Chapter 13: Battle Start!

Chapter 13: Battle Start!

The morning passed without any further incidents. I once more ordered a meal to be brought up to my room before changing clothes and heading to the gym to work up a light sweat. I tried to make it as close to my normal routine as possible.

Before a light lunch, I called home. The family was fine. Honestly, they were more than fine. With my going away to battle Lance, they had all set up in the lounge room with a whole plan for the day leading up to the match. I couldnt help but laugh. They couldnt demonstrate this level of planning while I was there; remove me and they had a three-act series of games before the match. I was impressed but was also realistic enough to know theyd start the first game and forget about all the other acts with some kids wanting to do other things or becoming hyper-focused on the first game. Rematches would surely be demanded. Forrest just didnt understand how little kids were.

The match was scheduled for early in the evening, which gave me just enough time to worry over my team choice. I had six pokemon line up with how I expected the match to play out. Now I could only worry over small details that could determine so much. Titan, Sanchez, Don, Shin, Bertha, and Selene. Each of them had a role to play. I didnt pull any of them out of their pokeball due to the chances of them being spotted. Anyone that was competent would be able to review my history of pokemon battles and expect certain pokemon on my roster. Some of them would no doubt be hard to find but there were videos in circulation for most of them. Sanchez, Shin and Don were going to debut in the eyes of the battle scene for actual televised events though. Titan and Bertha both had experience, while Selene had her own debut during gym matches.

As it reached three, I decided to go and familiarise myself with the arena. While I walked, I did so with a focus on the stadium that loomed over everything else in the region. Part of the stadium housed the Champions office. I could almost imagine him sitting in his tower, looking down at me as I approached.

Lots of people noticed me. I could feel a great weight of focus settle on me. If anyone called out, I didnt notice. I kept walking forward to the stadium. On arrival, I wondered if they might turn me away as a ploy to mess with my mental state. The guards nodded, however, and waved me through. I was led to a prep area that was for me and a team of other specialists. I had left all of them in Pewter. The room itself was large enough to house even the largest of pokmon. It served as a final checking area but it was also painted in flat, neutral colours that were likely meant to calm people down. It was a very neutral appearance with the walls having a few posters of Place your best foot forward! and Bowing out results in less injuries! Consider your pokemons long term health!. I blanked it out. Id had something similar when Id matched up against Lindsay in the Orange islands

In the corner, a small computer rested with a transfer station on offer for those that wanted to perform any last-minute changes. Off to the side, a lounge and a basic television rested. I headed for that. Outside, parades were in action with lots of people being wowed by their daring displays of skill. Today wasnt a day for the competitors to fight but rather for shows to be put on. People were prowling around and enjoying a festival-like atmosphere. I couldnt allow myself to slip into that mindset; Im here to win. I didnt need something loud that would have me reflexively looking around for my siblings out of habit. I needed quiet relaxation where I wouldnt be hassled.

I turned on the television to watch some daytime tv. The perfect, everyday normal event to set me at ease. Perfect to while away a few hours. I ended up leaving it for the computer area where I idly ran through some last-minute research on moves and pokemon that Lance might be able to call on. I was almost certain I knew which ones he would use, but it still niggled at me.

Half an hour before the starting ceremony began, an official entered with a very serious looking Officer Jenny. They both gave me their identification badges before Jenny stepped away to offer me some privacy. She remained in the room though as the League official spoke with me.

Gym Leader Brock, we received your payment earlier. He had a list that he was ticking things off from. His pen fell to the next item on the list.

I am here to lodge the six pokemon that you will be using to battle. As both yourself and the Champion have extended carrying capacities, you must lodge your claims. Do not ask what pokemon the Champion has lodged, I do not know and I cannot tell you. The team list is protected and placed in view of our team of security experts. He offered a humourless smile while glancing towards the stern Jenny. Please record your pokemon, the order you release them is entirely up to you but you must not deviate from the six you record. Id expected this, having been talked through the process with Surge.

I looked the form over, the question of what if you had more than one type of pokemon dying as I saw a line next to pokemon name with registration numbers. I nodded. This was fairly standard for high stakes exhibition, championship or tournament matches. If others didnt have the license for a larger pokmon roster like myself, I would have an advantage over others that were maxed out at six pokemon. For fairness sake, I had to pre-record my team roster.

Sanchez, Selene, Don, Shin, Bertha, and lastly Titan. These were the pokmon that were my strongest for this match. As I was representing Pewter City, I needed to do so with Rock-type pokemon. Otherwise, that list might have included some very different names.

When that was done, I was directed onto the actual battlefield, or rather, just off to the side of it to await the Opening ceremony. I sat to the side of the main battlefield in a shaded bunker waiting for the ceremony to be over and the match to be called for. I was very much out of the sun but on display. The people that had come for their seats early noticed me. I waved at a few but otherwise settled in to wait.

There was the usual Growlithe and Ponyta show first however, with people and pokmon from all over the Kanto and Indigo regions appearing. When they entered, they did so with abundant pomp and flare. Growlithe leapt through rings, or hopped along on their hind legs for the crowds' entertainment. Ladies and men in skimpy clothing rode forth on various mounts, most of them Ponyta and Rapidash. People cried out or cheered at each pass. Particularly pretty pokemon or people got some catcalls and there was an air of cheer in the air as the performers worked their magic.

Others came in demonstrating skills such as the flying pokemon who performed synchronised aerial acrobatics to get things underway. The people and pokmon representing the various types marched forth with a variety of fashion displays on show. I happened to know thanks to Yolandas keen interest that each year a variety of different local fashion designers were selected. They did it for the honour while also boosting their brands exposure. Watching from the sidelines as they paraded, sashayed and galavanted in, I was suddenly much more thankful to Erika, Surge, and Sabrina for helping me update my wardrobe.

I got to watch a few large blimps, looking like balloons of various pokemon, be paraded forth. Pikachu was always a strong favourite but Jigglypuff also drew some cheers this year.

Thankfully, no Jigglypuff with their notorious sing ability actually appeared. I considered that a small mercy, or a sign of the Jennys and other police personnels dedication in patrolling the stadium grounds. Rare and shiny pokmon trotted along, their trainers smiling widely. Most of them I recognised as travellers from Hoenn so they werent all that unfamiliar to me.

Fire pokemon paired up with fire acrobats and breathers in breathtaking synchronicity as they danced their way in, gouts of flame artfully unleashed at key intervals. A drummer marching in their centre made the entire stadium feel the beat as he pounded in time with particularly large tongues of fire.

A number of key League officials marched after them and waved as people applauded and thanked them for their efforts in contributing to the League and the conference. And then an announcer called for the competing pokemon trainers to enter.

It reminded me of the Opening ceremony for the Olympics to a degree but I knew it didnt have the same breadth. That would be saved for the World Championships, which was a tighter, more exclusive field. Still, the trainers, much like the Olympic athletes of my previous life, marched forward.

They didnt do it in city-states or even previous nations but as a single large cohesive unit. In the stands, people were crowded in. Normally there wouldnt be this many due to only being the opening ceremony. An event that was more a formality than actual entertainment.

The Leagues announcement of the exhibition match with Lance had resulted in more interest, which was probably their intention, but I had since learnt that my actions had made the exhibition match tickets one of the most in-demand items. Hawkers congregated out the front of the stadium and were even now selling their tickets in live bidding wars. There would be a lot of people watching through their televisions though, so the League and tv companies stood to gain the most from this event.

Now the match seemed to loom over the actual conference. Everyone shifted and I could tell there was more desire to simply get the ceremony over and done with. I eyed the assembled trainers and was amused how they had found exactly two hundred and fifty-two trainers.

Typically the best trainers were those that went on the journey to collect badges. It was the cheapest path to become a trainer but also offered the best experience. In the Indigo League, you could journey through either Kanto or Johto before competing at the joint tournament. People that completed the entire Indigo set for big eight badges, from either Kanto or Johto, held a lot of prestige that served them well for later offers of employment. The badges werent the only method of entering the League, however.

Some trainers could choose the more sedate, studious option of the Pokemon Academies or Colleges. Pewter city had a nearby establishment by the name of the Pokemon Technical College.

The last method, which I always forgot, was the Leagues own Admission exam. The difficulty of which could raise or lower depending on how many trainers completed the circuit with eight badges.

This always made the actual circuit the best method to guarantee a spot at the end. Even that wasnt a sure bet though. I hadnt experienced it yet, but Surge had told me of years when more waves of trainers descended on regions en masse, causing overflow and strain to the system with too many combatants for the final conference to be fair. For those situations, seedings and preliminaries were called into use. People that completed the circuit got preferential treatment, with the badges they earnt earning them more weight to their seeding and chances of progressing to the tournament proper.

I waved when Celia walked into the stadium, making her smile even wider. When everyone was set up, the announcer for the event took to his microphone and everyone turned their eyes to the now entering runner.

With one arm raised high, they carried a fire that symbolized the flame of Moltres. A pokemon that was said to embody the conferences virtues of passion and friendship. The Pokemon Leagues Competition President A title I found far too grandiose stepped forth and from his giant bushy beard, a smile emerged.The debut release of this chapter happened at Ñòv€l-B1n.

Should I deploy my best chance of countering that pokemon first? Or stick with my research? What did my gut tell me?

I took in a breath and considered the issue. Titan could and should be the one to face his Dragonite. It would take a heavyweight to match him. I knew this. Titan was my best shot. The best shot I had at sending a statement to all that looked at my gym and proclaimed it weak. It would see each one of my siblings puffed up with pride and not looking so defeated. That was not to dismiss the rest of his team. though. Lance possessed pokemon that could and should roll through a team of Rock types. If he stuck with that thought process then his first choice should be his Gyrados.

So what was it going to be? Titan or Sanchez. Which should I throw out first? I watched Lance and noticed that he had reached towards his waist, and not his necklace where the very symbolic Strongest pokemon was resting. That made things slightly easier.

Now I just needed him to play for keeps with what should be his best chance.

I grasped my choice and held it out. Trainers, are you ready!? shouted Charles Goodman from the centre of the arena.

I nodded, enlarging the ball in my hand with a deft touch of the button on the front. Release together on one! He turned towards the crowd and raised his hands, Here we go, ladies and gentlemen. Lets start the countdown!

Three! Lance and I locked eyes once again.

Two! We both drew back our arms, pokeballs and our first pokemon ready to go.

One! I planted my foot and hurled my pokemon out onto the field. Sanchez emerged with a mighty roar, arms spread wide like a luchador. Go-go-golem! He said before tweaking his moustache.

I looked up to see a large towering blue serpent rearing up before him. It bellowed out an inarticulate sound. A pressure swept through the arena as the mighty serpent pressed outwards with its aura claiming the territory with its emergence.

I grinned as I crossed my arms and settled into my pose.

OH! AND LANCE LEADS OFF WITH HIS GYARADOS! SOMETHING SURE TO GIVE BROCK SOME TROUBLE! BUT BROCK COMES OUT WITH A VARIANT OF GOLEM! I couldnt help but hear the announcer screaming his head off. I smirked, it probably looked cocky as all hell but it felt good to be right. The first matchup was in my favour.

During my journey, I hadnt made it as far as Alola. The lockdown of most regions saw to that. I doubted the League even started reaching out to the region yet. They existed, obviously, but were very hard to reach. You needed to chance out and risk life and limb to make it to new regions as an explorer. Some people dedicated their time and lives to rediscovering old routes to regions thought lost but it wasnt something that could be quickly achieved. It demanded huge manpower and hours of dedicated, institutional, attention to secure trade lanes with forgotten regions.

But that didnt stop me from trialling methods to get variant typings for regional pokemon.

Having money truly was a superpower on its own. One that I had levered into a specialised breeding/rearing area for pokemon that I knew would benefit from exposure to higher voltages or constant magnetism. A specialty diet was added just to push things further.

Sanchez might have been the youngest pokemon on my team but he was also one of the best surprise shock punches I had. Hed also been able to handle the workload demanded of an Elite top six pokemon. From them, I expected their best, and he'd delivered. He took the beatings I had to give and rolled back in looking for more.

I doubted more than a handful of people in the stadium, or indeed currently those watching, would have any idea of what this golem represented. Theyd learn soon enough.

The referee checked the descriptors Id lodged just prior to the match of my selected team before nodding to indicate everything was above board. Then he raised his hands. A hush fell over the crowd as Sanchez and the Gyrados eyed each other off. Sanchez made sure to constantly toy with his moustache while smirking, which seemed to only aggravate the serpent.

I readied myself as the referee clenched his fists before dropping them swiftly. Fight! shouted the ref and Lance and I called our moves.

Hydro Pump! said Lance with a sweep of his hand.

At the same time, I ordered, Dig into TP Sanchez!

Both pokemon were already moving before we had even finished speaking, a clear sign of their level of training. They barely needed orders, having gone through and experienced a lot with their respective trainer.

Gyarados use Sur before Lance could flood the field Sanchez emerged with a loud Golem!

His fist crackled with lightning and I saw the look of painful realisation sink in on Lances face as a move that was four times as effective than a normal move slammed home right into the serpents head. That would have to be a critical in game jargon. The thunder punch impacted, causing a thwap to sound out even as a surging electrical zap carried over the stadium.

Lances pokemon reeled back from the hit and fell backwards, writhing as electricity arced around their body. When it hit dirt, a thoom sounded throughout the stadium as air blew out from around it. Dust blew out and settled in the aftermath. The Gyarados was large enough not to be obscured. It surged back, a roar escaping it before twitching. It flinched and its mouth shut in a grimace. It tried to push on only to collapse as another arc of electricity coursed through its body. It lay still and the referee assessed it, waiting only a few moments before raising a green flag in my direction.

Gyarados is unable to battle! The first point goes to Brock! For a heartbeat, silence filled the stadium before the crowd went ballistic. Lance raised a Pokeball. Red light shot from it to Gyarados. The Gyarados was absorbed into it and I observed my opponent as he looked at the pokeball for a moment before nodding at it, accepting the defeat.

He looked up to see me watching. Hed been stoic until now but a slight frown had slipped in. His hand tracked to another pokeball before switching to a different one. I suspected that the ball held his Seadra, or if I was unlucky, he might even have a Kingdra. It was tough to judge which Lance would have but I suspected the second option as the most likely.

It fit his Dragon Mastery, and also should stack up well against my Rock-type.

The crowd continued to cheer and shout throughout it all but I ignored them.

Lance drew back his second pokemon and the crowd instantly fell silent as a Dragonite took centre stage.