Mimikyu sighed as the bell rang again, signalling the end of class. He quickly jumped from his seat and hastily moved out of the room. In his short time in this school, he's learned that speed is very important if he wanted to avoid fights.

"Wait, class!" Ms. Mawile's voice stopped him right at the door, and everyone else for that matter. He turned to face the older fairy-type, trying very hard to conceal the impatience in his expression.

"Tomorrow, another transfer student will be coming in." Mawile said calmly, looking carefully at the expressions of her students.

Many didn't seem happy with this news, as far as Mimikyu could tell. Students began whispering to each other, but some just groaned and shrugged it off.

"Another student?" One complained. "Where the heck do they come from anyways, and why all in our class?"

"Is it a boy, or a girl?"

"I hope he's not another weirdo."

"Yeah, we can't have another one in this class..."

Mimikyu had enough. Without waiting for the teacher's permission, he bolted from the classroom. He didn't stop anywhere. He  just kept on going,  briskly making his way around the halls.

Many pokemon avoided him as he passed. But today, he didn't really care.

'Transfer, huh?' He thought sadly to himself. 'I give up. They're all the same. Mean, judgemental, hurtful.'

'Whoever the new guys is, he probably will be just like them.' Mimikyu sighed. "It's okay. It's just one more guy. I can handle it."

One doesn't make a difference.

~ • ♢ • ~

"Oh, sh*t." Mimikyu cursed under his breath. He realized a moment too late the word that had slipped out, and inwardly berated himself with much more mental curses.

He made a mental note to drop a coin in his family's swear jar at home.

'But of all pokemon species.' He thought, staring with slight contempt at the new student who was currently being introduced upfront.

It had to be a Pikachu.

He had mixed feeling about this. One, he was angry, but it wasn't this Pikachu's fault for... Everything in his life. But one thing Mimikyu could tell--the Pikachu's arrival here just made his life a whole hella worse.

Second, more insults will go flying. And if this Pikachu sues him for imitation, there wasn't much he could do about it.

Thirdly, Mimikyu already knew that he would be siding with the bullies. He looked like one. See that wild hairstyle, straight posture, and that constant smirking expression always lingering on his arrogant, cocky face.

He dreaded the ending of this day already.

"Nice having you, Sparky." Ms. Mawile said in her usual, sweet tone. "Your seat is right there at the back, beside Charmander."

'I knew it.' Mimikyu thought sullenly. He threw his gaze downwards, tensing up as the Pikachu made his way towards the back.

Sparky passed by his seat, and Mimikyu let out a silent sigh. He turned his gaze back to the front, feeling relief spread throughout his body when--

"You there."

Mimikyu froze. He looked around, eyes growing wide with fear when he saw that Sparky was looking at him.

The Pikachu smirked. But it wasn't the usual, insulting, superiority smirk he was so used to seeing from Charmander. "Nice costume."

"Kyu?!" Mimikyu squeaked in surprise, before he suddenly grew red with embarrassment.

Fortunately for him, everyone else was too surprised by the action to notice--with many just stifling horrified gasps of mixed emotions.

"Did you hear that?!"

"He was acting kind!"

"Did someone warn him?"

Hysterically panicking. "I think not!"

Out of the corner of his eye, Mimikyu saw Charmander scowl. Sparky just made his way over to his seat, seemingly indifferent to the chaos around him. He plopped himself down on his chair and leaned back, eyes staring straight to the front of the classroom.

"Alright, quiet!" Ms. Mawile called out, clapping her hands together. "I do not really get why there was a sudden commotion, but it's time to begin class."

Ms. Mawile immediately began her lecture. But Mimikyu zoned out, his mind still lingering at the praise Sparky had given him. Was he for real...?

Mimikyu mentally shook his head. 'No. He hasn't seen everything that happens in this school. Surely, If he hears the rumors, he will stop.'

The thought was painful. But hoping again, he knew, would be even more painful.

The bell signalling the beginning of his torture sounded once more. Mimikyu briskly packed up his things and was prepared to go running for his life.

"Whoa, there! What's the rush?"

Mimikyu gave a high, but soft squeal and jumped at the sound of Sparky's voice. He whirled around to face the Pikachu, annoyance clearly written all over his masked face.

"W-What was t-that for?!" He hissed, turning slightly red from embarrassment.

Sparky chuckled at him, an amused expression twitching at his lips. The Pikachu seemed to enjoy seeing his flustered expression--so much, that Mimikyu couldn't tell: Was he insulting him or not?

"A-Are you laughing at me?" Mimikyu asked defensively. "I-I don't want anything to do with you. If y-you'll excuse me..."

Mimikyu tried to make a clean getaway.

Tried.

But Sparky simply laughed and grabbed Mimikyu's costume head to stop him, eliciting a surprised yelp from the fairy/ghost-type.

"W-What are you doing?!" Mimikyu cried as he flailed around. "Let go of me!"

He particularly didn't care anymore if everyone was judging him. He just wanted to leave.

"Geez, why are you in such a rush? I don't get it." Sparky complained. "I just want a nice, li'll chat."

Mimikyu froze at his words. Is this guy for real? He... Didn't trust this Sparky. One thing's he learned from past experiences was that Pokemon betray you. Always.

"N-No one likes having a chat with me." Mimikyu said in a sulky manner. "You're b-better off chatting with someone else."

Sparky tilted his head to the side in an innocent, questioning manner. He let go of Mimikyu, but the Disguise Pokemon didn't even move. "Why?" Sparky asks. "I don't see a problem with you."

"I-I--"  Mimikyu was about to respond. But a familiar, taunting voice stopped him.

"Because he's a worthless creep who can do nothing but imitate others." Charmander's voice sneered. "Do you see that ugly costume? I see it."

Mimikyu flinched. He glanced around, finding the last few of his classmates rushing out of the room. There wasn't anyone left but him, Sparky, and the three bullies.

Déjà Vu much--or no?

'Shoot,' He thought to himself, knowing that he'd get another beating--and maybe a few bruises from wooden chairs.

"I-I should leave," Mimikyu said slowly, inching his way towards the door.

Magby laughed. "Trying to escape? Coward."

Murkrow warily eyed the fairy-type. Then he grunted, turning his attention towards Sparky. The Pikachu didn't move. He just seemed to stand there, casually observing the two fire-types and Murkow.

"You shouldn't get invovled with him." Murkrow cawed. "He isn't worth it."

Mimikyu's costume ears drooped. Ouch, that really hurt. He braced himself. Surely, they will all come after him now.

"Oh, I see." Sparky said with a sigh. He scratched the back of his head then crossed his arms, a knowing look gracing his features. "I get what's going on now."

"You do?" Charmander said with an evil smirk. "Then get rid of him, that trash."

Mimikyu whimpered at his words and began shivering, overcome with fear. 'Here it goes,' He thought to himself. 'He's going to turn against me... Just like everyone else.'

Sparky returned Charmander's gaze evenly with a bored look. Then his expression changed into a cocky smirk, and he responded with one, blunt word. "No."

His reply was met with shocked silence. Mimikyu stopped shaking, his eyes growing wide with surprise as he stared at the Pikachu's back with disbelief.

'Did he just... Defend me?' Mimikyu thought to himself. 'M-Me..?'

Charmander regained his composure and scowled, a displeased and hateful look taking over his features.

"You would defend the creep?" He snarled. "The school outcast? The imposter?"

Sparky raised an eyebrow at the last statement. "Imposter? Nah. He isn't trying to mimic anyone." Sparky puffed up his chest proudly and boasted. "He just understands how awesome we Pikachu are!"

Mimikyu threw the wild-haired Pikachu a dubious glance. Is this guy for real? He did know that what he had said was completely not true?

Charmander snorted. "As if. He's just an imitator, a fake. He doesn't deserve to have friends."

Mimikyu sniffled, tears once again blurring his vision. He knew himself more then anyone did. He knew Charmander was right, and Sparky was making a futile defense. He made his costume a Pikachu... Because he wanted to be loved like the yellow mouse species. He never asked for anything else.

He just wanted to be accepted by society.

"Even so," Sparky began. "I'll still defend him. Because he's my friend."

The Pikachu's expression turned hostile as he shifted into an attacking position. Sparks flew wildly from his cheeks, with his eyes narrowed and his mouth pulled back into a fierce snarl.

Charmander and the others were taken aback with panic, surprise and fear evidently displaying on their faces. Murkrow squawked and began flapping his wings wildly, loosing his composure completely.

"Don't ever come near him or me again!" Sparky hissed in threat. "I won't hesitate to roast you."

"W-We're sorry!" Murkrow cried and dashed past them, out the door. Charmander and Magby followed closely behind, afraid to be turned into fried meat from the Pikachu's deadly electrical power. Their panicked cries can still be heard even after they exited the room, and it didn't fade until around a minute more later.

Sparky sighed and relaxed himself. He turned around, surprised to find that Mimikyu was not where he had once been, standing behind him; but the poor kid was shaking violently and sniffling--trying, but failing, to hide himself under a table.

"Hey, you okay?" Sparky asked cautiously, approaching the Disguise Pokemon. Mimikyu shook his head, still attempting to choke back his sobs.

"They're gone, don't worry." Sparky urged him. "You can stop crying now."

"W-Why are you d-defending me?" Mimikyu sniffled. "I'm nothing but a freak. An imposter. I try  to be someone I'm not."

A few more sobs.

"C-Charmander is right... I.." He paused. "I've always been mimicking something I know I can never be. I'm a failure."

Sparky scratched the back of his head, seemingly a bit at loss of what to say. But after a pause, he sighed. "You know, we are all just the same here. We are all just pokemon. You have every right to be accepted into this society, even if you are a bit different."

Sparky smiled when Mimikyu turned to look up at him, the little pokemon's eyes still wet with tears. But there was a strange new light in them, as if his hope had been re-ignited. But he still held fear.

The Pikachu reached out his paw. A confident smirked graced the Electric-type's face, and Mimikyu couldn't help but stare up in awe at the slighty older pokemon's bravery.

"Stop pretending to be someone else. No matter what, I'll accept you for who you are." Sparky promised. "So, will you be my friend?"

Mimikyu sniffed. A black claw extended from under his cloth, and he swiftly wiped away his own tears. "Are you sure? You won't leave me?" He asked in a barely audible whisper.

"I always keep my promise."

Mimikyu smiled. He was satisfied with the answer. He reached out with a black claw and connected it with Sparky's paw, causing the spiky-haired Pikachu to grin wildly.

"My name is Sparky," The Pikachu reintroduced himself. "It's nice to meet you, Mimikyu--"

"R-Raiden." Mimikyu whispered. "My given name is Raiden."

Raiden smiled. "Nice to meet you too, Sparky."

"It seems like I've earned your trust." Sparky said with a smirk, as they both let go of each other's paw.

"You have." Raiden confirmed. "And you're the first one."

The rest of his school days become much more bearable. With Sparky always close beside him, Mimikyu was no longer lonely. Charmander's gang never bothered him again. Murkrow had apologized. And after seeing him together with the outgoing Sparky, slowly but surely, other students have begun to warm up to him.

It wasn't long before many started to know his name. The name which was revealed to one, when they've finally earned Mimikyu's trust: Raiden.

He was no longer Mimikyu, the outcast of the school, the imitator.

He became Raiden, a student of Pokemon School, and Sparky's best friend.