"He achieved awakening," she said dropping the bomb.

My heart which just calmed down started beating furiously again.

I moved Cet to my face and looked at him intently.

The Zubat tilted his head, before trying to lick me. I hugged him and looked at the Xatu to see her leaning close to me, startling me.

"Of Course, I the Ever-watching Wind's Eye don't lie, my child," the Xatu proclaimed proudly puffing her chest.

Ignoring the weird Xatu, I looked down to watch Cet again, who was wiggling to escape my clutches.

'He is a really a white knight type MC, always saving his damsel in distress- me,' I thought scrunching my face at the thought of being a damsel, but he saved me from the fire- I created, from Mankey, and now from falling into a ravine, by always getting a new power up.

Shaking my silly thoughts away, I bowed to the Xatu.

"Thank You for assistance, the Ever-watching wind's eye," I said, not knowing her form of address.

The Xatu gave what I suspect to be a giggle, before making a sound like clearing her throat and started speaking(projecting?).

"You have a great partner, Leon. Be sure to treasure him well," she said seriously, making me nod.

"Now onto the second and more rewarding-for others mostly not for you- part of the compensation," she said teleporting beside me to hold my shoulder before teleporting back.

"You get an invitation to the Elite's meet, where If you perform well, a Wild Elite will entrust you with their child," she announced rotating on her toes(claws) and doing a dramatic flourish as she finished her sentence.

"Oh.. Oh.. OH! Really," I shouted on registering her words.

"Of course, my child, Didn't I say the Ever-watching Wind's eye doesn't lie?" she said admonishing me by patting my head.

"Now do you accept," she asked with a finality in her voice.

"Yes, but I .." I was cut off again my surroundings changed again.

"Don't worry you will be able to reach Pewter at your required time."

The Xatu's voice rang in my head leaving me baffled in the new surroundings.

'Did she just read my mind or used future sight?' I wondered for a brief second before shaking it off, the memory of my fall and Cet's awakening along with a chance for new Elite offspring hogged my mind.

After making sure Cet and Nia were fine, I recalled them.

Nia looked somewhat spooked, but I consoled her and gave her treats, making the Ducklett forget about getting stuck in a dark ravine.

Shaking my head at the antics of the Psychic Pokemon, I took in the surroundings.

The place looked like someone just uprooted trees to create some space, with upturned soil everywhere and a whole load of bushes and a sparse number of trees leading to what looked like a summer camp without any walls.

The camp looked better than outside, with a manicured lawn and wooden cabins on either side, giving a relaxed look to the place, which was in the middle of the jungle, guessing from the hills surrounding the camp.

I could see more cabins at a distance from me along with a lake and it looked like some people were present.

I walked towards the people to get to know what was happening here better.

As I was walking, someone called my name, bringing me to a halt.

Celia walked from a cabin and started jogging towards me.

"You got picked, Huh! I was saving one invitation for you if you didn't get selected," she said with her face as neutral as ever.

"Follow me," she said before turning her back to me and started walking.

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I released Cet and whispered some commands to him, deciding it was time to investigate Celia's quirks, thinking about the mirth I heard in the call and the dissonant feeling I get whenever I see her face.

I caught up to her and asked.

"What's happening?"

She glanced at me before speaking.

"Wild elites around every major city gather every year, near their respective cities, to conduct a competition to test the potential of the year's trainers present in their territory and if they get impressed if you will get the chance of obtaining their offspring." And stopped to look at me and asked.

"You know some of the Elite monitor our routes and they have huge territories with many Apex's in them, Yes?"

I nodded at which she resumed her walk.

"So, can you get more than one Pokemon," I asked smiling.

"Of course, but the chances are non-existent," she said eyeing me before continuing.

"The ratio of the elite offspring to the number of participants is very skewed in the favor of participants and only the very talented will be present here."

"How do people get selected?" I asked, curious about whether everyone gets to meet the Elites.

"The Psychic and Ghost elites monitor most of the new trainers in the participating elites' territories and pick them up if they like them."

"The trainers who get picked by the elites arrive one day earlier than the people who got the invites."

"Invites?" I asked interrupting her.

She waved her hand at me, telling me to wait and continued speaking.

"Gatherings like this are happening all over Kanto, the elites pick trainers they like, not caring about their background or connections."

"Our clan was entrusted to host the meeting this year by the elites and we have to make sure to buff up the numbers with talented trainers connected or not, elites will be watching us after all, it gives us a chance to establish our integrity and much more."

"It's a very stressful job, as the invitees shouldn't embarrass us and have to qualify certain conditions set by the league to not upset the local wild elites," she said forestalling my questions again by raising her hand and continuing.

"The elites can pick whoever they want but the invitations go to people who must have earned their 1st gym badge and have zero to moderate trainer background. Only ten percent of the invites will go to the well-connected novice trainers, older trainers are left out."

"Really?"

"Yes! And don't worry, the elites may prefer talented trainers, but they will choose people with great backgrounds only after unaffiliated trainers get selected as they don't want their children to be easily replaceable, so your chances are very high," she said giving me a thumps up.

"How many elites will be present here?" I asked.

"We don't know, mainly elites who monitor the routes participate and this is just one of the events happening across all of the Kanto," she said and stopped.

We stopped near a battlefield, giving me an idea as to why she suddenly became a fountain of information.

"What does your clan get for hosting this," I asked interested in the benefits.

"Nothing, but the league funds the event and we get to better our relationship with elites near our clan, so it's a win for us."

I nodded, gesturing towards the battlefield, and I spoke.

"You dragged me here with your information for a battle huh! Couldn't you let me fresh up?"

"A favour for a favour, I did you one. Now battle me," she said facing me, her lips twitching slightly.

"Sure," I said and clapped my hands, signalling Cet to commence the operation-Celia.

I always felt like there was something off about Celia's expression, the mirth and the change in the way of speaking during our call and especially the way she was talking non-stop now. Stood out too much, considering that she spoke in limited sentences when we met. All these added up making me decide to go forward with my plan.

Cet silently glided towards Celia's back. He used Astonish and draped himself on her face, making her shriek in a high-pitched voice.

"What .. What" she said as Cet flew towards me.

"You, Are you out of your mind?" she said pointing her finger at me, her face pale from fright and she hiccuped swallowing sobs as her eyes became wet.

'Damn! I overdid it,' I thought feeling stupid.

I realised that maybe using a ghost-type move was too over the top.

"I am sorry. I just wanted to see if you will let your mask slip when surprised," I said, the words coming out of my mouth making me feel even stupider.

"I didn't think you would cry," I gave a lame excuse, not knowing what to do.

"Whose crying, I am not crying," she said with a raised voice, rubbing her eyes on her sleeves.

"I am really sorry. I will make it up to you, somehow," I said feeling bad as Celia was always nice to me.

"Then tell me why you wear those clothes," she said hoarsely pointing at my clothes, after thinking for a second.

"All the money I earn I had to spend on my Pokemon. I think they deserve some luxuries after all the training they do and it is not like I am buying them expensive toys, I buy only the best ingredients and required TM's," I said handing her some tissues.

"I don't mind these clothes and I can get meal packages from battles," I said gesturing towards my clothes.

"I believe if I get defeated in battle, it should be because of me because I didn't provide my Pokemon with the best invalidating their training," I said looking at the now calm Celia, petting Cet.

"Oh! But you still owe me for the prank you pulled," she said her face now conveying her meaning instead of her regular emotionless face.

"Of course. But can I ask why you act like a doll? You are beautiful when you are expressive, you know," I said hoping to earn some points and trying to make up for my earlier blunder.

But, unlike last time she didn't blush when I called her beautiful, instead, she pointed at me and spoke.

"You can, but I will answer only if you defeat me."

Nodding, we filled out Pokedex's.

Our Pokedex's chimed with the countdown.

"3"

"2"

"1"

"Release your Pokemon!"

I waved Cet to get onto the battlefield, fully expecting Abra or Kadabra, however unlikely, with planned strategies in my mind.

"Hey!" I shouted seeing her Pokemon as Celia gave me a feral grin, baring her teeth.

(A/N: I don't think anyone will be able to guess her Pokemon.)