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….Five years ago…..
….. At The Manalo Conference…..
"Folks, I can't believe my eyes!"
A Lycanroc faced another of its same species, the differences shocking as much as the similarities. They were both the trainer's last Pokemon, both had the hopes of the entire Championship resting on their shoulders, both Pokemon willing to lay it all down for their partners.
The difference, aside from having different forms, is that Dusk won over Midnight in a way that's never happened before.
A Counter that was Countered.
An already difficult to perform move. An impossible strategy. And an impossible execution, with the highest stakes.
"Gladion's Lycanroc is unable to battle! Ash's Lyranroc wins!" The entire crowd was silent, unable to articulate what just happened.
"That means Ash is the first winner of the Manalo Conference!"
A single clap broke through, and then another. And then a maelstrom of shouts and clapping and noise erupted throughout the stadium.
"Ash has just been crowned the first champion of Alola!"
On the battlefield, both teenage boy's eyes bugged out. One in shock, the other in disbelief.
"After all these years, he's finally done it! Ash Ketchum has just become a Pokemon Master!"
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…...Two years ago….
…..On the Summit of Mount Lanakila…
"Elio Sun has just become the second ever Champion of Alola!"
A battered and beaten Lycanroc lay on the other side of the challenger's podium, a singing Primarina lauding her victory a few paces away, barely touched by injury.
Five minutes later, a rueful, if not overly surprised Ash shook the new champion's hand in front of dozens of snapping cameras.
On the day, the news headlines were all about the new champion. The next day, the news headlines were all about the old one.
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…...One year ago…
…...At the Indigo Plateau Conference…
"And with that, we rounded up all our matches for the quarter finals! Thank you for coming out today! We hope to see you again tomorrow for another thrilling round of matches! Up next, the semi finals!"
The lights went out. In the back of the stadium where the trainers resided there was still one man sitting there on the benches. No Pokemon in sight.
In his head, the only thing he would see over and over was the expression on his Pikachu's face when it fell victim to another Earth Power. The opponent's Flygon had been merciless, and none of Pikachu's attacks had any of the desired effect.
And all he could do was watch.
Slowly, silently, tears fell down on the stadium's floor.
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The Pokemon Center didn't have much in the way of human accommodations. It did have them, being the only medical center around for miles, but aside from the emergency essentials, it was minimalist at best.
Nate was lying down, bandaged up to the nines and sedated under painkillers. The injury was made a lot worse since he ran so frantically with the stick still in his torso. It likely perforated when he fell over and stuck around since then.
I can't believe I didn't notice that whole time. I tapped my foot frantically on the Center's floor, standing up and sitting back down periodically. The chair was uncomfortable.
Ash didn't take the other chair. He just stood next to the window, looking in between the glass panes, not even to the outside.
The doctor had come and gone. After the second day they said he would make it, but it would be a few days before he would wake up again. The lasting effects of the injury weren't clear yet, or if there would even be lasting effects, they didn't know.
They knew nothing.
I stood back up from the chair, glared at Ash, and walked back down the stairs. I needed to get my head right. Someway.
Walking out of the Center I saw a lone trainer looking bored next to the Battlefields.
"Hey kid! Wanna go a round?"
He perked up.
…
Ten minutes later I added another win to my record, but didn't feel much better. I released my Pokemon just a few miles from the city center. Close enough to where you could see Route 20 starting.
The Sawsbuck was long gone. For some reason the Ranger wasn't able to catch the thing. It would shake out of Ultra Balls just as easy as it did Pokeballs. It was still out there, but I doubted it would try and get close to here again. We were safe, for now.
I looked each of my Pokemon in the eye. "I don't know if you know this, but I'm not just aiming to become a seasoned Pokemon trainer." Styx already knew my ambitions, but I thought this would be important to establish, as a team. Crouching down so they could see me better I continued, "I'm not aiming to become a Master, or a Champion, or even to beat my dad. No, it's much bigger than that."
I closed my eyes. "I want to be on top. Stronger than everyone, better than everyone." I opened them again. "I decided that if I'm going to be doing this, I'm not half-assing it. I want to conquer every battlefield. I want to win against every opponent. I want to be number one."
In my previous life I thought I could do things that no one else could. I succeeded, but I became complacent, and that was my downfall. Here, I wouldn't make the same mistake. I would keep climbing, no matter how high, and win. No matter what.
Even if I had to leave some things behind. So then why am I still here, waiting for Nate to wake up? Why am I so angry and frustrated? Why am I so directionless?
I need to step up to the plate. Somehow.
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My Pokemon, without even needing to speak, understood. Their faces as I told them my aspirations were enough. I didn't need to convince them, I didn't need a speech. They could sense, feel my hunger for conquest.
"We need perspective. See how high the top really is."
Back in the hospital I didn't stand in front of Nate's bed, I stood in front of Ash.
"1v1. No bets." I flashed my Pokedex at him.
Ash Ketchum, Pokemon Master. #89 W1115/L375/D91
"Ash!" For someone in the Top 100, he sure does have an awful lot of losses under his belt. What's even more ridiculous is his draws, considering it's pretty rare to end up in a draw in the first place.
Ash seemed lost in thought, not focusing on anything in particular. "Hey. Did you hear me?"
Nothing. Why do I even try?
I walked away, but just as I got towards the door Ash said, "Wait." I turned around. His expression was hidden under the cap he wore. "Give me a minute to grab a Pokemon from Professor Kukui's house."
Five minutes later I met Ash on the other side of the battlefield close to the Pokemon Center.
We didn't speak a word to each other, just held up our Pokeballs. Our Pokedexes flashed green.
"Go! Razor!"
"It's time, Rowlet!"
The newly introduced Rowlet looked about in confusion. He probably didn't expect to be sent out straight into a battle.
Good. It would give me the legup I needed. "Use Quick Attack!" This would be my first aerial battle. The way to win lay in a different formula than usual.
Razor rushed forward, giving Rowlet no time to process what was going on around him.
"Dodge!" Ash commanded.
Like a fighter jet, the Rowlet blew past Razor to the other side of the field. I could barely see him move.
"Now use Razor Leaf!" Rowlet followed the command faithfully, no longer questioning why he was in battle.
Sharp edged leaves grew out of the wings of the Pokemon and shot out of it, homing in on Razor. It wasn't planning on missing.
"Wing Attack! Straight through!" Razor Leaf was a move that was hard to avoid, but it's also not very effective against a Flying-type.
Razor would survive. Well, maybe survive wasn't the right word. He did get hit by the leaves and every time he got struck by one it would mess with his trajectory, smacking him off course as he tried to get to a rapidly firing Rowlet.
Okay, maybe not the greatest strategy.
"Now! Use Seed Bomb!" Rowlet started dry heaving, and then its mouth started lighting up in Grass-type energy, eventually turning orange as an everstone launched itself out of the Rowlet's beak and headed straight for Razor's head.
It hit, point blank range in the Rowlet's guard before he could even connect with the Wing Attack.
Razor smacked down to the ground, the everstone like a weight on him. He was knocked out immediately. My Pokedex dinged red for the first time.
Not to say that I didn't expect that, but. It was just a Rowlet. A Rowlet that fought its way through the Manalo Conference, yes, but a Rowlet.
Two grass-type hits shouldn't have—nevermind. I should have known better than to have my low level Starly try to tank through a hit from a Conference-level Pokemon.
I'll have to think of strategies against Pokemon at a much higher level than we are. The same tricks won't get us the win condition.
I returned Razor to his ball and watched my new ranking with solemn determination.
David Gale, Pokemon Trainer. #29,457,917 W7/L1/D1
My first loss. To a Top 100. Eh, oh well.
I started walking away, content not to have to say anything to him. He however, had other plans.
"Why did you challenge me?"
What kind of a dumb question—"Because you said yes?"
"But you knew you'd lose."
"That's exactly why I challenged you."
"Huh?" Oh my God, they did not exaggerate his denseness.
"I challenged you to see how high up I still have to go. I intend to surpass you one day, and I needed at least some type of grasp on where that is."
"Why?"
"Because I want to be the best." Like no one ever was. Hah. I tried not to laugh creepily. Not the time for it. "I'm not content with just making it through the season, or even getting the opportunity to challenge the Elite 4. Not until I'm the last one standing in the Pokemon World Tournament would I be satisfied."
Ash looked at me dazed. "The top, huh…."
I nodded. "The top." It's almost impossible, really. This season ends in 8 months. Not nearly enough time to get enough badges to make it to the Conference.
The Vertress Conference is an annual affair, however, so I would definitely aim for next year.
The Pokemon World Tournament… The last one was a year ago, meaning the next one would be three years from now.
"You think you can beat him? The current number one?" He sounded incredulous and he had every right to be.
The last PMT really wasn't a contest. Past and present Elite 4 and their champions showed up from every region. Trainers naturally are a competitive bunch, even the retired ones. Almost everyone who was anyone that got an invite came, but there was only one man on top. His name?
Natural Harmonia Gropius.
N of all people came out of literally nowhere and told the organizers that he would be attending. Since he was technically a Unova Champion at one point no one really argued his inclusion, even though he hadn't been seen in the public eye for years.
He came in, and he destroyed everyone. Forty different Pokemon were at his beck and call. Some not even in Pokeballs, flying or teleporting in from some other region. It was like the stuff of fairy tales. An Alakazam would appear on the field, knock out three of Lance's Pokemon and then leave to never be seen again. Later, a Braviary would come and drop off a Sableye that would Mega Evolve and then completely destroy Bruno 6vs1.
No one could get more than three knockouts against him. Not Ethan, not Leon, not Cynthia. It was insane.
And then, right after he got crowned World Champion, he up and left.
Just, gone. No one's seen hair nor hide of him. Some say he'll come back again for the next tournament, however, but no one has any proof. Heck, if it wasn't recorded no one would have believed he was even there in the first place.
During all the time he was here he only showed up to one press conference to say one thing.
It's now the most famous quote of all time.
"Don't stop believing in the power of the bond between a Trainer and their Pokemon. That's what will propel society forward. Nothing else."
N had only one recorded loss against the previous champion of Unova. The one who got dethroned by Nate's sister, Rosa White.
Hilda was also MIA ever since then, and there was a rumor that they had eloped together somewhere.
Natural Harmonia Gropius, Pokemon World Champion. #1 W214/L1/D0
Still, even dreaming of trying to beat him is a bit far fetched at best. That's why I needed some concrete goals first.
"Yes. To get to N the first thing I need to do is beat Cheren, so that's what I'll be doing." Collect the badges. Train up a team. Get to the Conference. Beat everyone there. Be invited to the Pokemon World Tournament. Battle N and win.
Totally not a tall order. Not at all.
I had almost forgotten Ash was there, walking back to the Pokemon Center with me. "That's your goal. Beat N. It's so crazy." He started laughing. "It's so crazy. But everyone thought the same thing about me. I had tried so many times in so many regions. They said there was no way I could ever become champion. And then I did. So now… maybe I need to aim even higher."
He stopped me in front of the door. "I'll do the same." He held out a fist. "I'll reach the top as Indigo champion. I'll fight N, and I'll win."
I stared at him. He was gonna try to beat Ethan? The #2? Is that what I sounded like? But, honestly, if there was anyone that could protagonist their way through it would be Ash. I met his fist.
"I'll take you up on that then. Kanto's Conference is in a few months, right? Think you have enough time to assemble a team?"
He smirked. "I know exactly who I'm bringing already."
I smirked back. "I'm looking forward to that, then."
We each lowered our fists. "Hey, David. Can you give something to Nate for me? When he wakes up?" He suddenly looked unsure.
"Of course. Yeah."
He walked back up to the PC and after sending Rowlet back he took a packaged item out. He handed it over to me.
"I'll see you at the PMT?" I wasn't surprised he was leaving already. There was so much I felt like we could have said, could have done. But he was a man on a mission, and so was I.
"Yes. And I'll beat you there too." I was grinning now.
"I'll take you up on that challenge." He walked out of the Pokemon Center and eventually, out of my line of sight.
Something tells me I'll be hearing from him again a lot sooner than he thinks.
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Back in Nate's room I was back to thinking, but this time with a little more clarity.
That man, the one who caused the Sawsbuck to go crazy. I felt like I've seen him before, even through the mask. But who—
The man. On the boat. The one who ordered his Starmie to attack Sarah.
I couldn't even see all of his face either time, but I knew for a fact they were the same person. He—they were causing chaos. Stealing, destroying. But for what?
Somehow I really don't think I'll like the answer.
I watched Nate's relaxed face as he was sleeping.
One thing I know for certain is that this won't be the last we'll see of them. Far from. And if they're causing this much harm to the people I travel with, then they're gonna have a problem with me too. Next time something like this happens I'm fighting back. No running. But for that, I'll need to get stronger.
I pulled out my Pokedex and a notebook and went back to planning. Now, strength wasn't just for my sake anymore. I uncapped a pen with my mouth.
Bastards, making me care.