“The winner!” I cried out holding a flipper up to the sky and the Pokemon center went wild with cheers.

The Nurse Joys attacked me as soon as I stepped into the pokemon center to get Blissey checked out, and so now we were holding a party.

Poppers exploded confetti, and Blissey looked like she was going to start crying as the Nurse Joy’s Chansey all cheered around Blissey almost singing and dancing, throwing confetti into the air around her.

It was a celebration that was hitting Blissey pretty strongly.

It was also super adorable.

“You deserve it all.” I told her, and she looked at me, and then I was grabbed up and pulled into a ridiculously squishy yet strong hug as Blissey smothered me.

I just giggled all the way through it as I hugged back.

Victory for Blissey meant a lot to her. The entire crowd had been screaming their heads off after she wiped Assunta’s team.

It was pretty rare for a full wipe like that, and super rare in the conference, despite the fact I’d been doing it the whole time before.

But for a Blissey or Chansey?

I still remember Nurse Joy telling me that Chansey weren’t pokemon that were good at battling.

“Ms. Ferrous!” A voice called out and I was finally pulled free from the death grip and I looked around to see someone I didn’t really recognize.

“Yes hello?”

The man smiled brightly, and ran a hand through his brown hair as he stepped forward, only the fact he was wearing a lab coat told me he was a researcher of some sort.

“I was hoping to run into you, after your amazing matches so far. I’m professor Cerise.” He offered, sticking out a hand, and it took me a second to realize while he was younger, than he was in the anime, that the man looked similar enough I could recognize him. He even had similar glasses.

“Call me Vicky.” I offered back with a handshake which he took and quickly ran up and down, and my positive response earned me a pleased smile.

“I hate to bother you so soon after a match especially with a well deserved celebration, but I’ve been wanting to speak with you at some point. After the conference I’d be delighted if you came down to the Vermillion Lab. You have many pokemon we know so little about. I’d like to gather some data if you have time?”

“Oh.” I said because there was only one thing Cerise was basically asking me culturally.

He wanted me to be one of his lab trainers. That was a big deal.

I mean there wasn’t an electronic pokedex to give me, but trainers helping professors fill pokedex was… Old culture.

“I’ll try to visit.” I said, not quite agreeing, but not disagreeing either.

“Excellent! Here’s my card, feel free to just give me a call when you are free!” He offered a card in both hands that I quickly took, making sure to mimic the movement. Huh.

“Bliss! Blissey!” Blissey called out from behind me and I looked over and couldn’t help but instantly start cackling as two Nurse Joys were sitting on Blisseys arms, while two Chansey hung from the ends as well.

Absolutely power lifting the entire pokemon center staff.

I snickered as cameras flashed one held by a Chansey obviously taking pictures for the Center, but she wasn’t alone.

I hurried over laughing as the four were put down, and cheered for Blisseys strength.

She was absolutely showing off to the delight of the entire center.

—--

“Hmm?” I asked, blinking as I stirred from a night's sleep, the moon coming in the little lodge's window told me it was still late.

Kiba was snoring above me, and Ivy’s gentle little whistling breathing was across the way. But that wasn’t what had woken me.

No, it wasn’t even Mimikyu, who I had kept with me after the battle, who was gently snoozing beside me.

“Bliss.” Blissey whispered apologetically as she turned away from the window to walk over to me, and to my surprise she settled onto my bed as I blinked sleepily at her, before she reached out and stroked my head.

Ah, what sweet bliss.

I felt myself relaxing as she petted my head. We stayed like that for a while, but…

“You’re amazing.” I whispered to her, and she smiled down at me.

“Bliss. Blissey.” She whispered back and then poked my nose.

“Nah, I wouldn’t be half as amazing without your support.” I told her and she just shook her head and continued petting me as I felt my warm bed slowly drag me back down.

“‘M glad we’re friends.” I whispered out a sigh as I felt my eyes shut too heavy to keep open.

Blissey definitely used Gravity on my eyelids.

But soon I was back asleep.

—--

In the morning I blinked away and saw Blissey was in her preferred position in the comfy chair in the room, A little blanket over her as she napped.

It was a little surprising she was usually the first one awake, but I guess she had an exciting day.

I sat up and stretched.

“Kukuku?” Mimikyu breathed out, still half asleep, so I just reached out and pet him.

“It’s okay, you can sleep in for a while.” I whispered, but he stirred regardless and slipped onto my lap before seemingly curling up.

Hehe. Sleepy boy. Sleepy cutie boy. I hummed in delight as I held him for a while as he napped and snored in my lap.

A loud jaw breaking yawn above me told me Kiba was up as he grumbled and crawled out of his bed, I jerked to the side well used to this as he once again forgot he wasn’t at home and so when he slipped off and his foot didn’t find the floor he yelped as he fell right off the bunk bed.

Which of course woke up Ivy.

Which was a mistake.

“Kiba!” Ivy grumbled, throwing her blanket over her head.

“Oooow!” He whined, which had Ivy’s bed shifting as she grumbled at the noise keeping her up, and I just watched on as Kiba slowly got up, still complaining. “Aww man, stupid bunk beds!”

“Shut up!” Ivy grumbled from within her blanket cocoon, which didn’t work, and Kiba wasn’t listening anyways.

“Alright! Last day of the conference!” He howled fists raised to the ceiling, and that was the final straw.

“Raaaagh!” Ivy roared herself as she got up and threw herself at Kiba.

I of course just started laughing as Kiba was tackled, his girlish scream transitioning to howls of pain as Ivy made her displeasure known.

Well, time to get up. Even Mimikyu was no longer napping, and Blissey’s eyes opened despite the sudden disruption, she smiled beaming and rose up. Pulling Kiba and Ivy apart with her usual casualness.

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Ready to start her day.

And so was I.

It was time. Today was the end of the conference.

This was now the sixth round, and that meant we were now down to just eight pokemon trainers.

Top 8, Semi-finals, and Finals would all be completed today. That means I had three matches ahead of me!

I smirked at the casual confidence I’d make it that far. Today was the day!

Slipping out of bed I managed to start getting dressed working around Ivy and Kiba’s fight as I looked up to the other top bunk. Bugsy had roused and was staring confusingly at the brawl happening in the middle of the room.

Yep! Today was a good day.

—--

I wasn’t surprised that by the time we had all roused up and left the lodge building someone was already waiting for us. I grinned as I opened my arms and was picked up into a big hug.

“Papa!”

“There’s my Trouble.” He whispered into the side of my head as he held me tight. Finally he set me back down and was doing the proud papa smile. “You ready?”

“I am.”

“Good.” Another voice cut in, as I looked over at Elizabeth of all people. “You had better win. I won’t accept anything but being defeated by the one who wins it all.”

“I will.” I offered to her, it was weird to see her and Papa together.

“C’mon all four of you, we have a breakfast spread at the Inn for all of us.” Papa offered and Kiba smiled happily at the idea of food, as Ivy bowed lightly in thanks.

The food was free for competitors anyway though guys.

I shrugged and followed happily, even if Elizabeth kept slightly out of the group as we all headed towards the Inn.

It was weird that she had come at all, walking all the way from the Inn with my dad?

My interest was obvious as I kept glancing at her, and finally she caught my eyes with her own glared me down and then rolled her eyes.

“I decided to walk with Uncle Victor to get to know him a little better. We’ve never had a conversation so I decided to actually talk to him.” She explained and that struck me quite hard.

My cousin actually wanted to talk to Papa… Was our family… Actually mending all the trouble? It hit me then. Papa and Uncle Leo had been close during the conference. Gram Gram, and everyone were in just a few rooms, and…

There hadn’t been some monumental fight or anything. I felt my smile spreading at the thought.

What do you know, my family was actually… Acting like a family.

—---

Zelos Vs Ritchie. Was the first fight of the day, and I felt bad.

Ritchie didn’t stand a chance.

It wasn’t even a long match. Once more Zelos relied on Haxorus to start. The lack of practice Kanto trainers had against both Dragon Types, and that pokemon in particular, just brutalized Ritchies unevolved team.

The boy left the arena quickly, and I noticed Ash and company running off to go with him.

I nodded at that. Good, he might need a pep talk after what Zelos had done.

Considering the speed of the battles, there was no need to go to the pokemon center. Already, a Chansey was meeting up with Zelos, to give direct attention to her pokemon to make sure they’d be ready for their next match.

“KukkKuku?” Mimikyu pulled me away from the match that was going to start, a couple people I didn’t know to point at something he’d seen.

Oh!

“Heh, Wanna try it?” I asked, and he hesitated for a bit before nodding. I waved over for the sellers and while I paid for the drink, I did make sure to check that I wasn’t buying from Team Rocket.

I don’t remember if they started selling food and drinks and stuff this early in the anime but it was a definite thing to keep an eye out for.

Pretty sure the old guy wasn’t James though.

Then I handed the Drink with a big Pikachu straw and lid on the top over to Mimikyu who looked it over and then took a drink.

“KukukKku!” He cheered, enjoying the taste and his little Pikachu top on the drink.

Well it was soda. He’d be okay as long as he didn’t drink too much. I’m just happy he liked it even if it was a Pikachu.

Two more matches came and went. The first against who I suspected would have won this tournament if Zelos or I weren’t here.

Power, and skill combined with experience. Terrance. He was seventeen and absolutely here for the conference win.

He overcame his opponent with a team that worked together. Synergies in between his pokemon, combo moves, even some weather effects to power up his team.

It came together as a truly powerful trainer, someone that had a bright future no matter what he did from here.

The second set of trainers I had never really seen before. They fought well, but it was a close match, coming down to their partner Pokemon. Wartortle’s agility overcoming a Charizards power.

Then it was my turn.

I passed Mimikyu back through the teleporter just before and walked out with my conference team ready to go.

The boy was younger than Terrance, fourteen or so, and he had fought well. Not nearly as polished as the other boy, not yet as experienced, but he fought well and his pokemon listened eager to battle.

I stepped out onto the conference grounds to a roar of the crowd, to the announcer once more calling out my name, pumping me up to the crowd.

I’d done a bit of a flair in all my matches so far I suppose.

Winning every match without switching, without losing a pokemon… I would have liked to continue with that trend, but it wasn’t fair to not use Lucario after she’d agreed to battle with me.

“Trainers! Release your pokemon!” The announcer roared, something I’d noticed was how much more into it he was since the main conference started.

I guess this was the last day after all.

“Go!” I called out at the same time as my opponent and the crowd cheered not just for his Nidoking taking the field and roaring. As always the people of Kanto loved their Nido line.

But they also roared for seeing a new rare pokemon that so few would have heard of before.

“Lu!” She challenged already taking a fighting stance, and the Nidoking looked her over warily as his experience wouldn’t help him here.

“And Victoria releases her Lucario! A rare Fighting Steel Type Pokemon!” The announcer called out, which was a bit odd. It wasn’t that unusual to call out the pokemon's type, but still not common either.

Heh. Maybe he’d been told to try and balance the battlefield if I pulled out another rare Pokemon?

It didn’t matter.

“Lucario! Let’s give it our all!” I roared out fist punched out to mimic her stance.

It wasn’t perfect, our synergy still wasn’t quite there but it’d grown pretty well considering how little time we’ve really had together.

“Begin!” The announcer roared.

—---

“We’ll take care of your pokemon!” Nurse Joy was there the moment I stepped off the conference and I only gave her my pokeballs because she actually had a Chansey with her.

Stupid Team Rocket, making me nervous about Nurse Joy.

I followed her right into an internal pokemon center, where she took the balls behind the counter to begin checking over. But my eyes were on Zelos.

“Zelos!” I cheered, hurrying over and I could see her shoulders slump as she looked up from the pokeball in her hand to glare at me.

“What do you want?”

“To say hi!” I cheered and she rolled her eyes but scooted over a little on the large bench seating to let me sit beside her. “How's your team? Haxorus not too tired?”

“He’s fine. Your Lucario?”

“She’s okay, I pulled her before she would get too beat up.” I confirmed. The first time any of my pokemon needed to be switched out. It had caused the crowd to go wild thinking they were going to get a massive show.

Then I released Arcanine, cause she’d been whining at me for not getting enough battles.

“Are you ready for your next match?”

“Of course.” She said, looking at me with a firm glare. “I’ll see you in the finals!”

“I look forward to it! You’ve done so well!”

“Hmph, your Pokemon have been fighting better.” She said flipping her hair trying to act casual.

“It’s all thanks to you! I’m so happy we trained together so much before the conference.”

“It was useful.” She agreed, actually sounding nice. “But it won’t be enough to defeat me.”

“Hehe! I won’t lose to you either, Zelos!” I said cheerfully knowing it would make her respond.

“Tsk. Annoying as always, farm girl.”

“Are you excited? For the finals I mean, you know?”

“This is nothing. The Vertress Conference is massive compared to this one.”

“Oh really? Do they have lots of stadiums?” I asked, wondering how Unova did their conference.

“Just… Just the four smaller arena’s and the large one.” She confirmed, just like here in Kanto then.

“Oh… Then more competitors?” I asked, and I could see Zelos growing red up her cheeks to her ears.

“There are way more people showing up! Unova is bigger! Better!” She yelled at me before standing and stomping off.

Ah. Well… I’d see her later then.

“Good luck!” I called out after her, and she stalled before turning to look at me. Her blonde hair straight and well groomed compared to my messier style was pushed aside with a flick of her head and she nodded.

“I don’t need luck.”

Ooh! How cool!

—--

The battle was fantastic. I watched as Zelos gave it her all a fierce battle using all of her skill. Yet Haxorus getting knocked out by a powerful Ice Move from a Lapras of all things. Set a terrible path in motion.

Rain Dance Lapras, into Thunder from a Raichu, Raichu using Light Screen before getting knocked out, to give a Charizard enough time to start powering up.

I stared, realizing slowly what was happening from the crowd. It was exciting everyone was shouting.

But Zelos. Zelos was losing.

Terrance. Was actually defeating her, both of them were struggling against each other, this was a serious battle, but Terrance had really good combos with his Pokemon.

Synergy.

His Pokemon set up moves for the next one. Counters and prep moves. He was doing an amazing job at planning her next move.

In the end, Scyther wasn’t able to defeat a Golem that had used a few defense buff moves.

I watched Scyther fall, that pokemon that just refused to give up, and Zelos obviously wasn’t ready to lose either, but then it happened.

“The winner of the semi-finals! Terrance! Let’s give it up to the trainer going all the way to the finals!” The crowd went wild around me, but I was watching Zelos as her knees gave out and she slumped. Her pokeball just retracted Scyther almost instinctively, but then.

She sat there for a while. Even as the crowd all around her cheered for her opponent.

I rushed towards the trainer area, to catch her. To say… Something, anything. Maybe another locker room talk? It had helped so far.

But by the time I reached it, Zelos was already gone.

—--

“Winner! Victoria Ferrous!” The announcer roared out.

I had gone into this match differently than any of my others.

My pokemon hadn’t been allowed to just rampage through my semi-finalist opponents team.

I’d switched out pokemon each time. Forcing him to face a fresh pokemon each time I’d defeated one of his own.

I felt bad, but I wasn’t feeling good. The bitterness of Zelos losing to someone else was… I didn’t like it.

She was supposed to face me in the finals! It was supposed to be a good final battle for her time in Kanto! I knew she wanted to leave, and I didn’t know when, so it was supposed to be a cherished memory that the two of us could share!

She was my friend.

Instead she’d been beaten by some… Jerk face!

I might have taken it out on my opponent. Overwhelming his team by going all out. It also gave my team a chance to stretch their legs before the finals.

Terrance… Had defeated Zelos. Zelos was strong and sneaky. I thought she’d win.

I stepped off the field, the cheering crowd muffled by the concrete, as my pokemon were handed over to a Chansey to once again look them over before the finals.

There would be a two hour intermission. Enough time for the pokemon of both teams to get a full healing and time to restore their stamina.

I stalked into the locker room, which was quiet and just plopped on the bench inside.

So this was it, the end of the conference. Just one more battle, and I’d have the right to challenge the Elite Four. All within my first year. It was… I was going to be dealing with the repercussions of this for a long time I knew.

I’d already heard the words more than once. Prodigy. Genius.

It didn’t matter. I had no interest in doing this for a living. Ash might have a dream of being the best, but I honestly wasn't too interested…

Well maybe I’d get a team strong enough to beat up Leon if I ever went to Galar. I really didn’t like that walking billboard.

In the end my eyes closed and I felt myself relaxing. No point in getting worked up about the finals. Just a little nap before the match started sounded pretty ni-Zzzzzz