Chapter 5 Introductions
That Evening after classes Wendel was back in his room, when a knock came from the door.
Wendel got up and made his way across the room. Standing outside was Annabelle.
“Well…are you going to invite me in?”
“Sorry” Wendel replied. “Where are my manners, come on in.”
“I guess admission was free after all.” Annabelle said with a small grin.
“First visit is on the house.” Wendel said with a chuckle.
Annabelle’s eyes swept across the open doorway before she stepped inside.
“Okay, yeah. This is way nicer than my room,” she said, kicking off her boots as she wandered into the suite. “Hardwood floors? Fire-lit sitting room? Do you have a personal kitchen?”
Cecilia lounged in a chair in the corner, one leg tucked beneath her, reading a thick book she’d brought from home. Every so often, she’d pause and tap her temple, seemingly absorbed in thoughts as much as the words on the page.
Wendel was lounging on a thick chair beside the hearth. “Yeah, but no private bathroom,” he said dryly. “It’s not that glamorous.”
She grinned, circling the space. “Still. It’s leagues ahead of what we had last year. My new roommate snores, by the way. Snores like a Donphan with a sinus infection.”
Wendel laughed.
He leaned forward, gesturing to the fireplace. “Well, I’ve got something even better than a fancy dorm.”
Annabelle raised an eyebrow. “Oh?”
Wendel reached for the Poké Ball on the mantle. There is someone I would like you to meet.
In a flash of red light, Rhys materialized silently, standing upright, aura sensors twitching as he looked her over.
Annabelle’s jaw dropped.
“…Wendel.”
He smirked. “Yep.”
“Is that a Riolu?”
“Mhmm.”
“Rhys this is Annabelle, my friend.”
She blinked at Rhys, who blinked back at her. “Where—how—?”
Rhys’s aura sensors were up as he looked Annabelle over, a moment later they dropped and he bowed slightly to her.”
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Wendel leaned back, arms behind his head.
“You remember the day after Christmas? You and your dad left that morning. About an hour after that, we went back to the pond to train.”
Annabelle slowly sank onto the couch beside him.
“That’s when he showed up all on his own?”
“No not alone…”
Annabelle’s eyes narrowed “Well then who?”
“Red”
She gasped. “Are you serious?!”
Wendel nodded. “I didn’t even recognize him at first. He challenged us, Cecilia and I. His Lucario… Annabelle, I’ve never felt anything like it.”
The power radiating from that Lucario was unlike anything I’ve ever seen before. It made Headmaster Jorgen’s Dragonite seem like a Caterpie.”
He rubbed his arms, as if still chilled by the memory.
“I don’t mean strong like battle strong. I mean, crushingly powerful. Every move Lucario made, Cecilia couldn’t even follow it. She was panting after seconds. And Lucario looked like it hadn’t even tried.”
Annabelle’s eyes were huge.
“We didn’t land a single hit. But then, suddenly… he stopped. Lucario stepped back, looked at Red—like they’d had a conversation without words—and Red just nodded. He walked forward, set this Poké Ball down on a rock, and said, “Take care of him.” Then his Charizard swooped down and carried him away.”
Annabelle looked at Wendel and Rhys. “You think Lucario… gave you, his son?”
“I don’t know.”
“Maybe I impressed Lucario or Red. Maybe both.” Wendel’s voice went quiet. “Or maybe they just saw something in me I haven’t seen yet.”
Rhys tilted his head but said nothing.
Annabelle finally grinned. “That’s insane. Do you know how many trainers would kill for this story?”
Wendel smiled faintly. “Yeah. But I think I’m still figuring out how real it even is.”
Rhys sat down quietly beside the fire, curling up, his eyes flickering closed—but not asleep. Just listening.
Gretchen had claimed the top of a wardrobe, carefully arranging a little nest from a pile of sweaters and scarves. Her wings fluttered slightly as she settled in, chest puffing out with pride over her arrangement.
Annabelle leaned her head on Wendel’s shoulder.
“You’re going to do big things, Ironwood.”
Wendel didn’t reply. He just watched the flames crackle, his thoughts drifting toward training, evolution, and the path ahead.
“So, the big question, is he still hot?” asked Annabelle
“What…”
Laughter erupted from Annabelle and Cecilia both as Wendel’s face went red.
Wendel leaned back, smirking slightly. “So… Fourth Wing, huh? How’s the jump from Fifth Wing? Tougher professors? More intense battles?” He asked.
Annabelle shrugged. “Yeah, it’s… brutal. The instructors expect more than just memorizing moves.
They expect strategy, prediction, timing. Pokémon attacks are faster, and the battles last longer. It’s nothing like Fifth Wing, where you can still get by coasting on instinct or luck.”
Wendel nodded slowly. “Sounds familiar. That’s exactly how Third Wing feels—except the gap from Sixth Wing to Third Wing is… enormous.
The level of awareness, multitasking, and just raw tactical thinking? Way above anything I dealt with last year. It’s like… everyone here is already thinking five moves ahead before the fight even starts.”
Annabelle’s eyes widened.
Wendel’s fingers drummed lightly on the arm of the chair. “It’s intense. Every battle is a lesson, even if I don’t win.”
“You lost already?” Surprise in her voice.
“Yeah, Rhys did awesome, but it wasn’t enough.”
“The students here, their Pokémon—they’re sharper, faster, and smarter than any I faced in Sixth Wing. This year… I need to anticipate, adjust, and always be ready for something new.”
Annabelle leaned forward, curious. “So… do you feel prepared?”
Wendel smirked faintly, eyes glinting with determination. “I’ve never felt more ready—or more aware of how much I need to learn.”
She grinned. “Sounds like Third Wing’s gonna be… interesting for you.”
He chuckled softly, glancing toward Rhys. “Interesting is one word for it. Challenging is another. Fun… definitely fun.”
And for the first time since stepping into Third Wing, Wendel felt that familiar thrill of being pushed to the edge—and knowing he was ready to meet it.
