The Pokémon Center had quickly become a sanctuary to Basil. It was a familiar sight from both his life before and his life now. The sheer unconditional support and feeling of being safe the place offered him was enough to bring a smile creeping onto his face.
It was this feeling of safety that stood between Basil and absolutely freaking out, as he found himself being stared down by the local gym leader. Her deep brown eyes seem to drill a hole into Basil, who shifted nervously on the lobby chair he had found himself on. Her face was set in a stony expression, making it impossible to read her intentions.
“Was… was there something I could do for you Miss Gym Leader?” Basil finally managed to choke out.
His mind was racing around like a Dodrio hopped up on Carbos. Did he say something wrong in the interview? Then why wait to confront him now, in the Pokémon Center? Surely this was too public a location. Shit, did she know about his meta-knowledge? Could she have pulled his search history from the library PC? Was he going to Pokémon Jail? Shipped off to a remote lab?
Basil’s eyes shifted towards the door of the Pokémon Center. If he ran now, with some element of surprise, he could probably make it out the door. Rock types weren’t renowned for their speed, but it would be foolish to assume a master of the type didn’t have ways to get around that weakness. A distraction then? Or he could play dumb and deny every-
“I believe I owe you an apology -”
“I don’t know what you’re talking about!”
An awkward silence settles, as out of the corner of his eye Basil spots Martha behind the counter raising a single eyebrow in question.
Roxanne blinks, before continuing on. “Ah, I was referring to our meeting earlier today regarding your new ID. I had meant to inquire about how you would support yourself going forward given your lack of any Pokémon or… job references, shall we say? Have you found any employment? I realize it has only been only a short time, but I hope you are not feeling pressured into anything… unsavory to make ends meet.”
Taking a few deep breaths, Basil tries to regain his composure.
“No, no I’m not employed at the moment. I submitted a few applications online at the library, but to be honest I don’t think they’re likely to pan out.” Basil paused to scratch at his neck nervously. “Like you said, I’m not exactly swimming in references.”
“That’s wonderful!” Roxanne exclaims, pushing her hands together.
“It’s… It’s really not.” Basil retorts dryly, the last of his nerves being chased off.
“Ah, but it is!” she continues unperturbed “You see, I have a proposal that will solve a few of our problems in one go.” Saying this she passes over a small stack of papers. A contract, Basil identifies as he takes hold and begins to skim through it.
“This is… a job offer?” Basil asks, flicking through the pages at increasing speed. “For me to work as a Teaching Assistant? You remember the bit about me not knowing anything, right?”
“Right!” Roxanne replies brightly “That’s part of the reason I think you would be great for this role. You see, we are in the final months before the start of the next league season. Many young trainers will be embarking on their journeys at this time, including my graduating youth class at the Trainer’s School.”
As Roxanne continued speaking her hand rose into the air, pointing at the ceiling as her voice took on a lecturing tone.
“Now, every year there are the regular jitters and nerves that the graduating students have. If we can provide them a comprehensive revision of what they’ve learnt before they depart on their journeys, I’m sure they will reap the benefits in the field. After all, experience without theory is blind, but theory without experience is mere intellectual play.I want the best for all my students, so if this trial goes well, I may even look at making it a permanent fixture in the curriculum!”
Head whirling at the impromptu lecture, Basil is still able to make a single observation.
“Um… That’s great and all, but you haven’t really told me what exactly I would be teaching these kids?”
Roxanne leans forward, her grin becoming predatory. “I’ve always believed that to understand something fully you must teach it. No, you won’t be teaching them anything. They’ll be teaching you.”
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Walking through the front gate of the Trainer’s School, bright and early the next day, Basil was tempted to see if it was too late to say no to the whole TA thing.
The way Roxanne had explained it, he would essentially be acting as a guinea pig for the class of students to teach the basics of Pokémon. From capture, care and handling, the class would be tasked with “teaching” him the basics.
Stolen novel; please report.
“It’s a bit of a test.” Roxanne had explained “To see how well they’ve learnt the course and how well they can communicate that knowledge.”
Walking through the halls of the school, searching for the classroom he had been directed to Basil had to admit that Roxanne had been right. This solved his money problems for the moment, would help him shore up any glaring gaps in his knowledge and, if what Roxanne had mentioned at the end of their meeting was true, could see him walking out with a Pokémon of his own. Hell, he was even helping out the local Gym Leader, that was a nice feather in his cap.
Knowing this, that this was undoubtedly a good thing, didn’t stop his nerves from creeping back up.
Basil was fine with kids, really he was, but that didn’t mean he was particularly good with them either. Kids, especially in that nebulous 10-13 range, had that dangerous combination of being smart and perceptive enough to notice what you didn’t want them too and then socially oblivious or just plain malicious enough to say it out loud.
Fighting down a shudder, Basil found himself outside of the classroom he had been told to arrive at. Faint voices of children could be heard through the door, too many to make out any one voice clearly. With one last wistful look back the way he came Basil knocks on the classroom door. Immediately the voices inside fall silent. After a moment's wait the door swings open, to reveal a widely smiling Roxanne, who ushers him into the class.
The classroom is pretty simple, rows of desks take up the main bulk of the floor. A large blackboard sits at the front of the class, empty save for a surprisingly good drawing of a sleeping Slakoth in the corner. Tucked in the corner at the front of the room sits a desk, which given the amount of papers, books and a single novelty mug emblazoned with the words “This Teacher ROCKS” likely belonged to Roxanne.
“-who will be helping us with your project. If you’d like to introduce yourself?” Roxanne finishes her speech to the class turning to Basil.
“Right, thank you Ms.Breccia. “ Quickly clearing his throat Basil turns to address the class. “Hello everyone, you can just call me Basil. Like Ms.Breccia mentioned I will be coming in for a period each day to assist with your teaching project. I look forward to learning a lot from all of you.”
Taking a moment to look over the class, Basil was surprised at how all the students seemed to be earnestly paying attention. Then again, Basil was pretty sure he would’ve been a better student himself if they taught you how to train your pet dog to breathe fire in his classes.
Staring at the silent, unnerving students Basil rapidly found himself losing his nerve. Scrambling for something to say, the first thing that comes to mind is…
“So… any questions?”
Judging from Roxanne’s sudden wince, followed by the entire class suddenly doing their best impression of a Loudred, that may have been the wrong thing to say.
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The students had all been more than enthusiastic once their newest project had been issued to them. Whether that was due to wanting to prove and share their passions for Pokémon, or the rare chance to tell an adult what to do remained up for debate.
“No, no, no! You need to put more oomph in it!”
“Yeah, throw it more hard!”
“Aim for where it’s going to be!”
On a field behind the Trainer’s School, most commonly used for practice battles or demonstrations from the teachers, the class of school children were coaching Basil on the proper technique to capture a Pokémon.
One of the students' own Pokémon, a Geodude, hopped around the field making exaggerated gestures. Basil stood alongside several of the students, tossing red rubber balls towards the Geodude, who was avoiding being “caught”.
Throwing his last ball, Basil was dismayed to see that it went wide, again. The disappointed groans of the students made their opinion on his performance pretty clear. As Geodude bounded back towards the students and their guinea pig Basil did his best to be attentive to the students critiquing his throwing technique.
“Alright, I think that’s quite enough of a warm up” Roxanne interjected, teacher voice out in full force and adjusting a tote bag. “Now, we will be taking a trip out to Route 116. You all know the rules, so I trust you’ll behave. No battling until I say so, remember this trip is for you to revise all your practical skills not just battling”
“But Miss!” cried a girl with messy curls and a mischievous grin “Battling is the most important skill! We need to teach Mr.Basil!”
“Well, Sarah. I’m glad to see you taking the initiative. You can show our new TA the basics of trainer battles after our trip. Against me.” Roxanne replied, with a sly smile of her own. “Does that sound good to you?”
“Er… Yes Miss…” came the sheepish reply.
Basil could only chuckle as the class set out, it was reassuring to see that children were largely the same, no matter what world they came from.
The Trainer School and its field backed onto the northern edge of Rustboro city. It took only 10 minutes of walking to reach the start of Route 116. Along the way, Basil had found himself next to a shyer boy from the class, who after some apprehension was happily talking all about Bug types and their habits. Roxanne walked in the center of the group, keeping an eye on the students, her hand lightly resting on the Pokéballs at her waist.
Once on the route proper the students began to release their Pokémon. The young boy next to Basil, who had finally introduced himself as Ari, was happily introducing his Pokémon, a Nincada. The Nincada was comfortably held in Ari’s arms and seemed to buzz happily when it was referred to.
The class drew to a stop, and the students began to go about their own tasks. Some went looking for wild Pokémon, citing an essay they needed information on, while others took the opportunity to train or bond (play) with their Pokémon partners and friends. Roxanne had a fond look, as she turned away from them and approached Basil.
“How are you finding the class so far?” She asked.
Basil took a moment to properly consider the question, watching as Ari and his Nincada went off with a few classmates to investigate a nearby patch of waist high grass.
“They’re good kids, very… enthusiastic. It’s a bit overwhelming to be perfectly honest.” Basil eventually replied. “Are you… are you sure it’s alright for me to be here? Don’t get me wrong I’m very grateful, but is it really a good idea for a total stranger to be around these kids?”
“You’re not a total stranger” Roxanne replied with a roll of her eyes “Solrock vouched for your intentions which is worth more than you realize. From the way you’ve behaved so far today, you’ve given me no reason to doubt you or your intentions.” Roxanne’s hand slowly reached towards one of her Pokéballs, eyes hardening. “Of course if you were to prove… unsuitable for the role I would be more than capable of dealing with you myself.”
“G-Got it,” Basil gulped. Honestly, what did he expect asking a question like that in the first place? “So… uh what should I do now? Go around and talk a bit more? Try and quiz them?”
The hardness leaves Roxanne’s eyes as she rummages through her tote bag “There is a good variety of Pokémon on this route, and none of them should be particularly dangerous. The students will be eager to show you the ropes for dealing with wild Pokémon and it will help calm their own nerves to have you there” Pulling out a case of Pokéballs she passes them to Basil. “It will be difficult for the students to teach you how to care for a Pokémon without one of your own. So, let’s fix that.”