Author's Note/Disclaimer: I do not own Pokémon or any of its related trademarks or characters. This is my first Pokémon fan fiction; I'm new to HoennChampionShipping but I dig it, so I wanted to write about it! Hope you enjoy!
Here She Comes
A knock interrupts his evening meditation. Sighing, he stands. "Come in."
"Sorry to interrupt you, Champion," Sidney says with an apologetic grin on his face, "But… I thought you should see this. This is a spectacular battle."
"What makes it so spectacular? Trainers come by here all the time…"
"This girl… Sir…" Sidney takes a moment to figure out how to explain this to his superior. "Do you remember that bad storm over Sootopolis a couple weeks ago?"
Steven's eyes widen at the mention of the disaster. Almost nobody has wanted to discuss it with him because of the fear it still leaves. He wishes they would, though. "Yes; I was in Sootopolis when it happened."
"This girl has the Pokémon that was found in the Cave of Origin! She's the one that stopped the storm!" The Elite Four member wonders if he's supposed to notice the catch in the Champion's breath, or the eagerness with which the window drapes are opened.
"May…" Steven whispers. He touches the window, watching the battle. She's battling a green-haired lad, and she's just summoned Kyogre. He looks on, awed, as the beast takes out the lad's Delcatty in one fell swoop.
May switches out Kyogre for a Typhlosion, then a Meganium. "She must have forgotten about Gallade's dual-typing," Steven chuckles to himself. "That could have cost her the entire battle and put her back at the beginning of the Road."
The green-haired boy - Wally, his name is - expresses some frustration with himself, but congratulates May on her spectacular victory. He gives her a Dawn Stone - Good choice for her, Steven thinks to himself - and steps out of her way.
May approaches the light after the bridge, and heads toward the League. Once he can no longer see her, Steven closes the curtains and heads toward the Champion's Room.
"Sir, how would you like us to proceed?" Sidney asks.
"Proceed as normal. You'll find May to be a worthy opponent; do not go easy on her on my account."
"Yes sir… Better go, she'll be here soon."
"Right. And Sidney?"
"Yes, Sir?"
"Do not tell her that I am the Champion. I want to surprise her." With that, he turns and leaves, full of class and grace as ever.
Sidney laughs. "I think somebody's in love. Or at least, admiration… Ah well. It'll work out how it works out…"
The door opens and there she is.
"Welcome, challenger!"
A few moments later, the battle begins. Watching from private security monitors, Steven cheers for her. When her eyes unknowingly land on the hidden camera after she wins against Sidney, his heart leaps to his throat. He smiles. "I'll see you soon, May. Good luck."
He turns away from the monitors and prepares himself for the best battle he'll have had in years.