Young Writers Society

Darren rolled his eyes at his friend’s silliness, and though he tried not to, he smiled. Tyler was the kind of person who made it his life’s mission to spread smiles, laughter or both wherever he went. Darren thought he would have been better suited to a life as an Azumarill, but then he remembered the Axew’s occasional fit of temper. In those cases, his Dragon lineage was resoundingly clear.

‘So,’ Darren said, trying to steer the conversation onto a topic with at least a semblance of relevance, ‘what do you think Mr Kaori wants us to do today?’

‘Really, Darren?’ Tyler asked, lifting his arm back over Aiden’s shoulder and dropping it to his side. ‘His class is down the corridor and to the right. What good will speculations do you when we’re going to find out in less than a minute anyway?’

It seemed the Dragon was adamant on avoiding any subject related to school if he was in the mood for being random, which, unfortunately, happened to be his current one. But after having that thought, Darren realised he was starting to think like Minerva, and that was disconcerting. He didn’t want to be a wet blanket in a teacup!

‘It does the same amount of good as Wailord quotes,’ he responded matter-of-factly, ‘which is to say, no good at all. It’s just something we do to pass the time.’

He scowled upon realising that was almost exactly what Minerva would have said (and that after just contaminating a couple of figurative expressions). Sitting more than two seats away from him in no classes but Mr Van der Brunnen’s, she was having too great an influence on him. Darren resolved to do something about it, but what he would decide later.

‘You know, like most teachers, Mr Kaori follows a pattern,’ Aiden pointed out. ‘Every second Giraday starts with an hour of intermittent exercises, followed by sparring matchups into pairs. Though it’s not that obvious, it’s still an easy pattern to notice.’

‘I… did not,’ Tyler said, afterwards smacking his forehead with the palm of his right hand. If Darren had been capable, he would have done the same.

Once they arrived at Mr Kaori's class, the Throh teacher, being his usual Hasty self, wasted no time in proving Aiden's explanation correct.

'Ah, my top student has arrived!' Mr Maori looked at Darren and Tyler. 'Err, hello boys.' He adjusted his stance so he looked at the trio equally. 'Now, you three know what to do, so make like an Excadrill and follow the usual routine. But today, you will be using only Physical moves. Aiden will one day grow up to be a big, strong Arcanine that will sweep many teams with Flare Blitz - if your team has removed all of your possible checks and if you are prepared for any surprises like wild Mothims in your Berry bushes, of course - so using Physical moves will be like a second Adamant Nature to him.

'Tyler, you too are more Physical than Special (but take that from a Battle perspective, not a philosophical one), so you will also enjoy tackling the Snorlax plushies lined up against the wall over there. Darren, you will probably enjoy this the least, but I'm sure you will still have fun. Maybe a bit more if your mother bought you more wild Farfetch'ds, eh?'

The Throh laughed and patted his leg, but when nobody else did, he abruptly stopped. Darren looked down at his legs and to the back at his haunches. While he wasn't as fit as Aiden, he definitely wasn't lanky or skinny.

'I mean this only as a joke, of course,' Mr Kaori offered. 'You have my apologies if I have offended you. But enough of listening to me! If you let me continue taking nonsense, the period will be over,' he snapped his fingers, 'like that. Go! Tackle the overweight dolls! Make them feel like becoming Shuppets and haunting you!'

'Those are Banette , sir,' Darren said.

'They are those Ghosts with the zipper mouths, yes?'

'Yes, sir.'

'Then make that Snorlax want to become a Banette! He is taunting you; he does not think you can do it.'

Darren looked at the inanimate plushy. 'I don't think I actually can, sir, but I'll-'

'Aiden and Tyler have already charged at the fat cats, but not you. You chat with me. Leave the banter and go!'

Darren shrugged and gathered his electricity. He would ordinarily have objected to charging at a wall, but a plushie was better than an Aggron or something like that, so he supposed he had it easy.