"Poliwag! Thank goodness, I've been looking for you everywhere."
Poliwag jumped into the girl's arms. "Did you help me find it? Thank you so much!"
"Teacher!"
Just then, four children about Max's age ran over. Three of them had a Magby, a Pidgey, and a Rattata, while the last boy had no Pokémon. Poliwag must be his partner.
"Did you find Poliwag?" said the boy with the Magby.
"That's great, Kouta! You don't have to worry anymore!" The girl with the Pidgey walked toward the boy without a Pokémon.
"Don't let it get away next time, Kouta!" The boy grumbled harshly. "Because of you, everyone's class was interrupted."
"I-I'm sorry," Kouta said, lowering his head in shame.
"Why are you talking to him like that?" The girl started to defend Kouta. "You know Kouta is afraid of Pokémon and doesn't dare to get close to them with his hands!"
"That's enough! Can you two please stop arguing?" The girl, who was their teacher, tried to break up the fight with a serious expression.
"Yes, ma'am." The two immediately backed down.
"Kouta, I'll be taking Poliwag back now," she said, walking up to Kouta and patting his head. "You don't need to cry. I know you're trying very hard. Alright, everyone, let's head back to the Pokémon Trainer's School!"
Ash and his friends introduced themselves and learned that the Pokémon Trainer's School was a place where kids learned various things about Pokémon.
"Wow, this is amazing! Big sister, I really want to visit. Can we?" (?) Max was very interested and started to whine to May.
"Um... you're asking me all of a sudden... I..." May looked awkwardly at Ash.
"No problem! Let's go visit. A Gym battle isn't something to rush into, anyway. And I feel like the Gym Leader might be busy, right, Gym Leader Roxanne?" Ash said, looking at the teacher.
"Oh my! You recognized me! Are you here for a Gym battle?" Roxanne replied with a smile.
"Yes, I am!" Ash nodded.
"Wha— Roxanne is a Gym Leader?!" Everyone was shocked.
"Yes, but I'm quite busy right now. Before your Gym battle, would you like to visit our school?" Roxanne invited them.
"Yay! That's awesome!" (≧▽≦)~ Max jumped for joy.
Ash's group followed Roxanne to the Pokémon Trainer's School. Roxanne took the four kids back to their classroom, and the principal personally greeted Ash and his friends.
"I can't believe you two are the children of the Petalburg Gym Leader!" The principal greeted them warmly, then opened the door to a classroom. "Come see the school I'm most proud of! This is the class for students who want to become Pokémon Professors!"
"Ugh, I want to see the beginner class!" Max protested (+1).
They then came to another classroom. The principal introduced it. "This is the class that specializes in Pokémon Contests."
"Pokémon Contests!" (?) May stopped in her tracks.
"I want to see the beginner class!" Max protested (+2).
Next was a specialty class, where they were watching a battle between a Typhlosion and a Feraligatr.
"Ugh! I want to see Teacher Roxanne's beginner class!" Max finally couldn't take it anymore.
"Oh, my bad, I forgot all about it! This way," the principal said with a smile, not at all angry, and led Max away.
When Ash and his friends arrived at the classroom, they heard a familiar voice. "And that's how it is. Now you know there are all kinds of Pokémon, right?"
"Yes!" It was Professor Oak giving the children a video lecture.
"Hi, Professor Oak! Long time no see! I can't believe we'd meet like this!" Ash and Brock greeted him.
"Here at the Pokémon Trainer's School, we've invited Professor Oak to teach our classes via video call," Roxanne explained proudly.
"Ah! Ash! Brock! It's been a while! Ash, the favor you asked me for has been completed, but please let me study that Pokémon of yours for a bit longer!" Professor Oak said to Ash, then looked at a very excited and trembling Max. "You must be Max! It's a pleasure to meet you!"
"Really? Thank you, Professor!" Ash said gratefully.
"Ah... that... I..." Max was so excited he couldn't speak.
"Haha! Don't be nervous!" Professor Oak laughed heartily. "By the way, Ash, did you finish your Gym battle? Who won?"
"No, Professor, we haven't had the Gym battle yet," Roxanne said. She then turned to Ash. "Ash, I'll be teaching here until tomorrow. Could we have your Gym battle the day after tomorrow?"
"No problem!" Ash agreed with a nod.
"Roxanne, make sure you and Ash have a battle with no regrets!" Professor Oak said, turning to the kids. "Alright, goodbye, everyone! Go out there and catch some Pokémon!"
As Professor Oak was about to hang up, Max finally calmed down and shouted, "Professor Oak, I've read all the books you've written, and I listen to your Pokémon radio lectures, so... so I have a lot of respect for you!" Max looked at Professor Oak with determination.
"The honor is mine. Thank you, Max!" Professor Oak smiled and nodded at Max before hanging up.
Afterward, there was a knowledge quiz for the kids, and Ash and his friends were given the chance to observe classes for the day.
May went to the Contest class, Max to the beginner class, and Ash went to the specialty class to get some points before helping Kouta in the beginner class and chasing off Team Rocket. It was a very fulfilling day!
All the experience gave Ash's Pokémon a huge boost in strength. Both Taillow and Phanpy advanced to Mid-Elite-Level!
"Ash, I'm really looking forward to our battle tomorrow! I'll be giving it my all!" Roxanne said to Ash.
"Me too!"
That evening, Ash and his friends were eating dinner.
May made a big announcement. "Everyone, I've decided to give up on Gym battles and focus on Contests."
Ash and Brock both showed their support, but Max was the one who took it the hardest.
"What?! You're going to specialize in Contests, big sister? You finally became a Pokémon Trainer, and now you're not going to do Gym battles? You could be like Ash and do both!" Max said, both disbelieving and sad.
"I don't have the energy to do both like Ash, and I really like Contests more. Ash, thank you. When I first started traveling, I wasn't very close to Pokémon, but now I love them so much," May said, her eyes shining.
"It's okay, Max! Everyone has their own goals. We should support May in her decision!" Ash said with a smile. "May, being a Pokémon Coordinator isn't easy. You have to work really hard!"
"I will! I'll work hard! Thank you for your support. Max, you have to cheer for me too!" May said with a happy smile.
"Of course, I will!"
Afterward, Ash went to the Pokémon Center to swap out his Pokémon to prepare for the Gym battle the next day.
To be continued...