maybe Ian was a human, maybe he wasn't, who's for us to say? But if we take the effort to look at things from another angle, we might see things differently then we were before."

The class remained silent, honestly thinking Principal Simipour wasn't even talking about the same thing. But they were in no room to object.

"Change your reality, and the perspective changes!" He concluded. "Mr Farfetch'd, I'll leave the class to you!"

"Oh! Um... Yes, sir!" He said. "Alright children, let's start another wonderful day of learning!"

"Yes, sir!" The class exclaimed.

Ian breathed a sigh of relief, that honestly could have gone a lot worse than expected.

"Alright students! Class is about to begin!" Vice Principal Watchog announced.

The class all gathered around the field to begin another lesson of Basic Dungeon Skills.

"Today, we got a few special guests for today's lesson. I would like to introduce you our local sheriffs Officer Magnezone, Magneton and Magnemite!"

Sheriffs huh? So they must be the law enforcement around here. Ian thought.

"Wow! Real sheriffs!" Goomy exclaimed.

"I've never seen a real sheriff before!" Shelmet said.

"BZZT HELLO STUDENTS! WE ARE PLEASED TO BE HERE TODAY!" Magnezone said.

"Today, you'll be learning how to use Alliances." Watchog said.

The class looked at each other in confusion, not knowing what he meant.

"Alliances?" Ian asked.

"Correct, in dungeons, you're bound to face enemies that are just too powerful for one person. But with the help of an Alliance, you can be able to take down a powerful foe in no time!"

Ian sort of get what he was saying, the rest of the class were still clueless however.

"Allow our sheriffs to demonstrate." Watchog said.

"ARE YOU SURE ABOUT THIS?" Magnezone asked. "THIS WOULD PROBABLY NOT END WELL FOR YOU."

"You're speaking with a professional here!" Watchog exclaimed.

"VERY WELL THEN." Magnezone said. "COMMENCING AN ALLIANCE."

The three sheriffs suddenly glowed brightly. And shortly afterwards the light extinguished and suddenly multiple burst of electricity came raining down on Watchog. Causing him to fall to the ground.

"Vice Principal!" The class exclaimed.

Watchog got up, coughing and wheezing from the attack.

"I'm- I'm fine!" He reassured. "What matters is that you took notice how they were able to coordinate so well without even uttering a single word. Now! Time for three of you to try it out yourself! Ian, Patience and Espurr!"

Ian, Patience and Espurr stepped forward. Ian looking over at the fire fox Pokemon, but she didn't return the look.

"The three of you will surround me!" Watchog ordered. As the three formed a triangle formation around Watchog.

"Now, I want you to say out loud the move you'll be using to perform the Alliance!" He ordered.

Ian went first.

"Wa-water Gun!"

"Ember." Patience said

"Confusion." Espurr said.

Suddenly a burst of light emerged from all three of them.

"Woah! What the heck?!" Ian exclaimed.

"Relax, it's part of the Alliance." Watchog explained. Which still made Ian uncomfortable. "Now, why not do the honors?"

"Honors sir?" The mudfish Pokemon asked.

"You'll be the one to tell everyone when to attack." Watchog said.

Ian nodded and saw Patience and Espurr, who were readying themselves.

"All right! We'll attack on the count to three!" He yelled. "1, 2, 3!"

The burst of light dispersed and Ian released a surge of water from his mouth, hoping it hits. He saw Patience's Ember and Espurr's Confusion hitting Watchog, and his Water Gun finishing it off. Watchog nearly lost his balance, but was able to stay on his feet.

"Good... job...!" He said, feeling dizzy.

"Are you alright Vice Principal Watchog?" Espurr asked.

"Ye-yes, I'll be fine. You're talking to your illustrious Vice... Principal..."

Watchog collapsed to the ground due to his injuries. To the surprise of the class sheriffs.

"V-Vice Principal!" The class yelled

School was dismissed early today.

Vice Principal Watchog's injuries were too severe, and had to be treated by Audino. Who said he had to stay at home for a day or two to rest. While everyone else to be honest didn't feel bad about Watchog's absence for a few days, Ian was actually surprise by how even mere water was so strong when used properly.

"Who knows, I could shooting ice out of my ass one day." He said to himself.

As he reached the village plaza, he noticed a couple of Pokemon gathering around at the village entrance. He decided to see what was going on. Carracosta, Lombre, Hippopotas were discussing about something.

"So? Did you see it?" Carracosta asked.

"Yeah, I saw it, looks like it has finally begun." Lombre replied.

Confused, Ian decided to enter the conversation and ask.

"Um... What are you guys talking about?"

The three turned to face Ian.

"Oh, why if isn't Ian." Carracosta said. "Honey season has begun over at Nectar Meadow."

"Honey season?" He asked.

"Many Combees and Beedrills gather at Nectar Meadow to make honey. It's the best honey you'll ever taste!" Lombre explained.

"Vat I would do just to get myself some honey! Hippopotas said. "Ze mere thought of it makes me want to jump!"

You? Jumping? Ian thought.

"Um, can I get some honey now?"

Everyone turned around to see a small green Pokemon standing before them.

"Budew, Roselia's little one." Carracosta said. "No, you can't have some yet. For the Combees and Beedrills are still making them at Nectar Meadow."

"Why do you even want to get some anyway?" Lombre asked.

"My mother..." Budew said. "She's been pretty sick lately, always feeling tired and dizzy."

"I see... Well rest assured I'll make sure you can get some honey for her when the honey season is over."

Budew nodded and decided to go back home. As did the other Pokemon, who had other things to do. Ian walked up to Carracosta.

"Hey, uh, Carracosta?" Ian said.

"Hmm? What is it Ian?" He asked.

"There's something I need to ask." He said.

"Something about Patience."