I woke up the next day after the Blackthorn City Youngster tournament decently hungry. Taking a quick look around the room in the Pokémon center, I realized Inoru must've already been downstairs.

"Morning." I saw Violet yawning as Inoru quietly sipped his morning tea.

"Morning Chin." Ino said, still using my more traditional name.

"Morning." Violet stretched her arm slightly as we all began to eat around the table in the Pokémon center lobby.

I watched her slide a familiar device across the table towards me. "What's this?"

"It's a gift. Open it up."

I did so, and saw the touchscreen light up, before some text appeared across it.

PokéNav - Version 6.11

"You got me a PokéNav?" I smiled, "Thanks Violet."

"Well I used some of the money you gave me after your win last night. Plus you get a discount now that you're a Trainer."

Bill Masaki, known as Bill to me in the prior universes, seemed to have invested further with his riches earned from making the Pokémon Storage System. He was the one who developed the PokéNav, this world's equivalent to the smartphone, except he was the only one making it.

Somehow, Bill was even richer in this universe.

As I set up the PokéNav, I was asked to scan the Pokémon Trainer card onto it so that now I'd have a digital copy. It seems I had a balance of 31,990 Pokédollars, and a record of 2-0 in WCPL Youngster League, and 0-0 in WCPL Trainer League.

I saw something odd as I scrolled through the PokéNav's ranking function. I was ranked twenty first out of all the Youngsters in the WCPL just from my first two tournaments, and it made sense. Getting first place gave a certain number of points that was miles ahead of second, even as hard as a silver medal was.

"Might want to check the news." Violet ate some cereal with a grin, seeing the look on my face.

I found the news app and I was among the headlines.

Local Youth Tournament Has Record Broken

Below was a picture of the podium from last night, Clair was holding the physical copy of my Trainer's card with myself, Gold, and the bronze medalists from the tournament.

Nico Takujimi, traveling with another monk based from Kamarino, and a coach named Violet Fernandeen, managed to win the Blackthorn City WCPL Youngster event in his first ever try. On the podium with him, was Youth League veteran and Celadon City Sport's pick favorite for Youngster of the Year, Gold, from New Bark Town.

Clair and Nico's coach both declined to comment on the story.

Takujimi was using a young Slakoth throughout the tournament, not ever seen before in competitive battling throughout Johto. At fourteen, Takujimi has been the only person from Kama Valley to have ever been ranked in the top 100 in WCPL in either the Junior (Youngster) or Senior (Trainer) levels.

Breaking further WCPL Youth records, this Slakoth won almost every round by knockout in the first minute or so of most matches. One can only guess what this young trainer's next tournament will be, with such a start like this.

"Yeah, what will my next move be?" I wondered aloud.

Then I noticed how almost every single person in the lobby, even one or two actual Pokémon trainers about to head out that morning, were occasionally staring at me.

"Jeez, it's just a Youngster event." I sighed.

"You know how hundreds try to get to where you are, you know. After your first try." said Violet. "Including myself, it takes a lot more time to get ranked. Or even remotely noticed."

I nodded a bit.

"I know enough about battling that your next move should be expanding your team." said Inoru, as Violet nodded.

"Mm." she put her mug of coffee down. "Agreed."

My eyes widened when I checked my social page. Even though I had only had a PokéNav for a total of ten minutes, people already began to follow me.

Many people were.

"What Pokémon do you think I should add to the team?" I looked at Violet.

"Growlithe and Teddiursa are no brainers in my opinion. They just fit your style too well." she muttered. "But in your hands, you can turn Munchlax and Eevee into forces to be reckoned with."

"Huh." I said. "What about that sixth spot?"

"That's thinking just a little too far ahead." Violet slightly turned her head. "But in my opinion. You should pick a strong Flying type Pokémon."

"Glad I have time for that spot, because I haven't even considered it. Where do I find a Teddiursa or a Growlithe?"

Violet smiled and shrugged. "You have a 'Nav now, just use it."

A few searches later and I got my answers.

Teddiursa were decently easy to find, it's just that their mothers were incredibly protective of them. And by the time they were mature enough to be on their own, they were decently strong as wild Pokémon. They, conveniently, were along the route I'd have to take to get to Cherrygrove City.

Growlithe on the other hand was basically everywhere, it was just a matter of picking one.

They were abundant in the Pokémon mansion on Cinnabar Island, as well as in plenty of forests between Ecruteak, Violet, and Olivine City gym. The issue was they had become so common, that breeders had started monopolizing selling Growlithe to new Trainers.

I could already tell the quality between each breeder varied heavily, but the sooner I could start raising a Growlithe the better. And from what I understood, it would take a few weeks before I could even begin to look for Growlithe to capture and train naturally.

I chatted with Violet and Inoru while eating my breakfast, and by the time I finished it, my social app for the PokéNav had blown up.

Well over two hundred people had already followed me, including Clair's gym, who I begrudgingly accepted, as well as Professor Oak's official page for information on Pokémon and safety when traveling on routes.

Oddest of all, a woman by the name of Madame Muchmoney had messaged me, personally inviting me to her wedding.

"Weird. Am I right?" I asked.

"Not really." Violet shrugged when throwing away a small empty plastic cup of fruit she had just finished. "Muchmoney is one of the richest people in Johto, she probably just wants the clout that you showed up to her wedding."

I still found it funny how in the Pokémon anime, people could still have surnames like Muchmoney.

"Clout?" I scoffed. "I've only won one tournament."

"Nico." I was surprised how casually Inoru switched between my names. "It should be obvious that you've broken competitive Pokémon battling ground."

The WCPL didn't just hand out Trainer badges, that was very clear, one tournament win of any sort meant I was better than hundreds of Youngsters who had shown up that day to compete. In fact, only twelve Youngsters a year were good enough to get them. Even Gold didn't have one yet and he was the best active Pokémon Trainer I've met so far.

"Yeah, I uh, I get it."

Inoru spoke humbly again. "You don't have to go if you don't want to."

"No no, I'll um. I'll go." I sighed. "I just don't have anything nice to wear, and also." I checked the location. "It's on a ranch north of Cherrygrove city."

"When is it?" asked Violet.

"Five days from now."

"Let's catch a Teddiursa on the way down there. The hike over to Cherrygrove is only about three days, gives us a full day of leeway, and over a day's worth of time to catch one."

I checked my PokéNav, we didn't have much choice between that and paying for another number of decently expensive rail ticket.

"I'm ready to go." I said. "You guys?"

"Way ahead of you, I already bought the honey that typically attracts Teddiursa."

Inoru already had taken his staff out from his belt.

And like that, we were hiking south from Blackthorn City towards Cherrygrove City.

…

Johto's route 45 was a much easier trek than I was expecting.

More than anything, Violet and Inoru set aside time with me to challenge other trainers on the road, and that's where I made the money back I spent on Great Balls.

The Pokémon trainers who traveled rarely ever had badges under their belt, and if by some coincidence they did, they typically weren't even that good or weren't really using their main team, which was odd from what I understood.

The trainers on the road would merely cross paths with me, we'd make eye contact, and we'd have a match right there and then.

Because it was a much less formal match, there were no judges. Just Slakoth facing off against the typical Spearow and even our first Pidgeotto.

Pidgeotto was actually a bit tricky, since Slakoth was mainly used to the average Pidgey, but it largely didn't matter. Slakoth's Counter and Faint Attack were so well developed by now it knocked a Hiker's Pidgeotto flat out within a few minutes.

I was hoping to see some more interesting Pokémon on the road while battling but unfortunately, the most these Hikers and a couple Youngsters had were a mix of Pidgey, Pigeotto, Spearow, and Rattata.

Slakoth actually appeared to be nearing evolution in a matter of weeks according to my PokéNav's Pokédex function. This was a good sign since I actually wanted Slakoth to be in his early Vigoroth stage by the time I could challenge Falkner.

On the road, collecting a solid three thousand Pokédollars from passing trainers, I talked with Violet about my team.

After settling on Teddiursa as my next Pokémon, she agreed Growlithe was a must add, otherwise I'd be training solely Normal types, making my style and squad a bit predictable this early on.

I already had a perfect team in mind for eventually challenging the Elite Four if and when I made it that far, it was just going to be a very long time.

My starter Slakoth would become a Vigoroth and then Slaking, along with Arcanine, Ursaring, Snorlax, and Espeon as well possibly a Dragonite.

I had done enough research on my PokéNav as well as talking to Violet and Inoru to realize that only three out of those six could be acquired through methods regular Trainers could. Dragon type Pokémon were some of the hardest, if not the hardest Pokémon to raise in the entire world.

They were extremely difficult obedience wise, possessed a very diverse move pool that required deep knowledge of Dragon typing to become effective with, and above all, were harder than the vast majority of Pokémon to catch.

Espeon was almost impossible to find, because Eevee were almost impossible to find. Eeveelutions were among the best Pokémon anyone could add to their team, and assuming you could find an Eevee, you'd have to somehow have a bond strong enough with it to evolve to Espeon, which as I knew previously, almost never happened.

Snorlax was somehow about as tough.

Munchlax were rarely around, occasionally raised from daycares and given away to a few Youngsters via a yearly lottery system based on performance in the classroom from a few kids in school, but more than anything. Snorlax themselves were absurdly rare. Most were known to be large and lazy enough to completely block roads, but had been cleared out since Red began training, which was mostly how he had one on his team.

Eventually, near nighttime, Inoru and I set up camp and we set up our bait for a Teddiursa.

It was entirely possible an Ursaring could sneak up on us in the middle of the night, but Violet had sent her Murkrow out to scout around for that specific purpose.

I slathered on the special honey we had bought onto a tree and waited. And waited, and waited.

And we waited even more.

Inoru meditated while Violet checked on her messages from home as well as her Noctowl. I was getting sleepier by the second.

…

I must've dozed off while watching the tree we set for a trap for Teddiursa when I slowly woke up.

I thought the entire plan had been a failure if we had attracted Pokémon I wasn't interested in capturing.

There was a small glowing light breaking the darkness of the clearing, Inoru and Violet were both asleep with Violet's Noctowl watching from a nearby treebranch.

After my vision focused, I could see that the glowing light was a Teddiursa's crescent mark. It had climbed up a bit of the tree trunk and was using its claws to soak its hungry mouth in honey.

I didn't know why it was called the 'Little Bear' Pokémon, since it was decently sized, easily almost two and a half feet tall and strong from what I could tell. I was expecting an oversized Teddy Bear and it just wasn't one really.

I quietly rose from my sleeping bag, and prepared a Great Ball in one hand and then hurled it right at the unsuspecting Teddiursa.

Then, echoed the loud echo from releasing Slakoth from his ball.

"That bear tries to run, pin it down and Slash it."

My starter Pokémon nodded, understanding in seconds.

"Wussgoingon?" Violet woke up, her dark hair a mess.

The Teddiursa struggled within its ball, the Great Ball dipping once, twice-

It broke free, looking around the clearing, panicked.

Slakoth pinned the bear to the forest floor, growling. The Teddiursa was strong enough to break free but was met with a nasty Slash to the side for trying to escape.

It went flying away, kicking dust up as it rolled before striking the tree it was just licking honey off of with a small thud.

I wasted no time at all, and threw another Great Ball right at it.

The Teddiursa was sucked directly into the ball, and this time it had no energy left to struggle.

The Great Ball clicked with a satisfying ping, and I smiled. I had caught my first Pokémon.

Violet muttered her congratulations before grumpily turning in her sleeping bag.

She wasn't happy at all when I woke up Inoru and we had to remind her we had to leave before the Teddiursa's mother figured out where it went, if it was even young enough to have one who cared.

…

Around midday the next day after Inoru handed everyone's lunches, I set Teddiursa free for the very first time.

I never got tired of hearing the sound of releasing Pokémon from their Pokéballs.

"Hello."

The Teddiursa stared blankly at myself, Slakoth, and Inoru. Violet was calling her uncle back in Kama Valley.

This Pokémon was easily among the most adorable I'd ever seen, it had large dark eyes and the sweetest least threatening complexion on its face. I truly wondered just how I was supposed to train this thing into a competitive beast like a ferocious high level Ursaring.

If you spot this tale on Amazon, know that it has been stolen. Report the violation.

"My name's Nico, I also go by Chin or Chinnen. I'm trying to make a name for myself in the Pokémon League. That's where, we battle Pokémon against each other for badges and medals and ranking."

Nervous, the Teddiursa sucked on its right paw adorably at the mention of a fight. Its tiny short and puffy tail began to wag a tiny bit.

"Say hello to your new teammate. This is Slakoth."

Teddiursa recognized the Pokémon tackling it and beating it but didn't seem remotely upset or vengeful. I could tell this Pokémon was genuinely good natured and had just begun to leave an Ursaring's nest, at best probably.

"La."

Slakoth bowed his head slightly. The Teddiursa merely kept licking its paw.

I took out my PokéNav, switched it quickly to the PokéDex function and scanned the Teddiursa.

(+Dex Entry

-Pokémon Information: This Pokémon has approximately 31% of its potential battling energy left, and would be considered in the early adolescent stage through standards of the World Competitive Pokémon League.

It is also male and eight months old.)

And I remembered the days when I had to take my Pokémon to Doctor Yuu back in Kamarino to get all this information. Every time I used all this technology I became a bit homesick.

It wasn't a baby by any means, to help myself understand itself better from the Dex, in terms of my experience with the video games, it was probably about level thirteen, just a bit under Slakoth, but it seemed noticeably kind and a bit nervous.

Violet appeared, clicking her PokéNav into her belt. "We're not too far off from Route 46, a few more days and we'll be in town for the wedding."

Inoru sighed. "You're earning all this money on the road beating other trainers, and I still don't know what you're going to wear to this wedding."

"You're just going to wear those same sage's robes aren't you?" asked Violet.

"I was talking about Nico." Inoru looked at her quickly.

I recalled Teddiursa back to its ball. "We'll figure it out later, for now, we should get off the road as soon as we can."

…

For the next few days Slakoth mopped up whatever Trainers crossed our path on routes 46, 29, and the entrance to Cherrygrove City.

The paths themselves weren't all that significant, and least of all the Pokémon. The most we saw were some nice trees, flat dirt road that made up the actual routes themselves, and some of the least skilled and most average trainers I've ever met.

However, I met a particularly interesting Phanphy trained by a Youngster named Phil decently close to Cherrygrove City.

The Phanphy wasn't anything special, in fact I knew there was only a minute or two left before Slakoth probably knocked it out with a Slash kick with its rear claw. But I still decided to experiment.

I sent Teddiursa into a match for the first time.

He actually did much, much better than I was expecting, Violet and especially Inoru were impressed.

What Teddiursa lacked in timing, technique, and speed, he more than made up for in sheer strength and fearlessness. I thought he'd be a bit scared to fight, but all I had to do was promise Teddiursa some honey and he went wild.

Almost a little too wild but it was appropriate.

The Phanphy he was facing only had a very weak Rollout and a decent Tackle, while Teddiursa had a pair of Fury Swipes that were honestly some of the strongest I'd seen.

He wasn't a wild Pokémon anymore technically, but it was noticeable that this Teddiursa was used to scrapping with its siblings or other young Pokémon back in the forests next to the mountains of Route 45, almost entirely using its claws.

After being beaten around, hard, the Youngster recalled his Phanphy and sighed.

"He's a bit of a brute," the small boy said before opening up his PokéNav to send me the money electronically. "But he's way too tough."

I smiled, that Phanphy got off lucky. Slakoth wasn't in the best mood facing such weak opponents and I could tell he wanted a challenge before evolution and facing Falkner soon.

…

"Here." I placed Teddiursa into Violet's lap.

Teddiursa was the happiest small bear I'd ever seen when he got his honey as a prize, scooping it up from a jar and sucking on his paws hungrily. I made sure to buy honey that still sweetened from the Pokémart, but that had protein infused to help a growing Teddiursa and Pokémon like it get stronger as time went on.

"Hi!" the girl he sat upon chirped kindly.

Teddiursa turned around slowly to Violet on the park bench in Cherrygrove City. Violet kept smiling widely at the Teddiursa, and he slowly turned back around to enjoy his victory honey.

I chuckled at the sight. Great battler, great instincts and quite strong for his size and experience, but quite awkward in fact.

For being called Cherrygrove City, there weren't very many cherry trees everywhere, nor was it really a city. Even Kamarino was twice the size of this town.

Other than a couple cherry trees, a Pokémart and Pokécenter, there was almost nothing of significance here except for a few houses.

Inoru returned from walking back to the Pokémart and the short walk around town. "I think you're out of luck man."

"Why?" I looked at him.

"The only clothes I could find that you could buy were the Pokémon trainer outfits like the one you already use."

I sighed, shaking my head. "Great. Well at least I still have my sage's robes."

They weren't the prettiest clothes ever, but they were certainly significantly mine. The silk they were made from were simple, but certainly unique, they were cool enough that you could tell they were sewn by hand with special silks.

I opened my PokéNav, which I found infinitely better than the old Pokégear that was actually still on sale since it required you to buy a Map Card too. And eventually I found information on Violet City.

Apparently, it was the place in Johto outside of Takujimi Temple that Inoru and I most, belonged.

The story behind Sprout Tower, according to Elder Toji, were that three monks who specialized in training Hoothoot were allowed to spread the word of our religion. That cooperation and acknowledgement of the spirits were what bound us to this world and protected us from evil spirits.

They created Sprout Tower to help grow everything we preached, but unfortunately, as I knew, worship of Mew and what the Order of the Sprout Sages taught hadn't grown much.

Our sister temples to Takujimi were as far as Kalos and even Unova. However, our cousin, or a possible 'descendant' temple if such a thing existed, was in Violet City.

I turned to Inoru. "So after the wedding, we're going right to Violet City?"

"There's nowhere else we should go in Johto if not there first." Inoru muttered.

I nodded, checking the time on my PokéNav.

It was one in the afternoon, the day right before the wedding. I guess all I really could do was train Slakoth and Teddiursa for the remainder of the day before camping out near the city.

…

The wedding was on a ranch that was actually about a three hour walk from Cherrygrove City itself. Inoru, Violet, and I were used to very used to hiking so it wasn't a big deal at all.

I arrived and changed nearby, into the cleanest I'd ever could make my Sage's robes look. Inoru, likewise, tried to appear as presentable as possible.

Violet showed up in a loose and flowery yellow dress and all of us walked up together at the reception.

"May I see your invitation sir?" a man in a butler uniform asked.

He fixed his glasses when I showed him my PokéNav screen.

"Excellent, the ceremony will begin shortly. Feel free to help yourself to some refreshments."

The wedding was between Madame Muchmoney and a very rich man from Olivine City. He, from what I knew, had a huge financial stake in all the high speed bullet trains connecting the entirety of the Pokémon world together.

What didn't interest me were the bride and groom, heck. I was so poor I couldn't even bring a proper wedding gift, although I think Muchmoney knew that.

She was already there, greeting several guests of the wedding with her classic Granbull on a leash she held in her wrist.

The other guests were who interested me. All of them were friends and family of the Muchmoney's as well as others.

It appeared those who were business partners or even good friends of the families had showed up. The air was light and calm, everyone was just drinking tea and water, as well as eating some crackers they handed out before the ceremony got started.

"I don't think I've been around this many rich people in my entire life." Violet muttered quietly, looking around under the gazebo.

I noticed the look on Inoru's face.

I largely agreed with his sentiment. Profit was what greatly drove a lot of the Pokémon world, even battling.

But I don't agreed with his thought that profit was the sole driver of everyone who battled, or those who sought to improve means of travel here.

I recognized a few Pokémon Gym leaders were even here, which told me the degree of influence money and prestige had. Jasmine from Olivine City, Clair of course was there, even Chuck, who was a friend of the groom from years prior it seemed.

Eventually it was my turn in line.

The bride gripped her leash as she smiled at me. "So glad you could make it Mr. Takujimi." the pudgy blue haired woman said.

I refused to correct her on my last name. "Thank you Madame, good fortune on your wedding."

"Congratulations on breaking Youth WCPL records in your first real tourney." her husband smiled. "We'll be keeping a big eye on your future endeavors young man." I shook his hand too.

Yes I'm sure he'd be watching my career with great interest.

The entire affair was starting to bore me until the minister for the event, a Sage from our cousin sect from Violet City arrived.

He had a big bronze pendant in the shape of Mew hanging off his chest and had several beads. Instantly, I paid my respects.

"My brothers from Takujimi Shrine." It was so nice to not meet someone so snooty and high class from this event for once. "How is Elder Toji doing? How is his health?"

"The Elder is fine." Inoru and I shook his hand. "The entire temple sends its hello."

"And who might you be?" the monk asked.

Violet smiled. "I'm Violet, I'm Nico's coach."

"Really? Didn't the temple give you a proper guide for competition?" the Initiate asked me.

"They did." Inoru cleared his throat. "I more or less help continue Nico's training as a Novice in the order as he grows his team."

"Interesting." the monk fixed his staff, a thin metal pole with a bell attached. "One day when you two become Initiates you can study at Sprout Tower, you more than have my invitation."

"I'd love that." I smiled back at him.

…

I witnessed for the very first time in my life, what it was like for two people to have a wedding in the Pokémon world.

They set up an arch, above which where Mew appeared to be engraved as a man was bowing its head to it.

The monk began to speak.

"Since the dawn of time, spirit and humanity have been one. But to every fire there is fuel, to every passion there is desire." the monk I was speaking to earlier said.

Judging purely from the way the bride and groom were looking at each other, I think they genuinely loved each other. This union, mostly at least, wasn't for money.

"The great Spirits who saved our world taught us to value our lives, our planet, and our friends and companions we call Pokémon more than anything. But the most special value one can hold is the value of a true partner, a companion who will be with us in this life and to the next."

The monk smiled and bowed a little bit. "A husband and wife. Friends, family, Madame Roberta Allison Muchmoney and Lowell Curdwell, are here to be united in mind, spirit, and body for eternity. May Mew bless their union."

He finished tying a small cloth band between their hands and then placed his hands upon them. There was a small moment of silence, and then the monk raised his voice a little.

"May your love grow forever."

The crowd began to applaud, myself and Inoru respectfully, Violet was decently moved by the ceremony.

And then the wedding ceremony actually began.

…

I actually was reminded greatly of what it was like from religious ceremonies back in my previous world.

The rhythmic clapping and music, the dancing.

I almost cried at the sights.

It was an odd cross between the wedding I remembered from the beginning of the Godfather and religious parties I'd been to in the past.

The old men from all over Johto chatting, laughing, drinking in the corner of all the white tables around the dance floor.

Small children chasing each other around as everyone crowded the bride and groom with lavish gifts. The few Pokémon everyone brought were watched over by Jasmine herself, quietly leaving her Steelix to join in the festivities.

"You gonna ask her to dance?" asked Inoru when he saw me notice this.

"Nah." I turned. "Leaving already?"

The monk shook my hand and we bowed to each other slightly. "Of course. It's a long hike back to Violet City on old legs. I hope you two boys aren't getting anywhere by monorail."

"Uh." I cleared my throat.

He laughed. "I'm only joking. Enjoy the night."

I saw Violet dancing with the son of one of the wealthy men who arrived to the wedding. She actually seemed to be enjoying herself.

I didn't dare go near any champagne, limiting myself to some cold ice water. Inoru was actually going to get some when I saw a guest arrive a few hours late to the wedding.

Judging from the way everyone turned and greeted him, even Jasmine and the groom of the party from the moment he walked in I knew he was important. And then I realized he was probably one of the most important men in the entire world.

This was Bill, the creator of the Pokémon Storage System. The equivalent of Steve Jobs and Bill Gates in this world. A man as recognizable and known as Red.

Eventually, I was too shy to say anything to him except he grabbed a drink and seemed to walk past my table.

"Not one for dancing?"

"Oh! Uh. No."

He sat down in the empty chairs next to me as the sun began to go down. "It's nice to meet you."

"I already know your name."

"I think I know yours already." Bill smiled at me. "You're the sage in training who beat Clair's best junior trainer in your first tournament right?"

"Yeah."

He smiled, taking a bored glance around the wedding. "These things are always a snore. Glad I could meet someone here who's remotely interesting."

"Then why come here?"

Bill shrugged. "Both Muchmoney and ol' Lowell up there have a significant stock in my company. Also."

Bill chuckled, looking over at Clair in a very alluring black dress chatting with other guests of the wedding. "I wanted to see the look on Clair's face after her team was beaten in their home court by a newcomer. A monk no less."

The music of the wedding played quietly as he looked at me.

"I was curious about that by the way. How many years have you spent with that Slakoth?"

I explained. "Two months, well two and a half by now."

Bill almost choked on his champagne. "I'm sorry- Two months?"

He appeared to be in deep thought. "I imagined you must've spent years on Mount Takujimi actually raising this Slakoth to be this good. But for you to do it so early."

Bill shook his head. "I heard you declined Clair's offer to join her team."

"How?" I was confused.

"She talked to me about you. Said she was convinced my software for Pokémon battle simulations was dead wrong. She simulated Buneary's fight with your Slakoth a dozen times before the final, and you lost pretty much all of them."

I shrugged. "Odd."

"I know." Bill went on. "I've designed almost every piece of hardware and software the entire planet uses in regards to Pokémon. Or, in general." he said. "But I've never met or heard of someone as unique as you Nico."

He kept looking at me.

"I can offer you more money than you can possibly imagine to join my gym."

"You have a team?"

"I own a team. I help Samuel Oak run Viridian City Gym's competition team, pay for all their gear, train tickets, anything they might need."

I chuckled. "Why am I not surprised? Every single person I've met just wants to use what I've got to better themselves."

"Have you ever wondered just how important these next few months might be for your entire Pokémon League career?"

I took back what I said in seconds. Now I knew Bill never battled Pokémon very much, but he was smart and rich enough to transform himself into Jigglypuff and back. I should be listening to his every damn word.

"That girl over there." Bill recognized Violet in the crowds of people on the dance floor. "She's what? Fifteen?"

"Sixteen." I said.

"By the time Blue Oak was sixteen he'd already won second place at World Championships to none other than Red. They were childhood friends." Bill leaned back in his chair, finishing his champagne. "Blue proceeded to win the year Red disappeared near Mount Silver. He and Leaf have been trading the World Championship crown for the past ten years with a few others in between."

I nodded.

"And that's not counting how many years Blue and Leaf have completely dominated battling here in Johto and especially Kanto since they were about ten to twelve years old. There are only two teams around that can possibly help you anywhere. Clair's, the best in Johto. And Blue's, the best in Kanto."

"You want me to uproot everything, leave the Order behind, and come to Viridian City to make Blue my new instructor?"

I had one instructor. The man who saved my life, Elder Toji.

Bill shifted in his chair, scoffing. "Since your win at Blackthorn City, have you spent any time at all actually reviewing your sparring footage? I have. Your Slakoth is one of the best trained Pokémon I've ever seen period, regardless of sheer experience or power. Granted it's extremely early in your career to say such things, but I sponsored Blue to international stardom."

I nodded. "I know what greatness looks like and how to foster it. How do you train your Pokémon?"

So many people ask this.

"I train alongside them, physically, mentally, in every way I can, I try to instill the values and skills the monastery's karate gave me."

"Your ideal partner for competition is an Eevee, specifically an Espeon right?"

I shifted in my chair. "Yeah." I said uncomfortably.

"I own two Eevee's. I can have one transferred to your PC tomorrow morning."

"Just like that? I haven't signed anything, agreed to anything." I sighed. "I, I literally haven't earned anything."

"You've earned my respect." Bill said. "You told Clair no. That alone takes backbone of which I can't typically find nowadays. I can't imagine a fourteen year old boy on this planet who'd turn down the degree of knowledge and resources she'd have at her disposal in order to seek their own path in WCPL."

"What I do works. What Elder Toji and the monks taught me works. Hard work, discipline, that comes first. Everything else just falls into place, no need for so many fancy gizmos or money."

Bill smiled. "I see now what your gift with your Pokémon truly is. Why you brought something to Blackthorn City no one's ever seen before."

He blinked. "It's humility. It can only ever really come from a Sage, maybe actually joining a team would ruin that. Keep doing what you're doing."

"That Eevee. I'll send it back the moment I see it in my PC."

"I wasn't going to send it." said Bill. "However. I can tell you where to find one."

"Where?"

"Most Pokémon don't truly come to you if that makes sense. You come to them, if you're indeed fated to find an Eevee. You'll find one naturally." Bill smiled. "I'll give you a challenge."

I listened.

"After you've collected a couple badges here in Johto after. I don't know. A few months possibly a year. Come to Viridian City, challenge some of Blue's team members."

I was confused.

"The boys. His younger brother Gary Oak, Ash, a couple of them. I guarantee you, you'll probably impress him. If what you seek is to truly train Pokémon to the best of your ability, regardless of the medal, badge, money, or what have you."

It was a bit spooky how Bill was smart enough to determine just how I trained my team.

"Then you'll earn a Growlithe he'll raise personally by that point as a small pup. His Arcanine's mate is pregnant. In a few months, he'll probably try to find someone to raise his Growlithe, I think the rest of the litter he'll give to his grandfather's farm."

Now I was interested.

"You seem like the kind of person who likes to earn things, never let them be handed to him. In that case, challenge Blue's team. You won't regret it."

Bill left the table. "Your best bet in the future is to never doubt your own instincts. If you really aren't going to join a team, look inward."

That made me think.

Look inward.

…

An hour or two of the wedding passed.

And it really got me thinking.

I didn't ask Jasmine to dance, I didn't even talk to her. I didn't talk to anyone.

Look inward?

That was the best the Pokémon world's Steve Jobs could give me?

Eventually I stood off to the side, watching Jasmine's Steelix sort of corral the smaller Pokémon like a few Snubbull into a circle with its tail.

"It's a very nice night for one to be brooding."

I turned around. "Ironic."

Inoru smiled. "How are you?"

"I'm fine Ino."

"What's on your mind?"

"What Bill told me. I might not be living up to my full potential as a Pokémon trainer if I don't pick a gym to represent. Clair's and Blue's are some of the best in the world."

Inoru laughed quietly.

"What?"

He leaned on the pillar of the gazebo where we both watched the Pokémon play together. I even had released Teddiursa, with a strong reminder from me to play nice, with the others left at the wedding.

If there was something Teddiursa appeared to be above everything, it was obedient, despite its recently tamed wild nature and brute strength.

"Nico, Mew left faith in humanity to be worthy of its sacrifice. Of its decision to save us from-"

"A great evil no one remembers."

Ino smiled. "Yes. An evil no one remembers. Elder Toji is one of most knowledgeable sages we've ever had, I traveled the world for years just to learn from him."

"And?"

"He, and the most important Inititates in our entire Order, trusted to keep humanity's spirit pure. And they chose you Nico to represent us in something they've never done before. They saw something in you, your past, your character, your heart." Inoru shook his head. "And in my opinion, your karate."

"My karate." I said flatly.

Inoru looked back at the wedding celebration only Violet was left to enjoy mostly.

"You've trained your Slakoth so well in martial arts it knocked out the best Pokémon Youngsters had for years in a single afternoon. If you can't see what the monk's saw in you, then there's no point in competing anymore."

I nodded. "That's what Bill meant by looking inward."

"What you teach your Pokémon can't be taught from a computer, or representing someone else's style." Inoru tapped the center of my chest with his staff. "It lies, in here."

I think it really did.

…

We left just about twenty minutes before the actual wedding celebration finished.

Violet had an amazing time, I'm pretty sure she got that rich kid's social on her PokéNav.

Inoru mostly enjoyed the music and while he didn't dance, I could've sworn I saw him tap his foot.

More than anything, my conversation with Bill really helped me re-evaluate myself, my new ranking as an official Trainer in the Pokémon League. And how to move forward.

As we all began to walk to our campground I spoke to Violet.

"Great night huh?"

"You rubbed elbows with a few celebrities. Missed the chance to ask a real Gym Leader for a dance." she teased.

I ignored this. "I have to ask you, how do these tournaments work to qualify for a Gym challenge?"

Violet sighed. "The rules for WCPL badges and competitions change almost every year. And the schedule changes every few months."

"So?"

"So, the next tournament in Violet City isn't until the end of next month."

I had over six weeks to prepare.

"What are the rules like?"

"The same you're already used to, except this kind of tournament is far smaller than the one you won in Blackthorn City. There are typically around thirty competitors, depending on the tournament. I think they even squeeze in a few Youngster matches just for medals."

Violet continued as we kept walking. "You can use a maximum of two Pokémon, they don't allow anything higher than second stage Evolutions. Switching a Pokémon out is instantly considered forfeiting it for the rest of the match."

So you can only do it once. Smart.

The benefit of using Normal types here never seemed to go away. Teddiursa and Slakoth were still only weak to Fighting types, which, mainly used physical moves, at least Slakoth so far, seemed to really excel at using and countering.

As much noise over my victories could go on. I wasn't doing this for fame, this was for the Pokémon. I was sure I could prove mine were the best fighters, and if I couldn't, I could prove they were really great ones for sure.

I think I had yet to let them down honestly, and I never planned to let up. But Bill was right, I think I had to look inward first to help them grow.

…

…

…