Chapter 2

A Absol over looked the sea his eyes noting everything in the distance as his mind thought of what he was going to do this year.  This absol was the most important figure on this island and loved nothing more than to make everything perfect. A crisp wind blows and the absol smiles closing his eyes as memories of his youth passed him by.

“Professor Bangam the Lapres transports are on their way they’ll be her e in half a hour.” A beautiful espeon with a blue gem in her head appeared behind him. “Don’t you think its about time for you head back down.”

“Yes but it’ll be a shame to miss such a nice scenery.” Bangam said taking a deep breath. “Though I can’t wait to see the new class.” He turns around and starts to head back toward his castle.

“Why Professor?” The Espeon asked as she began to walk back with the Headmaster. “Every year we always get another batch of sexually confused students.”

“I have a feeling that this year Professor  Reid my dear that this group of students shall be our most memorable yet. “ Bangam said as he saw the first Lapres in the distance drawing closer by each passing moment. His heart was racing as he felt that unease once again of having to stand in front of the entire school and deliver a inspiring message.

“Professor are you ok?” Reid asked as she speeds up and stops  him in his tracks. “Don’t tell me you have cold paws again?” She knew he often times gets cold paws right before he had to speak in front of others like this. “You’re the most inspiring pokemon of our time sir. “

“Even powerful figures such as myself get scared from time to time my dear.” Bangam said as he coughs a bit his throat feeling like it was on fire. He’s been a bit sickly as of late but he refused to go seek any real medical help outside of bed rest.

“Professor I wish you would get yourself checked out.”

“Trust me I’ve been though far worst than a simple cold.” Walks around her and into the court yard of his castle where he was met by several of the other teachers including his oldest friend Professor Bones the Gengar.

“Headmaster its good to see you again after such a long summer.” Bones said with a bow. “How have you been?”

“Restful.” Bangam said with a smile. “This island is always such a joy to explore during the summer, why just the other day I found a small colony to Seels playing down at the beach, they even invited me to a game of beach volley ball which I enjoyed very much until the ball struck my horn and busted open.

“I believe we’ve all had a chance for some R&R.” Lita a Clefairy blurts out. “Professor you don’t look so well.” she looked concerned for him.

“I’m not as young as I once was.” Bangam coughed. “Now if you don’t mind I have a school to run.” Bangam walked into to the school to prepare for the first feast of the year.

 Lita looked to Bones and Professor Reid.

“Professor Bones you know Headmaster Bangam better than anyone please tell me you think he is fine.” She said feeling very worried.

“I won’t lie to you I have seen him in better condition.” He said with a sigh. “Everyday I have to make him a potion that he takes so he can keep his strength up in this late age of his.”

“Professor Bones why doesn’t he retire already and allow someone else to take over?” Professor Reid said as the group walked into the castle and into the passage way that lead to the Great Hall. Everywhere there servants were setting up the decorations, placing bowls on the table and placing the first berries onto the table for when the children came in to snack on.

“Because he has no heirs.” Bones said taking his seat at head table on the far end of the Great Hall. “This castle wasn’t built by him but by his ancestor Sir Bangam the 1st. The castle is in fact passed down from  generation of Absols that has lead to the one we know now Bangam the 5th.  

“I don’t understand Professor Bones!” Professor Reid said as she took her seat next to him. “For someone who built a school based around mating. I would expect him to at least have one child to pass the school over to.”  

“Just because you talk a big game doesn’t mean you play it.”

“So what he’s still a virgin after 99 years of living?” Professor Reid said a bit concerned. “Not very noble if you ask me. I mean…he just has to ask me I wouldn’t mind helping him to keep the family name going.”

“No, no that’s not true ladies.” Bones said trying to keep them from getting the wrong idea. “Don’t get me wrong he’s had his fair share of the females but he never wanted to have children for he time was never on his side.”

A Loppony walked over with appetizers and set some Pecha berries down with red wine. Bones eyes how rump as she walked away but not before giving him a wink.

“ I’ll see you after the feast for dessert.” Bones said giving her a wink back. “I’ll teach you how they did it back in the old days.”

Professor Lita rolled her eyes as she slaps the back of his head. “Always trying to sooth someone over.” Her face with red with rage. “Besides it almost time for the first students to come in and I would hate for them to come in here and find their History of Mating teacher with a black eye.”

“I despise you sometimes.” He said balling up his fist.

 The first Lapres hits land and starts to allow the children off including Spring and Paul as they stood there in amazement at the large castle at the base of the mountain in the distance. Paul smiled as he turns to his sister with a big grin in on his face.

“You finally ready to go to school sis.” The young boy said placing a vine on her shoulder. “I mean you spent an entire week bitching over how you didn’t want to go.” Paul said 

“Well after seeing Ember and Shawn made me wish to at least give this a try right. I’m sure you would agree.” Spring said looking at herself in the water. Looking back at her was a young chicka who wished to learn and grow.

“Ya well I saw me some real pretty fire crackers around here who are looking to party.” He bragged doing a little dance. “Can’t wait to give this sex thing a try.”

“You have no clue what sex is.” She said with a little giggle.

“Nope.” Paul said looking at her blankly. “Thought that’s why we came here, so we can learn what this whole mating thing is all about.”

“Well ya.”

“Do you know what sex is all about?” Paul asked looking at her for answers.

“Well ah….um…” She just realized she had no clue about sex either. “Well….oh….”

“Just admit it you have no clue.” Paul said feeling like he had won this little debate.

Spring rolled her eyes as she walked away from him feeling like if she stayed there she might be tempted to hit him. She wasn’t watching where she was going until she bumped right into someone else and knocked them to the ground.

“Oh I’m sorry.” She said worried she might have pissed off the wrong guy.

“No, no it’s fine.” Spring helps up the male and brushed him off with a vine. “My name is Prince Royalheart.”

“Spring Woodall.”

“That’s a very fine name for someone like you. I’ve heard many names in my time but Spring is one that really does suit you.”

“Real-really!” She said with a blush on her face.

“Where do you come from?” Prince asked her as they sat down together near the water’s edge.

“Oh…!” She blushed again turning redder as she was feeling embarrassed about being around him like this.  “Well….I come from a small forest across the sea, its not much but I do like to call it home.” This guy seemed to be able to press all the right buttons.

“Must be nice?” Prince said as he felt a breeze pick up making him look to out to the ocean. “Is it always peaceful from where you come from?”

“Yes my little neck of the woods hasn’t had any trouble in it for ages.” Spring said looking confused. “Though why would you asked a question like that?”  

“Sorry I was blabbering on again.” Prince said with a light smile. “Please exuse what  I said I often like to asked that for personal reasons.” Just then the pair heard some of the older pokemon starting to round everyone up as the time for all the students to head off to the school was at hand. Prince smiled to Spring again as he walked along side her and she couldn’t help but notice he was always staring out to the sea like he was captivated by its grace and beauty.

“Prince what are you looking at?” Spring asked as they started up the path towards the school.

“Just admiring the sea.” He said never taking his eyes away from it for more than a moment. “You know there is always a breeze when your at the beach. Its almost like a welcoming paw that you can rely on whenever you are feeling down. “

“You’re a very deep pokemon.” Spring said admiring how great a male he was.

“I try not to be.” He was blushing a bit himself now. “All I do is say whats on my

mind.”

“That’s what I like about you Prince. Your just being yourself.” She said smiling from ear to ear.

“Thank you I’m honored.” Prince said giving her a slight bow.

Soon the they couldn’t see the sea anymore as the group entered higher up on the path, trees rose high into the air, a large pond was found at the base of the castle with a even larger crystal like stone shining several different colors at the center of the pond.

“That’s the stone of Hope.” Spring heard Ember say from up ahead. “Its said that it was placed here long ago as a gift from a king far away in a distant land as a way of saying good luck to our head master. Its said that as long as the stone shines there will always be peace here at the castle.”

Traveling along further Spring saw the gates of the castle which were guarded by two large Rhydons with long spears in their hands. A single Karlia stood in between them a book in her right hand and a pen in the other.

“My name is Rose your guide and fellow student.” She took a bow and then opens up the book and starts to look it over marking down something. “I hope that everyone here is as happy as I am about coming here and hope that all of you get the most out of your stay here at Bangam’s.”

“Rosa how did you get that job?” Shawn asked speaking up form the back. “I thought all you fifth years were suppose to be mentors.”

Rosa seemed surprised to see both Shawn and Ember in the crowd.“Shawn, Ember they let you back into the school….strange last I saw they were throwing you and Ember out of this gate here and saying if you ever came back they’ll fix you both.”

“They let us back though not without some restrictions.” Ember said in a bitter voice. “Hate to say it but its thanks to Shawn’s father’s connections that we’re even here right now none the less get to be mentors so shut your pretty little trap up and let us in before I mess your face up alright.” Everyone stayed quite as it seemed there might be a possible fight about to go down.

“You always were quite the bitch Ember.” She snapped hers fingers as the psy type turns around and leads the group into the school. Spring saw Ember growl and blow some steam off before she follows. Stopping at a at the doors in she turned and smiled.  “All second years and up pleased go inside and take your seats at your respectful tables while all first years please wait out here until you are told to go in.” She leaves as well leaving the large group of first years to wonder what will happen to them.

“Whats going on?”

“Why are we staying out here?”

“I’m hungry.”

“I heard that their going to break up into groups and then we get to eat.” Prince said as he walked over to the door and tried to peer inside.

“Sis did mom tell you anything?” Paul asked walking over to Spring a little vulpix friend by him. “Jewel here was told that we are suppose to be placed into dens.”

“I wish I knew but I was fighting with mom so much that I didn’t try to learn anything from here.” She really did wish she wasn’t such a ass with her mother and maybe she might actually have some answers for him.

“Its what my daddy told me.” Jewel said. Spring couldn’t help but notice a silver collar around her neck with three empty jewel slots in it. “He said that when he went to school here that on his first day all the first years were placed into four different  dens Lava, Woods, River and Desert. Pokemon in each of these would do different things to earn points for their den and at the end of the year were ranked and given special honors for winning.”

“Ok everyone time to go inside.” A Jinx said walking out with a clip board. “Its time for the den placements to begin.”

“Already?” Paul said looking over. “I was hoping to talk to your some more.”

“You will silly if you try to keep n touch.” She said nuzzling his face as the vixen walked along with everyone else.

“Oh ya that’s the one for me.” Paul said feeling attracted to her though got a slap on the head by Spring.

“Come on Romeo its time find out what this whole den picking thing is all about.” They walk inside feeling nervous as this was going to be one of their most important nights of their young lives. Spring could only imagine what fate lies before her and her brother.