Hey, guys! So, ever wondered who is the best among the best? Well, now here is a taste of an extreme battle competition starring some of our favorite characters. Here is a heads-up for my readers who have kept up with the current episodes and games: Due to being at college, I haven't bought any of the games since Emerald nor have I watched next to none of the anime up once it got to Sinnoh. I have incorporated many of the new characters (some so new that their only appearance has been in the games). While I have done my research, it is very possible that I have gotten something wrong in describing a character, whether that is by personality, lifestyle, etc. Please don't bite my head off; I am merely human. A nice PM correcting me will suffice, and any corrections I receive will be noted and changed quickly. I welcome any advice concerning the characters, so don't be shy! And also, this is a prologue. And yes, this is probably the longest freakin' prologue that you'll probably ever read, but just go with me on this. Enjoy!~
Prologue: The Invitation Heard 'Round the World
Pewter City Gym, Kanto
"MAIL'S HERE!" shouted one of Brock's younger brothers over the usually morning roar of the Pewter City Gym home.
He came into the crowded kitchen waving a stack of envelops in his hands. Brock cringed as he noticed his sibling was also tracking mud all over the linoleum floor. But, he couldn't be bothered with it now; he was still in the process of preparing breakfast for all ten of his younger brothers and sisters. His dad and step-mother had left two days before to go on a week-long anniversary trip to cruise the islands off the coast of Kanto. They had called Brock during his studies a week before their departure and asked to return home to watch the kids for them. Brock, unwillingly, complied.
He maneuvered his way around the crowded chaotic kitchen to his little brother like a trained trapeze artist. One of his little sisters sat on his shoulders and yanked his hair playfully shouting, "Go, Ponyta! Go!"; another sister clung to his apron strings trying to get his attention; one brother was trying to put his finger in the muffin batter that Brock was stirring, to which Brock responded with a rap on his brother's knuckles with the wooden spoon he was using to mix the batter. By the time Brock made it to the brother who brought the mail, a small crowd had already formed around him from the other siblings who occupied the kitchen. Questions and comments erupted, making the already noisy kitchen even noisier.
"Is my issue of Pokémon Monthly here?"
"What about my catalogue!"
"Did Mom and Dad send us a postcard yet?"
"LET ME SEE! LET ME SEE!"
"Hey!" shouted the brother who had brought in the mail, "Brock has a letter-and it's from the Pokémon League!"
The room exploded in gasps and shouts. Brock froze where he stood, stunned. A letter from the Pokémon League?
"Really?"
"No way!"
"LET ME SEE! LET ME SEE!"
Brock shook himself out of his reverie and reached one arm over the heads of his younger siblings to grab the official looking envelope from his brother's hands. The action caused his siblings to then crowd around him.
"What's it say, Brock?"
"Open it!"
"I wanna read it too!"
"LET ME SEE! LET ME SEE!"
"Wait a second, guys, I haven't even opened it yet!" said Brock loudly over the dull roar of his little brothers and sisters. He handed one brother the bowl of muffin batter he was carrying, who greedily accepted it and began to dig his fingers into the sweet mixture. Brock then lifted the sister on his shoulders off and placed her on her feet amidst her other siblings.
Silence fell over the kitchen as Brock began to tear open the envelope, which had been sealed with the official crest of the Pokémon League. He handed one impatient, grabbing sister the torn envelop and began to read the letter within.
The siblings watched in impatience as Brock's eyes darted over the words, the corners of his mouth moving higher and higher until it had turned into a full smile by the end of the letter. He looked to his brothers and sisters, beaming. Then, much to their surprise, he gave a howl of delight and jerked off his frilly, pink apron.
"Forrest!" cried Brock, turning to one of his older siblings, "Call Mom and Dad to tell them to get back ASAP! I've got an once-in-a-lifetime competition to prepare for!"
Petalburg City Gym, Hoenn
Caroline turned where she was preparing lunch to see her husband, Norman, coming into the kitchen from a long morning of training and battles. As he sat himself down at the table, she walked over and kissed him on the cheek.
"How's it going, dear?" she asked sweetly, as she turned and poured him a glass of lemonade that she had just prepared moments before.
"Not bad," answered Norman. "A Trainer came in today. Kid was good, but Slaking eventually won."
"That's good," said Caroline, as she placed the full glass before him. At that moment, the sound of a door slamming echoed into the kitchen and the clatter of running feet was heard.
Caroline and Norman exchanged knowing smiles at the familiar sounds of their children arriving. May and Max.
"Let me see!" called Max's voice.
"No! It's Dad's and it's obvious that it's a very important document, as it has the official Pokémon League seal on it. Therefore, I'm giving it to him," retorted the voice of May.
"That's not fair!" argued the voice of Max, "Dad asked me to get the mail! You didn't even know what that seal meant until I told you!"
Caroline and Norman exchanged knowing looks again, this time bracing for the impact for another sibling-rivalry match between Max and May, who had returned home from her travels to relax a bit.
Soon, their son and daughter rushed into the kitchen. May was holding an envelope high above her head and using her other hand to keep her younger brother, Max, from reaching it. Max was waving his arms and jumping repeatedly in an attempt to snatch the document away from his older sister.
May looked over to her father and smiled innocently. "Hi, Dad! You've got a letter from the Pokémon League!"
Norman and Caroline once again exchanged looks. What does the Pokémon League want with him?
Max finally seized his chance while his sister looked away and jumped up high enough to grab the letter from her clutches.
"HEY!" shouted May in annoyance, as Max ran over to where his father sat, handing the now wrinkled letter to him.
Max ignored his sister and beamed at his father, as he began to open the letter. "What if the League wants to promote you to one of the Elite Four? That would be so cool!"
"Agatha's not dead yet, son," smirked Norman, as he patted his son's head in affection, though the idea of being promoted greatly appealed to him.
"She is getting up there in age," he thought. "Maybe she's retiring…"
Norman opened the letter and began to sip some of his lemonade. His family watched apprehensively as his eyes got bigger and bigger the more he read. They all jumped in fright as he spewed out his lemonade and began to cough.
"DAD!" shouted May and Max together, as their mother simultaneously cried, "Norman!" and all three ran to his aide.
"I'm…fine," Norman managed once his wife roughly patted his back to clear his airway and May handed him a napkin to dry himself from the spewed lemonade.
Max looked to his father wide-eyed. "What does it say, Dad?" as Norman folded the now soaked letter and placed it in his breast pocket.
"It says I've got to do much more training before this competition," said Norman, as he hurried from the room, leaving his wife and two kids staring dumb-founded after him.
Trovita Island Gym, Orange Archipelago, Kanto
Rudy tucked the letter into his pocket and smiled as he watched the rolling wave's crash on the rocky shore of his home island. He had received the letter the day before and had been distracted from the possibilities it presented. He found out the evening before that the other Orange Island Gym Leaders had received the same invitation.
"About time the League remembered us out here on the Islands," Danny, a fellow Orange Island Gym Leader had stated light-heartedly to Rudy during the video-chat conversation they had had the night previous. "Of course, that's not my main reason for accepting the invitation."
"What's the other reason then, if not merely fortune and fame?" asked Rudy, though he had feeling he knew the answer.
"You know, because it's the same reason as yours."
Rudy smirked. Yes, he knew. He knew all too well.
Misty Waterflower.
Danny sighed and leaned back in his chair. "All the Gym Leaders in every region have been invited as well. And according to my sources, while not all the Leaders have yet responded, no has denied the invite. Who would deny, really? Rumor has it that more people besides the Gym Leaders have been invited, but I haven't heard who else."
Rudy tried to hide his surprise at this newfound knowledge. He didn't want Danny to know that he was unaware of anything.
"Misty has already sent in her agreement to attend, you know."
"Of course I do." Rudy responded, though that really wasn't the case. He himself had just received the invitation and had not yet responded, how was he to keep up with everyone else?
Danny narrowed his eyes at him. "I don't care too much for that 'Ash' boy she was with the last time I saw her. Rumor has it that while they are not currently travelling together, they are still good friends. Don't get me wrong, Ash is a nice boy and all, but a delicate being like Misty deserves the best, wouldn't you agree?"
It was Rudy's turn to narrow his eyes. "Of course."
"Then, may the best man win, Rudy."
Rudy nodded. "May the best man win."
Rudy looked back to the waves crashing to the shore as he brought himself back from thinking over the conversation with Danny. He smirked.
May the best man win.
Mahogany Town Gym, Johto
"Do you really think you should go, Pryce?"
Pryce looked up at his wife from where he sat in his power wheelchair. Age and years of training finally left the powerful Trainer feeble and unable to walk.
But no less of a powerful Gym Leader.
Pryce grinned as he looked back at the letter in his hands. "I don't see why not. I don't think the League would've invited me if they didn't think I could handle it."
His wife gently wrapped her arms around his thin neck, kissing him on the cheek.
Striaton City Gym, Unova
"They sent one to each of us?" gasped Chili, as he gaped down at his own individually sealed and addressed letter.
His brother, Cress, starred dumbfounded at his own letter. "B-but that means…"
"We'll be competing against each other!" finished the third brother, Cilan.
While the idea of competing against instead of alongside of his two brothers was somewhat of a foreign concept to him, Cilan beamed in anticipation.
Finally! A chance to see who the more powerful Trainer was!
Sunyshore City Gym, Sinnoh
Gym Leader Volkner sat at his gym with his faithful Raichu at his side looking up at him in curiosity.
"Chu?" asked the Pokémon, cocking his head to the side.
Volkner paid Raichu no mind; he was completely absorbed in the letter that he had just received. Suddenly, a vibrating sensation in his pocket brought him from his thoughts.
Volkner brought his cell phone out and looked to see that he had just received a text message. He smiled when he saw it was from Flint, his rival and best friend.
The message read: all the elite 4 got invited 2. B there or I'll kick ur butt.
Volkner was actually surprised that that was all his good friend had to say. He expected more trash talking out of him. Suddenly, the familiar vibrating sensation came once more from his phone.
No surprise; it was Flint again.
I'm gonna kick ur butt either way. I just added that last part 4 emphasis. Don't get comfortable, volky.
Volkner smiled again. Ah, much better.
He turned to Raichu.
"Ready to train, Raichu?"
The Pokémon responded with a determined "Rai!" as sparks dangerously began to shoot out of the pouches on his cheeks.
Exact Location Unknown, Kanto
Anabel sat back in the warm grass, staring up at the clear blue sky. Espeon lay beside her, her head resting on her paws. All was silent for a moment; neither one wanted to disturb the peace. After a moment, Espeon turned her eyes towards a wrinkled letter that lay forgotten in the tall grass.
Think you'll go? asked Espeon to Anabel.
Anabel shrugged. "I'm still thinking about it. I heard that the Gym Leaders were invited as well as the Elite Four members, but I didn't think the League would think to invite the Frontier Brains too. It almost makes you wonder who else was invited."
Silence filled the conversation again.
Espeon yawned. I think you should compete.
"Think so?"
Of course. Besides, I want to know who else has been invited. And then I want to take them down. You can't deny it, Anabel; you are going to be one of the better Trainers there, if not the best.
Anabel smiled at the encouraging words from her beloved Pokémon. "Then it's settled! I'll send in my agreement and we'll compete!"
That's the spirit…yawned Espeon again, as she closed her eyes and began to doze off.
Mossdeep City Gym, Hoenn
"You're going down, little brother!"
"Dream on!"
Tate and Liza have been arguing like this since the two of them got their individual invitations from the League a week ago. Both had sent in their agreements to go. And both had realized that the competition had placed them against each other.
And both were determined to beat the other.
"I don't even care to win as long as I beat you, Tate!" huffed Liza, as she crossed her arms and glared at her twin.
Tate gritted his teeth in annoyance. "Same here!" With that, he turned and began to run out of the room.
"Wait!" called Liza, "Where are you going?"
"To get a head start on training!" shouted Tate, not bothering to stop or turn around.
Liza gave a cry of annoyance as she began to run after him.
Celestic Town, Sinnoh
"So, the Champions are invited too, huh?" thought Cynthia to herself, as she brushed back her long blonde hair over her shoulder. She looked down at the letter that had been on her desk waiting for her that morning. It really shouldn't have surprised her.
She leaned back in her chair and looked up at her office ceiling, crossing her long legs, her fingers from her free hands twirling a lock of her hair while the other held the opened invitation.
"Let's see," she mused, "That's all the Gym Leaders from every region including the Orange Islands, along with all the Elite Four members and their Champions, and the Frontier Brains…quite a line-up…the League certainly isn't playing games. But rumor has it that the League invited more people, but I haven't heard who else, just that it wasn't any regular travelling Trainers…"
She shrugged to herself and sat up at her desk.
"Well, whoever else is invited, I'm sure that they are going to be some really powerful Trainers."
Oak Laboratory, Pallet Town, Kanto
Professor Samuel Oak had been rushing around for the last three days answering phone calls and emails and the occasional reporter that came knocking on his door.
After shutting the door behind the last journalist, he leaned back against the door and gave a sigh of exhaustion. He was worn-and he still had a lab to run!
His faithful assistant, Tracey, came up to him carrying a cup of tea.
"Here, Professor," said Tracey, offering Oak the cup, "I figured you needed this."
Oak accepted the cup. "Thank you, Tracey."
Oak really wanted to say that he might need a little something stronger to calm his nerves, but he didn't want to worry the boy. He could tell that his usual energetic assistant was run down too from all the sudden media attention and from the usual work of maintaining the lab.
"You have two calls on hold for you now, sir," said Tracey, as Oak began to sip his tea. "And four voice messages. And I really can't remember how many emails and letters you have on your desk now."
Oak lowered the cup from his mouth and groaned. "Tell the two callers that I'm unavailable at the moment. In fact, tell all my callers in the next hour that I'm busy. I really do need an hour or so Tracey-I'm exhausted. I'll be in my office taking a breather and answering mail."
Tracey nodded as Oak drained his cup. "I understand, sir."
Oak handed Tracey back the cup with a twinge of guilt. The poor boy was exhausted too, he knew, but he really didn't know how much longer he could go on without a break. As Oak began the climb up the stairs to his office (a difficult task now that he was older and used a cane when he walked due to his stiff knees and his bad back), he decided to let Tracey have the evening off after Oak was finished answering some emails. It wouldn't be so bad; he'd fed the Pokémon alone before and he'd just let all the calls go to the answering machine. Oak entered his office, shut the door securely behind him and sat at his desk, messaging his temples.
He sighed and reluctantly turned on his computer. Within a few moments, the blank screen came to life and a few moments later, around a dozen pop-ups announced that he had mail from various people. He groaned as he straightened his glasses and began the tedious process of sorting the mail by importance and then began to answer them one at a time.
He really could understand why people were excited and curious. Nothing like this competition had ever happened in the history of Pokémon. And while it was understandable that the Gym Leaders, the Elite Four and their Champions were invited, along with the Frontier Brains, no one would've guessed that the region professors, including Professor Ivy, had also been invited to compete.
He sat back from his typing and picked up the letter on his desk that he had received four days ago and began to reread it.
Dear Professor Samuel Oak,
Congratulations! You have been selected by the Pokémon League Board to compete at the Ultimate Pokémon League Competition. This contest will feature a host of other highly skilled Trainers representing other regions. This competition is strictly a battling contest only-no Coordinator skills, Pokémon games or races will be a part of this competition. The match up for battling will be at random to better witness the skill level of the competitors. The Trainers competing are asked to battle using three different Pokémon. The final match to determine the winner will be a six-on-six Pokémon battle. The winner takes the title as the Ultimate Champion, a new title that can be earned by Trainers by formally battling and defeating the current champion. The League is excited about starting this new and more challenging title that a Trainer can strive to earn in their quest to become a Pokémon Master. While your participation in this competition is not mandatory, it is highly requested. Along with this invitation is a form of acceptance/denial. Should you to agree to compete or not, completion of this form is very important for the better organization of this event. The League thanks you in advance for your consideration in entering this historical competition.
We hope to see you there!
-The Directors of the Pokémon League Board
Oak placed the letter back on his desk. The region professors were the last to get their invitations. Before them, it was Gym Leaders, Elite Four members, their Champions and Frontier Brains that had received them with only rumors that more invitations were going to be sent out. The competition had gotten plenty of media attention. Those who were invited were being interviewed on TV and had their pictures on the front of every paper and magazine. People could only guess who would be the last to get invited.
And since word got out that it was the professors, Oak's phone had hardly stopped ringing.
Including then.
Oak sighed and looked at his computer screen as it began to blare, "RING, RING, RING-PHONE CALL! PHONE CALL!"
"Oak Residence," answered Oak wearily, as he pushed the button on his keyboard that answered the call. He sat back at his chair as a picture of a burly man in a lab coat showed up on the screen.
"Evenin' Sam," smiled the man in recognition.
Oak smiled back at his friend, Professor Birch from the Hoenn Region. "Good evening to you too, Jeb. How are you?"
Birch shook his head. "Busy! I've never answered so many phone calls in my life than I have these last few days. The media just about knocked over my door at one point today."
"I know what you mean," nodded Oak. "Tracey and I can hardly keep up."
"Yeah, I'd hate to be in your shoes. I have a couple of assistants here and we can hardly get ahead of it all and run the lab. I don't know what I would do if it was just me and another assistant. You know Ivy is going to be on the news tonight, right?"
"I didn't know that."
"Yep," said Birch, "Rumor has it that she's officially announcing her acceptance to compete in the competition. Between you and me, though, I heard that she lost a grant and has been trying to publicize her lab for weeks now to get the funding for another research project of hers. Being on the news would be the perfect opportunity to get some dough."
"It doesn't surprise me," said Oak, "Can you really blame her?"
Birch sighed and shook his head. "Nope, you can't. I am surprised that the League invited all of us, though. I mean, does Elm even have a full team of Pokémon?"
Oak laughed at the remark. "Actually, he does. And back in the day, he was a pretty good Trainer; gave plenty of Trainers a run for their money. But, he was too much of a book worm to really get into it."
"Think he'll last?" asked Birch skeptically.
Oak shrugged. "I think he'll farther than you think. Either way, he won't beat me."
Birch gave a bark of his booming laugh. "I like you Oak, I really do…" he paused with a gleam in his eye. "So, that means that you are competing?"
Oak lifted his eyebrows and looked back at the younger man over the rim of his glasses.
"Do Goldeen swim?" he asked.
Birch gave another booming laugh and smacked his hands together. "That officially makes us rivals! I just turned in my paperwork today. Anyone else know?"
Oak shook his head 'no'.
Birch grinned. "So, I know before the media? About time that happens...I mean, those guys were on my doorstep before I even got an invitation, thanks to Rowan and Juniper. Speaking of which, you know more than I do on these things, but what's the scoop behind those two? They pretty good Trainers or no?"
"Trying to get me to help the enemy, Birch?" teased Oak. "I knew Shelia Juniper when she was a girl growing up in Sinnoh because her father and I did some work together. Her father wasn't all that good of a battler and neither is she. I admit, I was surprised to hear that she was invited."
"Think Elm will get farther than her?" asked Birch.
"Oh, yes!" replied Oak, which elicited a puzzled look from Birch. "He's better than you think, Jeb."
"I have a hard time believing that, but I'll take your word on it. And I know that you know about Rowan."
Oak placed his hands behind his head. "Ah! Edward Rowan! Did you know that we were rivals growing up and getting into our professions?"
"Yes, this is why I know that you know his skill level better than anyone else."
Oak grinned. He enjoyed holding this knowledge over his younger colleague.
"Rowan is a good Trainer," said Oak. "He's going to be tough to beat."
"Better than me?"
Oak shrugged. "Maybe."
"Elm?"
Oak laughed. "Jeb, you really are going to have to give Neal more credit. Yes, he spends a good portion of his time indoors, but he's going to be tougher than you think."
"We'll see," smiled Birch. "I've got a couple of tricks up my sleeves as well."
"Good."
At that moment, a noticed popped up on Oak's computer informing him that he had another caller. He sighed and turned back to Birch.
"I've got another call on the line, Birch. I'll talk to you later."
"I understand. Talk to you later, Sam."
With that, Birch hung up and Oak clicked the keys on his keyboard to get the next caller through.
"Oak Residence," he stated.
The screen brought up the picture of an older woman on the screen that Oak recognized as Bertha from the Elite Four in Sinnoh.
"Hi, Sam," smiled Bertha kindly. Oak smiled back and felt his heart skip a beat. Though no one really knew it, he found Bertha to be quite a lovely woman.
"Good evening, Bertha. How are you?"
"It's been pretty hectic lately, as I'm sure it has been for you," said Bertha, "But, I've begun training my Pokémon for this competition. They seem pretty excited."
"That's good. And yes, it has been pretty hectic lately, hasn't it?"
Bertha paused for a moment and sighed. "As much as I'd like say that I called to small-talk with you, Sam, you and I both know that that is not the case."
Oak nodded. "That's what I figured."
"Agatha wants to know. And quite frankly, I'm curious myself; are you competing in the competition?"
"I am," answered Oak, "It's not 'media official' yet, but I have sent in my acceptance and have completed my registration form for myself and for each Pokémon on my team. I'll be making a public announcement sometime this week."
Bertha nodded and bit the bottom of her lip briefly before continuing.
"Would it be too much to ask which Pokémon you're bringing?"
Oak snorted. "Tell Agatha to call me herself and to quit having her sister do all her dirty work for her."
"Oh, you haven't changed," laughed Bertha, "Was it that obvious I was spying for Aggie?"
Oak smirked. "I've only known you nearly my entire life, Bertha. Both you and Agatha." He shook his head. "I'm still surprised someone as sweet and low maintenance as yourself is the younger sister to someone as demanding and loud as Agatha. Don't get me wrong, I like your sister, I just don't see the resemblance."
"No one does," said Bertha, smiling fondly at Oak. "We aren't even supposed to ask which Pokémon our rivals are bringing for this competition, are we?"
"Nope. According to the forms, it's supposed to be classified information."
"Oops," muttered Bertha in sarcasm. "Won't tell on me, will ya'?"
"I won't say a word."
Bertha laughed. "You know, I really am looking forward to this competition. It's a good chance to also see who really deserves their current title now."
"Good point."
"And it's a good excuse to battle you, Sam."
Oak raised his eyebrows in mock surprise. "First your sister and now you, Bertha? Seeking revenge on me run in the family or something?"
"I know that Agatha has been obsessed with beating you once for all after you went to become a researcher, but the fact of the matter is Sam, that your Trainer days are not completely forgotten. You can't deny that you are a good Trainer. No one can, not even Agatha. Which is why she wants to be paired to battle you so badly at this competition, she can't stand it. And she's not the only one. Some of the younger folks are surprised that you were even invited to this competition; they never knew you were a Trainer."
"Ouch," murmured Oak. "Surely, I'm not that old…"
"Then again," continued Bertha, "you have some competitors like me who remember your Trainer days and want to see that again. And the younger Trainers want a taste of that as well."
"Well, they'll certainly get it," said Oak, "I may be old, but I'm not dead. I'll show these Trainers, and my old rivals, what a battle really is." He paused momentarily. "And I hope to be able to battle you in the competition as well, Bertha."
"Good, I'll tell Aggie."
They both laughed at the remark and said their good byes. By the time Oak hung up, he heard a knock on the door.
"Come in," he called.
Tracey stepped in carrying yet another bundle of mail.
"Place it on the desk," Oak sighed as he turned off his computer.
Tracey did so and stood at his desk nervously. Oak pretended not to notice. He knew what the boy wanted and he didn't blame him for wanting to know. Heck, Tracey hadn't said one thing about the competition during this entire time, to which Oak was thankful. But, he supposed that his curiosity couldn't wait any longer.
"Go ahead and ask, Tracey," said Oak, as he leaned back in his chair.
Tracey hesitated. "Are you sure, sir? I have a lot of questions."
"To which you have been very patient in receiving answers and to which, I am grateful for. But, I need to stop being selfish. The entire Pokémon World has been curious since this all started, yet my own assistant knows hardly anything. Go on, Tracey, ask away."
Tracey took a deep breath and began. "The League really invited you to compete in this competition?"
"Yep."
"Which means that you were obviously a Trainer at one point in your life, right?"
"Correct."
"So, you have a team of Pokémon to battle with in this competition?"
"That's right."
"So, you are going to compete?"
"Yes, Tracey, I am." Oak smiled when a look of awe came over his young assistants' face.
"One last question, sir, and then I'm done."
"Take your time, son."
Tracey slowly took a deep breath and his question came out almost like a whisper. "I've got to ask, sir, are you any good?"
Oak looked at Tracey with a gleam in his eyes. "I believe that I'll let you decide on that, Tracey."
-End of Prologue
So, whatcha think so far? And in case you are wondering, yes, this is going to be a long fic, but I hope to get you hooked til the end! And I am planning on finishing my other two stories on here, as well as adding a few one-shots every once in a while, so they'll be plenty to read.
OK, time to review!
Until you read again!
~MastermindMedley10