Ariel felt a rush of exhilaration as she stepped outside Noah’s training hall. The sun had dipped low in the sky, casting a warm glow over the village, and her heart raced with anticipation.

She had been selected as a sponsored trainer! But along with the thrill came a nagging anxiety about how her family and friends would react. Would they be proud of her? Would they understand the significance of this opportunity?

The moment she entered this world, she had been eager to prove herself, and now, the moment was finally here. Every training session, every battle she’d fought had led to this chance, and it felt surreal.

As she hurried home, thoughts of her brother, Kai, and her parents filled her mind. What would they say? Would they embrace her success, or would they share in the skepticism that lingered in the air? She couldn’t help but recall the whispers she had overheard during her time in the village—those murmurs of doubt that clung to her like a shadow.

When she reached the modest Rivers' household, her mother was the first to notice her. Selene stood at the door, her silhouette framed by the soft light spilling from within. The look on her mother’s face shifted from worry to relief as Ariel ran up the steps.

“Ariel! There you are! We were just about to come look for you!” Selene exclaimed, pulling her daughter into a warm embrace. “You’re back earlier than I expected. How did your meeting go?”

“It went really well, Mom!” Ariel said, her voice bubbling with excitement. “Noah accepted me as a sponsored trainer!”

Selene’s eyes widened, a radiant smile breaking across her face. “That’s amazing, sweetheart! I knew you could do it!” She pulled back to look at her daughter, her gaze searching for signs of doubt. “Tell me everything!”

As Ariel excitedly recounted her experience with Noah, her mother listened intently, nodding in encouragement. When Ariel finished, Selene’s pride was palpable. "Your father will be thrilled to hear this!" she said, glancing into the house. "Aron! Come quick! Ariel has something wonderful to share!"

Aron appeared in the doorway, his round glasses slightly askew. “What’s this? What has our little girl accomplished?” he asked, a hint of playful curiosity in his voice.

“I’m a sponsored trainer now, Dad!” Ariel said, her grin unstoppable. “Noah believes in me and wants to help me improve!”

Aron’s eyes sparkled with pride. “That’s fantastic, Ariel! I always knew you had it in you! This is just the beginning.” He hugged her tightly, and Ariel felt a swell of warmth, knowing her parents believed in her.

But as Ariel’s gaze shifted toward the doorway, she noticed her brother, Kai, standing there—silent and still. His expression wasn’t one of joy or pride but something more complex, a mix of surprise, frustration, and hurt.

Ariel's stomach knotted. She approached Kai, her grin fading. “Kai? What do you think? Isn’t it great?”

Kai’s lips twitched into a forced smile, but his eyes betrayed him. “Yeah... great,” he said, his voice strained. “I’m happy for you.”

Ariel could tell something was off, but before she could say anything, Kai turned and walked back into the house without another word.

Kai’s heart felt heavy as he moved into the house. He wanted to be happy for his sister—he had even pushed her to go to Noah in the first place—but deep down, a bitter jealousy gnawed at him. Ever since he had started his training, he had dreamed of being a sponsored trainer. He had worked tirelessly with his Floatzel, perfecting every move, every strategy. Yet, despite his efforts, Noah had turned him down. Kai had walked into that training hall with hope and walked out with nothing but disappointment.

And now, Ariel—his little sister—had succeeded where he had failed. With a Magikarp, no less.

Kai clenched his fists, his mind swirling. How could this happen? He had always been the stronger one, the more experienced one, yet Ariel, with her awkward, flopping Magikarp, had outdone him.

A part of him felt ashamed for feeling this way. After all, he had wanted her to succeed. He had pushed her to chase this dream. But now that she had, he couldn’t help the jealousy that bubbled up inside him.

As the family sat down for dinner, Kai remained quiet, his mind elsewhere. He knew he had to be supportive. Ariel deserved this, but the sting of rejection still throbbed.

Later that evening, the family stepped outside to greet their neighbors, who had gathered to hear the news. The villagers offered warm smiles and congratulatory remarks, but Ariel could sense the skepticism behind some of their eyes.

“She’s a sponsored trainer now?” one villager whispered to another, their tone a mixture of disbelief and curiosity.

“With a Magikarp?” another added, barely containing their surprise. “Noah must really believe in her, or maybe he just feels sorry for the girl.”

Ariel winced at the words, trying her best to smile through the sting. The village had always been supportive in their own way, but now she could feel the weight of their doubt pressing down on her.

“She’s just a kid,” an older woman whispered to her companion. “And starting with a Magikarp... well, she’s got her work cut out for her.”

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A group of younger trainers stood by, exchanging glances. One of them, a boy named Trent, crossed his arms and smirked. “We’ll see how long she lasts. A Magikarp isn’t exactly the best start.”

But as Ariel endured the villagers' comments, her heart lifted when she saw Isla, her closest friend, hurrying toward her. Isla’s face lit up with genuine excitement.

“Ariel! You’re back!” Isla exclaimed. “I heard the news! Noah is sponsoring you? That’s amazing!”

Ariel felt a rush of relief at her friend’s words. “Thanks, Isla! I’m so excited!”

Isla beamed. “I always knew you could do it! You’ve got so much potential.”

But even as Isla’s support warmed her heart, Ariel couldn’t help but notice the undercurrent of doubt that rippled through the crowd. The whispers, the skeptical glances—they were reminders that, in the eyes of many, she still had to prove herself.

As they walked back into the house later that night, Ariel glanced at Kai, her heart heavy. “Are you really okay with this?” she asked quietly.

Kai hesitated, his gaze distant. “I want to be,” he admitted. “But it’s hard, Ariel. I trained so hard with Floatzel. I thought... I thought I’d be the one Noah would pick. Not you. Not with a Magikarp.”

Ariel bit her lip, unsure of what to say. She knew how much Kai had wanted this, how much it meant to him. “I didn’t mean to—”

“I know,” Kai interrupted, his voice softening. “I know you didn’t. And I’m proud of you, I really am. But it still hurts, okay?”

Ariel nodded, her heart aching for her brother.

“We’re both going to make it,” she said firmly. “I’ll show them I’m not just a charity case, and you’ll show them how strong you and Floatzel are. We’ll do it together.”

Kai looked at her, his expression softening just a bit. “Yeah,” he said, though there was still a trace of doubt in his voice. “Together.”

Ariel awoke the next morning with the sun streaming through her window, casting warm rays over her makeshift room. The reality of her new sponsorship with Noah still felt surreal, a dream she hadn’t quite grasped yet. Her heart raced with excitement and nerves as she swung her legs over the side of the bed, her bare feet grazing the cool wooden floor.

Today was the day everything changed.

With a determined grin, she hurriedly dressed and slipped into her shoes. She couldn’t forget to pack a small bag for her Pokémon—her Magikarp and Feebas were counting on her, just as much as she was counting on them. She filled a small pouch with some berries she had gathered from the garden the day before, hoping they would help during their training.

Once ready, she dashed downstairs, where the smell of breakfast wafted through the air. Selene stood at the stove, stirring a pot of steaming oatmeal while Aron read the morning paper at the table. Kai was already at the table, digging into his breakfast with the enthusiasm of a young trainer preparing for his own journey.

“Good morning, Ariel!” Kai beamed, his mouth full. “Are you excited for your training?”

“More than you know!” Ariel replied, her heart racing with anticipation. “I can’t wait to start training!”

“That’s great!” he said, eyes sparkling

Selene glanced over her shoulder, a knowing smile playing on her lips. “Make sure you eat a good breakfast, Ariel. You’ll need the energy.”

As Ariel settled down at the table, she felt the familiar warmth of her family surrounding her, their support infusing her with courage. She devoured her oatmeal, each bite fueling her determination for the day ahead.

Once breakfast was done, she set out towards Noah’s training grounds, her heart pounding with both excitement and nerves. The village was waking up, trainers and Pokémon bustling about. She passed the market, where vendors shouted about their fresh catches, and waved at a few villagers who recognized her.

When she finally reached Noah’s training area, she spotted him leaning against a tree, a smirk playing on his lips as he watched her approach. “You’re late,” he said, though she could see a hint of amusement in his eyes.

“Just getting ready!” she retorted, out of breath from the sprint. “What’s first on the agenda?”

“First, we’ll assess your Pokémon’s skills,” Noah replied, motioning for her to release them. “Show me what you’ve got.”

Ariel took a deep breath and released Magikarp and Feebas from their Poké Balls. Both Pokémon flopped onto the small artificial Lake, looking up at her with eager eyes. “Okay, you two! Let’s show Noah what we can do!”

“Your first task is simple,” Noah instructed, his tone serious. “I want you to demonstrate their moves in a coordinated attack. Let’s see if you can work together.”

Ariel nodded, her heart pounding. “Magikarp, use Splash! Feebas, follow up with Water Gun!”

Magikarp flopped energetically into the air, creating a splash of water as it landed back down. Feebas swam in a graceful arc, directing a stream of water towards the splashing fish. However, the timing was off; Feebas's attack landed moments after Magikarp’s splash, resulting in a chaotic spray of water that barely reached Noah.

Noah crossed his arms, an eyebrow raised. “Hmm. That was... interesting. But not effective. Let’s try that again, shall we?”

Ariel flushed with embarrassment but nodded resolutely. “Okay! We can do better! Magikarp, this time I want you to Splash towards Feebas! Feebas, prepare to shoot your Water Gun at the height of the splash!”

With renewed determination, she called out the commands again. Magikarp leaped into the air, this time aiming its splash directly at Feebas, who expertly shot a stream of water at the crest of the jump. The resulting spray arced beautifully, soaking the ground around Noah and causing him to blink in surprise.

“Better!” Noah said, a hint of approval in his voice. “But it’s still a bit rough. You need to work on your timing. Coordination between trainers and their Pokémon is crucial.”

“I understand,” Ariel replied, feeling the fire of determination ignite within her. “Let’s keep practicing!”

Noah nodded, and they continued to run through various moves, challenging each other and refining their techniques. Ariel felt herself growing more confident with each attempt, her bond with Magikarp and Feebas strengthening with every coordinated attack.

After several hours, they took a break, both trainer and Pokémon panting with exhaustion. Noah leaned against a tree, “You’ve done good work today, but this is just the beginning. We’ll work on your battling skills, strategy, and even your mindset. There’s much more to learn, and it won’t be easy.”

Ariel took a deep breath, relishing the warmth of the sun and the sense of accomplishment swelling in her chest. “I’m ready for whatever you throw at me! I won’t give up!”

“Good,” Noah replied, a hint of a smile breaking through his stern demeanor. “Because if you want to succeed in this world, that’s the attitude you need.”

As the sun began to set, casting golden rays across the training ground, Ariel felt a sense of hope blossoming within her. With Noah’s guidance and the support of her family, she was ready to face whatever challenges lay ahead on her journey as a trainer.