Craig Benton
Headmaster Richards, the one who most of the academy's students nicknamed "Dumbledore" due to his uncanny likeness in appearance and faculty position to the wizard from Harry Potter, had started the orientation. Most of the students had silenced, but there were still plenty of unruly ones. Still, most of Richards's speech was louder thanks to the speakers, and he drowned out most of the chatter and noises of a few of the Pokémon battles that were taking place between the aisles.
"Ladies and gentlemen, faculty and students of the Pokémon Regional Academy," Richards began in a slow and steady voice, opening up the speech. "I would like to welcome you to a new academic year, one I trust will be inspiring, motivational, and will be full of precious memories and experience that you will use in all your future endeavors."
Craig sighed as he finished off the last of his lunch, and crumbled up the wax paper the turkey sandwich came in before tossing it into the paper bag. It was pretty much the same snoozer speech as last year. He even believed there was a website out there that had these kinds of speeches already prepared, kind of like mad libs, only with filling in the names of the school and faculty.
"It is one of our most precious and important pastimes to understand, grow, and experience life with Pokémon," Richards continued, using a rather monotone voice. "At the Pokémon Regional Academy, you will learn these precious facets, as well as understand aspects and core values of Pokémon that most trainers overlook and don't recognize. This, ladies and gentlemen, is your self-assigned task, an important step in growing up and deciding what you want to do with your life."
The first thing Craig wanted to do with his life was just get out of there. But, ever year, they did this orientation. He already knew most kids were here for the battling, thinking learning from the Pokémon Regional Academy would give them an edge. Usually it did... if they paid attention. After drinking the last of his water, Craig figured probably only a quarter of the students were even still listening, and that number was probably steadily dropping.
"Now, don't be concerned if you were not admitted to the house of your choice," He continued. "While all students here aspire to be recognized as the best of the best, what matters most is that you achieve your own personal goals, aspirations, and commitments. For some of us, that will be a challenging road ahead. For others, it may be just within grasp. In either case, you would do well to set your goals to be higher than what is easy for you to achieve. If I could offer you any advice for the future, hard work, commitment, and teamwork is what I would offer. Teamwork with your friends, your family, your coworkers, and especially your Pokémon. Yes, it is a long and difficult road ahead for all of us, but you need not take it alone. Help and assistance can always be found if one knows where to look, and who to ask."
Craig couldn't help but let out a yawn, a gesture that went silent among the chatter, the ruckus, and the loud speech itself. Some years, the speech went relatively quickly. Other years, it carried out for over an hour. Still, if kids thought this one was long, they should see the one at graduation. Diplomas were somewhat useless if half the graduating class died of old age before leaving the stadium.
The boy next to Craig had unwrapped a Snickers bar, and took a big bite out of it. Meanwhile, to his right, the young, blonde-haired girl with the t-shirt and denim shorts pulled out a blank Pokédex and decided to go through it's features. But as Craig knew, a blank Pokédex was just as fun and exciting to play around with as a calculator was.
"Eraaaggh! Use your Pound attack, Cinnabun!"
Craig couldn't help but see the battle between that one girl's Buneary against that other boy's Bulbasaur was only getting more vicious by the second, but the even more intense battle was not between the two Pokémon. He looked over the girl, and saw a face that was angry and determined not to lose, especially not to this kid. Craig couldn't help but have a hunch that they knew each other, and definitely hated each other's guts. Meanwhile, just as he looked into her face, her Buneary clasped her paws together and clunked the Bulbasaur on the head, right between the eyes. The boy, probably another bratty, spoiled kid, looked miserable when the Bulbasaur complained from the headache, and just rolled over, passing out like a light.
"No way!" He whined out loud. "That was cheap! You stupid maggot, is that the only way you can win with your dumb Buneary!? What a joke! You probably have to do things like that because you suck too much otherwise!"
"Oh shut up!" She shouted in response. "You only suck because you suck, William! Admit it, you lost, you suck, and your Bulbasaur is nothing more than an easy and fun to smack target. Just be happy at least other, better trainers will get more experience from beating the stuffing out of him."
Well, it was definitely more interesting and entertaining that Richards's speech. They continued snarling and shouting at each other until one of the teachers, an old bat named Mary Ellen who taught Pokémon history, scolded them both and pulled them outside. And like that, the fun was over, and Craig was left having to listen to Richards again.
"So with all that said, I welcome you all, both newcomers and veterans alike, to Pokémon Regional Academy," Richards finally concluded. "May you all gain the insight to a valuable and prosperous future."
At this point, Craig figured it was probably time to head off to the dorms and get unpacked. It was a pain, taking bags and bags of clothing and supplies up to his room, but he was hoping this year he would get a room on the ground floor. Trying to get a spot on the elevators with fully loaded bags was next to impossible, and going up the stairs with loads of other students carrying giant bags of stuff was never easy either. But, if he was on the ground floor, it would be much easier. However, considering every dorm building had ten floors to accommodate the large number of students, that was unlikely. Last year, he ended up on the eighth floor, and that was a nightmare. And the year before that, it was the sixth. Craig was convinced that if he had to go to the eight floor or higher this year, he'd be tempted to just use a tent outside. Sure, it would be a pain in the neck during the winter, but considering how much of a pain it would be to haul everything up so many stories, he wasn't going to push his luck... or his muscles.