The remainder of Pokemon Biology went by with Coovers still staring at Erin. He was so lost in his infatuation that Oshawott had to take out Coovers' textbook, notebook, and pen from his backpack and put it in front of him on the table so Mr. Jacq wouldn't see Coovers being the only one not having them out. Coovers didn't listen to a word Mr. Jacq said, but whenever Erin said something to add to the lecture, Coovers wrote it down in his notebook as though her word was law. At the end of class, everyone who paid attention filled two pages of their notebooks, while Coovers had filled only about half of a page.

During second period, Coovers was more capable of paying attention to Mr. Rowan's English lecture with Erin not there. Despite that, Coovers listened with a glum face and rested his head with his arm. His friends glanced at him occasionally, astounded by the degree he was crushing on a junior-year girl. When the bell rang, ending second period, Coovers exited the classroom looking at the ceiling, imagining Erin appearing above him like an angel until Sonia grabbed him by his collar.

"Coovers, you're going the wrong way. The staircase for algebra is this way," Sonia said, pointing opposite where Coovers was walking.

"Oh, right. I knew that," Coovers said with a blush and a sheepish grin. "Timbo, you have a different class, right?"

"Yeah, I got ancient history downstairs," Timothy said.

"Alright, how about we meet at the auditorium entrance to sit together at the presentation?" Sonia suggested.

"Sounds like a plan. See you there," Timothy said.

"Pikachu," Electchu said.

"See you there," Coovers said.

"Arf, arf," Yamper barked.

"Oshawott," Oshawott said, waving.

Coovers gave Timothy a wave before following Sonia and their partners while Timothy and Electchu took the stairs to the ground floor. Timothy used his Rotom Phone to open the school map file to look for the ancient history classroom. He walked with intrigue for what he would learn, but simultaneously, his mind was on Coovers' crush on Erin. Reason dictated not to be optimistic about Coovers having a chance with Erin when it was the first day, and she was in her junior year. Still, the extent to which his best friend was infatuated left Timothy wondering if Coovers already had a chance to date in high school.

As Timothy and Electchu took a left down the hall, Timothy kept his eye on his phone until he looked up to see where he was going, and his face fell. Coming in his direction was a slender brown-skinned girl with short purple hair wearing a white and light purple dress. Butterfly wings were coming from the top side of her dress, and she wore white high heels and a dark purple backpack. The purple-haired girl was calling someone on her Rotom Phone as she headed to her next class, but she knew everyone in the hallway was watching her. The boys were bewitched by her beauty, and the girls were jealous of how lovely she looked with her outfit, purple eyeshadow, and long eyelashes. Walking beside the girl was her Kirlia, who walked proudly as though it were a model walking down the red carpet while wearing the same eyeshadow and plastic butterfly wings strapped to its back.

Timothy stared at the girl, just as captivated by the her appearance as the other boys. Unfortunately, he was so entranced that he didn't realize he was walking close to a wall of lockers, where a boy was gathering things from his locker while his Rockruff waited beside him. With his eyes still on the purple-haired girl, Timothy tripped on the boy's Rockruff and fell flat on his face with a thud. Students and Pokemon roared with laughter as Timothy rolled over on his back with his eyes shut and his hands covering his nose. Electchu rushed over to them, asking if he was okay and it's language.

After a few seconds, Timothy opened his eyes and petted Electchu with a smile, trying to hide the pain. He then noticed Kirlia standing next to Pikachu with a subtle frown. Timothy looked above Kirlia and his eyes widened as the purple-haired girl looked down on him in concern.

"Are you okay?" she asked.

Timothy kept staring at the girl for a moment before he realized he was looking for too long and quickly stood up.

"Yeah. Yeah, I'm fine," Timothy said, trying to sound tough. "Just need to walk it off. I will probably forget about it by the end of the day."

Electchu and Kirlia raised their eyebrows, unconvinced by how Timothy had acted a few seconds before. However, the purple-haired girl smiled and put her hand on her heart.

"Well, that's a relief. Would have been sad to see your cute face damaged on the first day of school," she said.

Timothy's face turned red; he looked around as if everything else was the most interesting in the world.

"You think I'm cute?" Timothy asked.

"I do," the girl said before kneeling to pet Electchu. "You and your Pikachu clearly shine together, revealing your adorable spirits."

"Cha," Electchu chirped as the girl scratched behind its ears.

"T-thanks," Timothy said. "Your, uh, your Kirlia is as pretty as you are."

The girl giggled and stood back up to face Timothy.

"Thank you. That's nice of you to say," she said. "Don't let our appearance fool you, though. We are as strong in Pokemon battle as we are beautiful."

"Kirlia," Kirlia boasted in its language.

"Oh, so you must have participated in some Pokemon battle clubs," Timothy said.

"All throughout middle school back in the Paldea region and my first two years here. Me and my bestie made nationals in double battles last year," the girl boasted. "Do you and your Pikachu battle?"

"Oh, uh, yeah, I've done a fair share of Pokemon battles occasionally," Timothy said, trying to act cool. "There's this dweeb with a Vanillite who tends to get humiliated regularly in Pokemon battles back home."

"Pikachu," Electchu said, unamused by Timothy taking credit for Luke's humiliation.

"Is that so? Well, maybe you two would like to join our team this year. Tryouts are after school today," the purple-haired girl said.

"Absolutely. You can count on us to be there," Timothy said. "I'm Timothy, by the way, and my Pikachu's name is Electchu."

"Pikachu," Pikachu said.

The purple-haired girl smirked and said, "Well, Timothy, my name is Tulip, and I'm curious what you and Electchu bring to the table. Come along, Kirlia."

"Kirlia," Kirlia said.

Tulip returned to her phone call as she and Kirlia walked past Timothy and Electchu. Timothy stared at Tulip's direction with a dopey smile even when she took a turn to the nearest staircase and was out of sight, then sighed blissfully. Electchu tugged Timothy's jeans, repeatedly saying "Pika" and "Pikachu" while pointing toward one of the classrooms. It took Timothy a few seconds to realize what his partner was saying and snap out of his lovey-dovey state.

"Right. Class," he said, taking out his Rotom Phone again. We have less than two minutes before the final bell rings, and I don't know about you, but there is no way I would want to miss my first day in ancient -."

Timothy took a few steps down the hall, looking at Electchu until he bumped into something. He stepped back and looked up to see a white-haired boy a foot taller than him standing in front of him. He wore a black jacket with a zigzag pattern on both sides of his jacket, black pants, two white Xs under his knees, white shoes, and sunglasses with a golden frame and one of the glasses bent. The boy looked down on Timothy with dark eyes, a sinister grin, and his hands on his jacket pockets. Standing beside him was an Ariados, who looked at Electchu like a predator eager to attack its prey.

"My, my, my. Timothy Durbin. How nice to see you again so soon," the white-haired boy said.

Timothy looked at the boy in confusion, knowing he had not seen this person or his Pokemon partner until then. He analyzed the boy's appearance and remembered Sonia bringing up a white-haired boy from when they were younger. It took a few seconds for Timothy to process it before he smiled and held his hand up for a high five.

"Guzma, as I live and breathe. How've you been, pal?" he greeted.

"Oh, you know. Ariados and I have been back in Galar for a few years now, living here in Motostoke," Guzma said.

"You've been back in Galar this long? Why haven't you tried to reconnect with Postwick? It's just a train ride and a little walk away?" Timothy asked.

Guzma chuckled deviously and unzipped his jacket.

"Funny you should bring that up, Durbin," he said. "It just so happens that you get the honor of being the first victim of the year."

Timothy grew confused again as Guzma opened his jacket and revealed the words "Timothy Durbin" written on his plain, white T-shirt in washable black marker. Timothy then remembered Alexa and Malva telling him, Coovers, and Sonia about Motostoke High's bully. His eyes widened as he looked up at Guzma, who gave him a sinister grin.

"You're Guzma de la Calavera?" Timothy asked.

"Ah, you've heard of my work already," Guzma said with a lowly chuckle. "Then there's no need to catch up anymore. Is there? We can just skip to our little get together. Ariados?"

Without skipping a beat, Ariados shot multiple white strings from its mouth. The strings tied Timothy and Electchu up into cocoons of strings with only their heads sticking out, and they fell on their backs. Guzma chuckled again as he put his hands in his jacket pocket again and Ariados began dragging Timothy and Pikachu by pulling some of the strings with its mouth. Timothy and Electchu struggled to break free, but the strings were too strong and sticky.

"Guzma, what are you doing? We have to get to our next class," Timothy said.

"Oh, it's not a crime to ditch once in a while, Durbin," Guzma said. "But don't worry. I'll ensure you get to the special presentation at the auditorium. Principal Sordward and Vice Principal Shielbert did say that it's mandatory after all."

"But why are you doing this?" Timothy asked.

Guzma's grin disappeared, and he and Ariados stopped to give Timothy and Electchu dark looks. Guzma leaned toward Timothy with his foot on Timothy's chest, and his hand closed, fighting the urge to punch him square in the face.

"Why am I doing this? The real question should be why I wouldn't do this, Durbin," Guzma said venomously. "Or perhaps you've forgotten how things went down during your 5th birthday party at McGoogles the Frogadier's Pizza Parlor?"

"Seriously? You're hung up on being scared of the animatronics?" Timothy asked.

"Why wouldn't I be?" Guzma asked before looking up and staring at the wall in a daze like a veteran thinking of all the destruction and death he witnessed during a war. "McGoogles and his band popped out from the stage, looking down on us. Brittany the Bewear smiling with her mouth so wide open that she could eat a toddler while playing her banjo. Oswald the Oranguru playing the keytar with his grumpy face sending shivers down my spine. And then McGoogles the Frogadier himself with his wide dead eyes, giant mouth, and holding his bagpipes like he's gonna throw it at you. And just when it couldn't get any scarier, your dad comes in wearing a McGoogles costume, and I wet my pants thinking he's gonna eat me. Everybody at my elementary school called me a scaredy cat until I moved to Alola."

"And that's enough to do whatever you're going to do to me? That's ridiculous," Timothy said. "It's not like my parents invited you to my party, knowing you'd be scared of the animatronics. I was only 5."

"Yeah, well, 7-year-old me would never forgive me if I didn't take the chance to get my revenge, Durbin," Guzma said. "Besides, as far as I'm concerned, you should feel honored for more than being the first victim of the year. You're being bullied for a purpose as opposed to just for the fun of it. You should consider this as therapy in that regard."

Timothy furrowed his brow and shouted, "Electchu, Thunder Shock!"

Sparks came out of Electchu's red cheeks, but before it could attack, Ariados shot white strings from its mouth that covered Electchu's mouth and cheeks. Guzma chuckled and shook his head as he lifted his foot from Timothy and turned around.

"That's okay, Durbin. I'd be disappointed if you didn't try," Guzma said. "Now, let's go. We have two roast beefs to prepare."

Ariados grabbed a piece of string from each cocoon and dragged Timothy and Pikachu again. The long-legged Pokemon carried its victims to the exit, with its partner walking ahead and grinning again with his hands in his jacket pockets. Timothy and Electchu struggled as they were dragged across the school's front yard until Guzma found a man-sized puddle of mud. He chuckled again as he picked Timothy up while Ariados grabbed Electchu with its front legs.

"Now, class, pay close attention because I'm only going to go through the instructions once," Guzma said. "First, you got to dip your roast beef in lots of sauces to marinate it."

Timothy and Electchu wiggled until Guzma and Ariados tossed them into the air and they landed into the pile of mud with a splash. Guzma and Ariados began rolling Timothy and Electchu over until they were covered in mud, like covering hot dogs in batter to make corn dogs. Ariados grabbed Timothy and Pikachu's cocoons by the strings again and dragged them to the east side of the building, where a flock of Pidove was living in a wooden birdhouse. Guzma took a large container of birdseed standing next to the cages and opened the top before turning to Timothy and Electchu.

"Next, you'll want to cover your roast beef with lots of seasoning," he said.

He lifted the container over his head and dumped all the birdseed on Timothy and Electchu. He and Ariados rolled Timothy and Pikachu over again until they were covered in birdseed. Timothy and Electchu squirmed, and Timothy spit mud and birdseed out of his mouth as Ariados dragged its victims to the back of the building, where three dumpsters were standing against the wall. Guzma rubbed his hands before opening the lid of the middle dumpster and then lifting Timothy up again.

"Finally, you put your roast beef in a crock pot, let it sit for a while, and you're done," Guzma said before looking at the rotten food inside. "I hope you like lasagna, Durbin."

"Come on, Guzma. Knock it off, please. You can't keep us trapped in there forever," Timothy said.

Guzma roared with laughter, moving his head back, and Ariados snickered while still carrying Electchu by the string with its mouth.

"Come on, Durbin. I just established that you aren't going to be there forever," Guzma said. After all, I did say you're going to make it to the essembly, and we're going to make sure everyone knows."

******************************************************************

At the end of third period, students, staff, and their Pokemon began going to the auditorium on the ground floor. Freshmen like Sonia and Coovers didn't have to worry about directions, for everyone was going in the same direction. Coovers, Sonia, Oshawott, and Yamper stopped at the auditorium entrance, waiting for Timothy and Electchu. After a few minutes, they grew concerned, thinking their friends would've been there first since Timothy said his third-period class was on the ground floor. Sonia tried to call Timothy, but there was no answer.

"It's not like Timothy to not answer his phone," Sonia said. "Where could he and Electchu be?"

"Maybe he forgot that we're meeting, and he and Electchu are inside right now?" Coovers said.

"Not likely. It was his idea that we meet in front of the auditorium," Sonia said. "I hope they didn't get lost somehow."

Coovers checked the time on his Rotom Phone and said, "Well, I don't think we can wait for them any longer. The presentation could start any minute."

Sonia frowned and looked around again, seeing only a couple dozen students left entering the stadium with their Pokemon. She sighed and reluctantly went inside with Coovers, Oshawott, and Yamper, hoping her best friend and his partner were already inside.

The auditorium was two stories high, with a balcony in the back. Coovers, Sonia, Oshawott, and Yamper, looked around until they found a few empty seats at the back of the auditorium. Yamper sat on Sonia's lap while Oshawott sat in a chair next to Coovers to save a seat for Timothy. Sonia looked around the stadium eagerly as she sat down, but there was no sign of Timothy or Electchu.

The lights grew dim, and the sound of a drumroll was heard through the speakers. Two spotlights on the ceiling turned on, lighting the stage as a tall, slender woman with green eyes and long, blonde wavy hair got on the stage. She wore a long white coat with rolled-up sleeves, a red blouse, a black pencil skirt, sheer gray pantyhose, and matching black high heels. Oleana, the school secretary, looked like it mentally drained her to go on stage and carry out her role.

'Boys and girls and Pokemon of Motostoke High, you know them, you love them, they are descendants of the first kings in Galar's ancient history that make them the face of royalty in our great school. Give it up for Principal Sordward and Vice Principal Shielbert," Oleana said monotonously.

Sordward and Shielbert stepped up to the stage from opposite sides with proud smiles and took a bow. Students and their Pokemon applauded, while Coovers laughed at the principal and vice principal's hairdos, having been too focused on Erin to notice them during their announcement in first period. Other students were trying hard not to laugh, whether they were old students who had not seen Sordward and Shielbert for the past couple of months or were freshmen who were still new to how ridiculous the principal and vice principal looked.

Sordward and Shielbert continued bowing with pleased smirks, relishing in the attention, before they held their hands up for silence, Sordward with his right hand and Shielbert with his left. The auditorium became silent, and Sordward and Shielbert's smirks grew like the students and Pokemon were servants in a palace opening their every whim. Oleana handed them each a microphone, and they cleared their throats.

"Firstly, Vice Principal Shielbert and I would like to thank you all for coming to our first assembly as ordered," he said.

"Following up with that, Superintendent Rose will be visiting to inspect this school this Thursday," Shielbert said. "As such, we are upgrading our policy of zero tolerance of inappropriate behavior to sub-zero tolerance."

"Which, in case you can't figure it out, is more than zero," Sordward added.

Students chuckled at the goofy way the principal and vice principal announced. Coovers and Sonia looked at each other, wondering if Sordward and Shielbert knew about the bullying in school, according to Alexa and Malva. The crowd laughed until Sordward and Shielbert raised their hands again, immediately silencing the auditorium. The auditorium was quiet for several seconds before trumpets, tubas, and drums were heard behind the curtains. Sordward and Shielbert gasped and looked around, pretending to be clueless despite their broad smiles.

"Why, what's that I hear, older brother? The pitter-patter of little feet?" Shielbert asked, holding his hand to his ear.

"Nay, younger brother. It's something far grander," Sordward said. "Draw out the curtains!"

The curtains spread apart to reveal three teenagers in brown and black uniforms with their Pokemon partners standing at the center of the stage and the school's musical band playing behind them. Standing on the left was a tan boy with magenta hair and a Litten beside him. On the right was a pale girl with silver hair and a Torracat beside her. At the center was a tall boy giving the audience a condescending look, and his Incineroar stood behind him, flexing its muscles. The magenta-haired boy and the silver-haired girl gave the audience-friendly waves while the boy at the center looked at the crowd with a frown and his arms crossed in disinterest. The students and their Pokemon watched with intrigue, for they had never seen a trio of a Pokemon's entire evolution in person. Sordward and Shielbert pretended to be surprised with their hands on their cheeks and smiles covering half of their faces.

"Why, it's Motostoke High's brand new Pokemon Baccer team!" Sordward shouted.

"That's right, older brother," Shielbert said. "Three foreign exchange students from Alola are here to be our school's very first Pokemon Baccer team! Their captain is Cross with his mighty Incineroar, and the others are... I actually don't know their names.

"That's alright, younger brother. Their names are unimportant," Sordward said, earning dark looks from Cross's teammates and their Pokemon. "What's important is that they are here to bring our school to glory! Why, all they need is a stadium to play."

The band members, with their tubas and trumpets, stop playing, and the drummers begin a drum roll, putting the crowd in suspense. Oleana came back on stage wearing a brown and black jersey and Scorbunny ears and tail, pushing a model of a Pokemon Baccer stadium on a cart. The stadium model was in the colors of the jerseys with the image of a Scorbunny wearing the school jersey painted on the center of the field. Sordward and Shielbert held their hands up to silence the drummers and walked next to the model to stand beside it on opposite sides.

"Students and Pokemon..." Sordward said.

"Allow us to introduce you to..." Shielbert continued.

"Your new Pokemon Baccer stadium!" they shouted simultaneously.

The students and their Pokemon jumped out of their seats, roaring with thunderous applause. Cross and his Incineroar had no care for their fellow students' excitement, but their teammates were all too happy to shake their fists and/or paws in the air and cheer for their new school. Sordward and Shielbert laughed and shook their fists in triumph.

Suddenly, there was a loud scream, and everyone looked up to see two figures falling from the catwalk above the auditorium's center. Students screamed until the figures stopped in mid-fall with two thin white strings holding them from the catwalk. The figures struggled while dangling in the air.

"Help! Please, help us!" the larger figure cried out.

The smaller figure tried to call out, but its cries were muffled. The students and Pokemon directly above the figures moved away in disgust as birdseed, mud, and pieces of rotten food fell on top of them. Other students shined the flashlights on their Rotom Phones on the figures. Coovers and Sonia took out their flashlights, and squinted until they could see the larger figure hanging upside down and gasped.

"Timothy!" Sonia shouted.

"Timbo!" Coovers shouted.

"Oshawott!" Oshawott called out to Electchu.

"Arf, arf!" Yamper barked.

Students and their Pokemon laughed as they figured out what was hanging above them. Alexa took a picture with Helioptile using Flash to improve the lighting, while Malva recorded a video on her Rotom Phone. Sordward and Shielbert looked at Timothy and Electchu in disgust as if the figures were inanimate piles of food, mud, and birdseed roped together rather than a poor student and his Pokemon victimized. All the while, Guzma and Ariados snuck into the auditorium while everyone else was distracted.

Timothy's fear of hanging in the air dissolved into embarrassment. More students took pictures and chatted about how revolting he and Electchu looked. Timothy could see Tulip at the front row covering her mouth to hide a snicker while Kirlia fell down laughing. His face grew beet red, and he shut his eyes, wishing he could find a place to hide. It was the most humiliating moment of Timothy's life.