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Ray looked up at the school gates as he made his way forwards. It was felt like a really long time since he had last been at the academy. To think that he had attended the academy for a whole year already! He didn't really think he had it in him to be honest. With what had happened to Rina, he didn't think he'd make it. He still felt guilt, and he didn't know when that would go away if ever. However, he'd like to think that he's gotten better since the time of the accident. He blinked as he felt something wet on his cheek, and he turned to see Aqua licking his check affectionately. He smiled softly "I know, I love you too aqua" he said softly to the Dratini wrapped loosely around his neck. She purred happily, before rubbing her cheek against his some more. Ray just smiled some more, before feeling a heavy weight settle on his head. His steps faltered for a second, before he regained his balance. Rey pecked his head lightly, as if annoyed he wasn't getting the same attention as Aqua.

Aqua hissed softly, slapping her tail against Rey's wing. Rey squawked and tried to peck her in retaliation before Ray put a stop to it "hey no fighting! I love all of you equally, why can't you guys love each other too?" he asked, giving them both puppy dog eyes. His pokemon looked at one another before regretfully caving in and apologizing. Ray huffed, before looking at the sleeping bundle in his arms. Sora, the cutie in his arms was a new addition to his family. Surprisingly, both Rey and Aqua don't get annoyed with her when Ray gives him her attention. Sora didn't really put out any vibes that screamed danger, she was just so cute. In fact Ray was pretty sure Aqua and Rey had some sort of silent agreement to protect Sora. He laughed softly to himself when he remembered their first encounter with the baby pokemon. While it was sort of embarrassing for Ray, he didn't really find himself minding all that much.

Aqua hated Sora at first sight, and Ray remembers having to stop her from slapping the poor thing. Rey didn't mind as much, he just sort of circled the poor girl before Ray scolded him for it. It didn't take long for Rey and Aqua to start fighting, however, when they heard Sora's hysterical crying the stopped and looked at her. Poor thing was so scared of them, and wanted them to stop and love each other. The baby pokemon cried and ran for Ray, snuggling up to him as he tried to get away from Aqua and Rey. Ray did his best to calm the poor thing down, and Aqua and Rey did stop fighting. After that aqua and Rey never really fought in front of Sora. They didn't like it when the baby pokemon cried because of them, and Ray had an inkling it also had to do with the fact Aqua didn't see Sora as a threat anymore. He still couldn't stop his embarrassment when his aunt basically told him that Sora thought that he was her mother. Her mother! Ray was never going to live that one down... but to be honest Ray didn't necessarily hate it.

Sora was sweet in her own way, and she always tried to stop any arguments that might have popped up. Ray didn't know this, but the only reason Aqua grew fond of Sora because she knew Ray was a motherly figure in Sora's eyes. Aqua felt no threat for the baby pokemon, thus grew to love Sora like a sister. Ray never really understood it, but he was glad that they all got along in the end. He hugged the baby pokemon closer to his chest happily, smiling as his pokemon all got along. He wondered what his friends were doing right now, had they gotten back already? Would they be in the same dorm rooms as before? Ray didn't know, but he hoped he'd be able to see them sometime soon. He looked down at the key-chain hanging from his bag, he wondered what Sora was doing right now? Sora was his pen pal, and they had been talking for years. He missed her, and he wondered how she was doing. He's always wanted to meet her in person, but she had her own circumstances so they never really could meet up.

Sora was like his sister in a way, different from Rina, but he loved her like one even if they weren't blood related. Ray had given her a matching key-chain in his last message, and he hoped that she liked it. Ray never really admitted this but he had secretly hoped he could spot Sora from the people he saw based on if they had the key-chain or not. He wondered if he'd ever see her in person anytime soon...

((Out.Of.Cute-Dragons: ))

Ray stayed silent while he was deep in thought. His pokemon didn't seem to mind all that much, and actually it was a pleasant silence. In a way it signified that there was going to be no arguments for now, and that was rare these days. Ray hummed a bit, not noticing the car that had pulled up a little bit away from where he was currently standing at. Ray hadn't seen anyone even close in this area, so he didn't think much about keeping his guard up. After all he was right in front of the academy, what could possibly go wrong? Rey cleaned up his wing, staying comfortably on his head. Sora slept peacefully in his arms, and Aqua just kept giving out content noises every now and again. Honestly Aqua did things like that, that even Ray couldn't understand.

Ray didn't hear the clacking of heels that seemed to get louder and louder. Rey and Aqua heard it though. Rey tilted his head in a confused manner, and Aqua seemed to tense as she stared at the cause of the sudden noise. Ray hadn't noticed the person moving towards him, and before Aqua could hiss at the person a voice startled him out of his thoughts. He jumped, twisting around to see a new person standing before him. He seemed older than the girl in front of him, but probably not by much. He gulped, coughing a bit as Aqua slapped her tail angrily against Ray's back. Ray let out a strained laugh "sorry! she uh... doesn't er... really like people? Not that I don't like people! I mean... I meant to say I love people, but she doesn't... er... she's still learning?" he spewed out pathetically. A light flush made it's way to Ray's ears and cheeks due to his embarrassment. He groaned at the excuse, she probably thought he wasn't worth her time now. Way to go Ray!

The girl was somehow still smiling at him, as she stated that his pokemon were all cute and then proceeded to ask what their names were. He fiddled with his fingers a bit before getting the courage to try talking with her again before the girl spoke over him. She was apologizing for... being excited? Ray tilted his head to the side, confused eyes looking into hers "sorry? If anyone should be sorry it's me um... I'm not er... really great with uh... my people skills? Oh but er... right you probably already uh... guessed that..." his eyes drifted downwards, his nerves getting the better of him. Why was it so hard to talk to people normally? He could talk to Marcus, Elijah, and all his friends properly. Why was it so hard to talk to new people?!

He hesitantly lifted his gaze upwards as she stated that her name was Artesia Silvano, and that her pokemon was called Sayla. Now why did that name sound familiar? Ray knew he heard it somewhere before, but he couldn't quite put his finger on it. He snapped his attention back to her after he drifted off into his thoughts and gulped "uh... um what?" he lamely asked. He hadn't heard the first part of the question. Just that she stated that she imagined that he went to the academy too. He pondered the statement and then flushed red "oh arceus, I'm sorry! I swear I was listening, it's just well... I mean the name... your name it uh sounds familiar? That probably sounds really weird right? I mean... I've never met you and you've never met me and.... and... I'm just going to stop talking now!" He blurted out, face completely red now.

Arceus strike him down now! He just wanted to bolt away and hide in a hole the rest of his life. He probably would have hid his hands in his face by now if he wasn't supporting Sora right now. He couldn't look her in the eyes "um... er... right ok I'm Ray Myers... i'm a second year now... are you... new?" he said, attempting to salvage the conversation. This was a disaster...

((Out.Of.Cute-Dragons: ))

Ray looked at her as she stated that she hadn't meant to startle him. He knew she was just trying to be friendly, and if anyone was at fault it was Ray himself. He wasn't exactly the brightest person in the world, and he honestly gets spooked rather easily. Ray had noticed the slight change in Artesia's pokemons attitude. It seemed to be kind of like a guard dog, ready to come to the girls defense at any moment. It sort of made Ray even more anxious that he had done something that had offended the girl and her pokemon. He hoped that the pokemon didn't actually think that he'd hurt her. Ray watched as the girl looked towards her pokemon for a moment as if silently having a conversation with them. He watched for a few moments before Artesia turned her gaze back towards him, and said that he didn't need to be sorry and that she was the one being uncouth for not giving her name first.

He tilted his head to the side cutely, a confused expression on his face "er... uncouth? w... um... what does that mean? I mean... you don't have to answer uh... I should know what it means shouldn't I? oh... im sorry" he said, fiddling with his fingers. She added that he was just shy, and that she could tell that about him. She also added that she's never met someone who was shy before, and that he didn't need to worry. She didn't think any less of him, and that he didn't need to have people skills to be an interesting person. Blush dusted his cheeks as he stared at her, embarrassed. She moved closer to him, not that Ray noticed all that much. She seemed to flash him a smile, before going onto say that she could tell he was a kind and thoughtful person. She could tell just by looking at his pokemon.

His heart warmed at the comment "r... really? D... don't I annoy you though? I mean... I... I always stutter and... and I'm not good with words or understand a lot of things..." he said, mumbling the last part. His blush intensified and he looked up at her again "Ray... Ray Myers that's um... that's my name... oh but you uh... I told you that already... right" he said softly, laughing awkwardly. He blinked at her as she seemed surprised about something. He tilted his head to the side again as She uttered something softly under her breath. She stated that she had never met him before either, and that it was strange. It was then that she seemed to remember something, and mentioned a name. Antonio? Ah that's who he remembered. He'd never really met the guy, but he heard about him a few times from Iris. He shook his head "I um... I don't think it's stupid. I never really talked with your brother, but one of my classmates knows him and says he's a good guy... and... and I think it's fine to be formal if you want to... I mean... you don't have to, but you can if you want... I don't think that's a bad thing" he said.

The girl said he should call her Artesia, and that she wasn't crazy about formalities as her brother was. She also stated that she hated it "you shouldn't be formal if you don't want to... I... I mean I wouldn't... but there's nothing wrong with being formal it's just that if you don't like it you shouldn't force yourself to do it" he said. He gave her a small shy smile "it's nice to meet you too... and... and I'm not all that great, you... don't have to feel honored i'm... i'm just a year older that's all" he said. She stated that she was embarrassed to be a first year, and that she was actually pretty anxious. Ray perked up "don't be! You're probably really smart, I mean you seem pretty humble and knowledgeable... way more than me if I'm being honest. If I can make it you can for sure!" he said.

It was then that she seemed to grow nervous herself, and asked if they could exchange numbers. She stated that even though they had just met, she'd feel better if she could ask him about things she was unsure of. She then added that she thought he was interesting too. He blushed again, his ears turning red "I.... are you sure? Not that I mind giving you my number! It's just... I'm... I don't think you realize that I'm not as grand as you think I am I... I struggled and I'm... I'm not an honor student. Um... are you sure you really want to rely on someone like me?" he asked, frowning.

((Out.Of.Cute-Dragons: ))