PROLOGUE/CHAPTER ONE

"... we're back, for the final battle in the Indigo League! That's right, folks! Our challenger has battled his way through the Elite Four and won three times! Now, as he steps up to the plate, will he be able to defeat the fourth and final member?"

A burst of applause rose from the crowd, as the crew aimed their cameras and projectors to capture the unfolding spectacle. They took their seats in the larger-than-life stadium, in the center of which was an expanse of land marked with white lines to indicate positions. Everyone's eyes snapped onto the podiums on opposite sides of the stage, raised high to survey the battle and make their presence known to the eager watchers on all sides.

"Our challenger, ladies and gentlemen! Gary Oak!"

The screen showed Gary with a smug expression and a mop of unruly brown hair. As the cameras zoomed in on the podium, viewers could see three Pokeballs in recesses in front of him.

"And the one you've all been waiting for, the best of the Elite Four, our Champion, Lance!"

The applause and cheers were deafening; Gary looked a little nervous. Lance had windswept blonde hair and wore a black cape, with an expression of utter nonchalance.

"Each Trainer has selected three Pokemon for this battle," spoke the announcer, his voice resounding throughout the stadium. "Victory is for the Trainer who can defeat all of their opponent's Pokemon!"

The cameras zoomed in on Gary's face. He gazed at his Pokeballs, choosing the one in the middle. The cameras aimed at Lance showed that he had already chosen his first Pokemon.

"Ready, Trainers? This will be the final battle of the Indigo League! The winner of this match will be titled the Champion!"

The crowd went crazy with anticipation, their yells and cheers like no entertainment event in Kanto could provide. Gary tightened his grip on his Pokeball and threw it into the battlefield. It collided with the ground, opened with a burst of light and rebounded straight back into Gary's hand, where he caught it. The sudden illumination materialized to form a Pokemon that looked to be a bipedal rhinoceros, with a horn on its forehead and sharp claws on its hands and feet.

"Our challenger Gary has begun with Rhydon!"

Gary looked pleased with himself, as the cameras focused on Rhydon's large figure, stomping impatiently and breathing furiously through its nose. Lance threw his Pokeball without hesitation, and as it landed into the fray, releasing a burst of light and returning to its owner's hand, the light materialized to form a large water serpent, taller than the podiums of either Trainer. The crowd gasped in shock as Gyarados bared its fangs.

"Our Champion Lance has chosen to use Gyarados!"

Gyarados slithered its long tail across the field, slamming it in a display of force against the ground, leaving a noticeable imprint. Rhydon curled its hands into fists and tensed, ready to attack.

"Rhydon, Horn Attack!" Gary shouted.

Rhydon set off at a run, heading for Gyarados. Its footprints were visible on the ground as it took speed and headed for the beige underbelly of Gyarados.

"Gyarados, use Leer!"

Gyarados focused its gaze at Rhydon and its eyes glared, suddenly blinding Rhydon. Losing speed, Rhydon nearly toppled to the ground but held steady. As it regained posture, Lance called out,

"Gyarados, use Hydro Pump!"

Gyarados seemed to hesitate for a moment, but only as a preamble for the torrent of water which surged out of its mouth and blasted Rhydon off its feet. The force was such that Rhydon was unable to move after Gyarados had finished its attack.

"Rhydon is out!" the announcer shouted, as the crowd erupted into a fresh display of cheers and applause.

The cameras focused on Gary's face as he returned Rhydon to its Pokeball. He looked less confident, but resumed a fixed expression as he picked up his second Pokeball.

"Who will our challenger select to battle Gyarados?" the announcer asked.

Gary tossed his next Pokeball into the field, shouting,

"Go, Pidgeot!"

The burst of light revealed a bird Pokemon, with colourful plumage and powerful wings. It immediately soared into the air upon its release from the Pokeball.

"Gyarados, Bite Attack!" Lance shouted.

As Gyarados ventured forth and snapped at Pidgeot with its fangs, Pidgeot was able to dodge by flapping its wings at the opportune time and avoiding its attacks.

"Pidgeot, Wing Attack!" Gary shouted.

Pidgeot dived towards Gyarados' underbelly, as Gyarados attempted to move out of harm's way. Pidgeot's wings glowed bright and it sliced Gyarados with its wings. Visibly hurt, Gyarados attempted to bite Pidgeot, but it avoided the attack and flew to a safe distance.

"Gyarados, Tackle!"

Gyarados lunged for Pidgeot, flicking its tail towards Pidgeot. As Pidgeot dodged the attack, Gyarados then reared its head and tackled Pidgeot with its forehead. Pidgeot spun out of control, plummeting towards the ground, but by flapping its wings frantically it managed to hover just before making contact.

"Gyarados, Leer!"

Gyarados fixed Pidgeot with the same intense stare which had made Rhydon dizzy. As Gyarados' eyes glared, Pidgeot made eye contact out of curiosity for the sudden gleam and fell off-kilter, landing on the ground with a thud. It scrabbled to get up, as Lance shouted,

"Gyarados, finish Pidgeot with Hyper Beam!"

Gyarados seemed to hesitate with this attack as its body seemed to tense, gathering a spherical ball of energy which amassed inside its throat.

"Pidgeot, get up!" Gary yelled, as Pidgeot, dazed, attempted to gain its standing.

Gyarados' eyes glowed and its body stayed rigid as it seemed to inhale the energy it was amassing, then it shot forth in a concentrated beam from its mouth.

"Pidgeot, Mirror Move, NOW!" Gary shouted.

Pidgeot managed to gain its footing, wide-eyed at the sudden attack and heeded its master's words. It crouched, opened its mouth and a glowing portal appeared to engulf Pidgeot, shining with multicolored rays. The crowd watched, fixated, as Gyarados' Hyper Beam collided with the glowing portal Pidgeot had created, absorbing it in its entirety and then reflecting it back with equal measure.

"Gyarados! Avoid it at all costs!" Lance shouted. The cameras were fixed on his face, which remained maddeningly calm.

Gyarados, rigid from the exertion of using Hyper Beam, was unable to move. Transfixed, the crowd watched as Gyarados received the full brunt of its reflected attack, groaning in agony and flailing its tail about.

"Pidgeot, go! Use Quick Attack!"

Exceeding the speed it had yet demonstrated, Pidgeot took flight and zoomed towards Gyarados, managing a swift tackle to its neck. Pidgeot managed to fly out of the path of Gyarados, who, under the exertion and damage, fell with a resounding thud to the ground, moving no more.

"Gyarados has been defeated!" the announcer yelled, as, after a moment's hesitation, the crowd's cries of victory were suddenly chanting in favour of Gary, the challenger.

Lance looked unperturbed as he returned Gyarados to its Pokeball.

"You're good," Lance said, surprising Gary with this sudden comment. "Let's see how you fare against my next Pokemon. Aerodactyl, go!"

Lance threw his Pokeball into the field, erupting a flash of light which materialized to form a prehistoric flying Pokemon, with a grey body, and sharp fangs and claws.

"Lance has chosen to use Aerodactyl! Both Pokemon are Flying-types. Who will come out the winner?"

The cameras showed that Gary looked worried. He looked down at Pidgeot, who was a little tired but still in the running.

"Let's get this going, shall we?" Lance asked. "Aerodactyl, Agility!"

Aerodactyl disappeared into thin air, to the gasps of the crowd. Gary looked from his podium upon the field but couldn't see where it had gone. Before Pidgeot had barely turned its head, worried at this danger, Lance shouted, "Wing Attack!"

Aerodactyl appeared all of a sudden beside Pidgeot, its wings glowing and tackling Pidgeot with them. Pidgeot rolled several times across the field, stunned.

"Pidgeot, use Gust!" Gary yelled.

Pidgeot righted itself, as Aerodactyl hovered in the middle of the field, flapping its wings ominously. Pidgeot rose into the air, gathering speed as it circled Aerodactyl, creating a whirlwind which caused many in the audience to brace themselves against the sandstorm it was created. The whirlwind covered the field in dust, hiding both Pidgeot and Aerodactyl from view.

"Pidgeot, use Take Down!" Gary shouted.

Pidgeot emerged from its whirlwind, cutting through the dust like a hot knife through butter. As it collided with Aerodactyl's hard body, Pidgeot screeched in pain as the force knocked it backwards.

"Aerodactyl, use Supersonic!"

Aerodactyl opened its mouth wide and emitted a sound wave at Pidgeot as it fell through the sky. Before Pidgeot could recover in time, the wave made contact with Pidgeot, sending it spiralling downward faster and landing on the ground with a thud.

"Finish it! Take Down!" Lance shouted.

Aerodactyl swooped down towards Pidgeot, its wings flapping ominously as it tackled Pidgeot and sending it flying across the field, landing against one of the stadium's walls. It slid to the ground, unconscious.

"Pidgeot has been defeated!"

Cheers rose from the crowd, as Gary morosely returned Pidgeot to its Pokeball and selected his third and final Pokemon. He looked up and saw with surprise that Lance was holding out a Pokeball.

"Aerodactyl, return!"

The Pokeball shot out a beam of light and hit Aerodactyl, capturing it back in its Pokeball.

"This is a surprise, folks! Lance has decided not to use Aerodactyl for this battle!"

Gary looked worried, but remained gripping his Pokeball tightly.

"Go, Arcanine!" shouted Gary.

Gary's Pokeball revealed a four-legged Pokemon that looked like a mix between a canine and a lion. It was orange with black stripes and a confident expression marked its feral facial features. Lance threw his Pokeball into the fray, the light allowing for a much bigger expanse as it materialised to reveal a bipedal, orange dragon, with little wings on its back and a cream, striated underbelly.

"Ladies and gentlemen, we have the challenger's Arcanine against the fearsome Dragonite!" the announcer yelled, as the crowd gasped at Dragonite's appearance.

"Arcanine, Skull Bash!" Gary yelled.

Arcanine lowered its head and sprinted towards Dragonite, becoming a blur as it gained speed.

"Dragonite, use Thunder Wave!" Lance shouted.

Dragonite bristled with electricity and shot out a bolt of lightning which missed Arcanine by inches. Arcanine took the opportunity to leap into the air and hit Dragonite squarely on the chest with its head. Dragonite swatted at Arcanine with its fist to no avail as Arcanine landed on the ground with perfect composure.

"Arcanine, Fire Blast!"

Arcanine leapt back to make space, releasing a fireball from its mouth as its body glowed, alight with fire. The fiery blast landed on Dragonite's chest; but to the crowd's astonishment, Dragonite was barely hurt.

"What?!" Gary shouted.

"Dragonite, use Dragon Rage!" called Lance.

"Arcanine, use Agility!" cried Gary, desperately.

Arcanine disappeared into a blur as it sped across the stadium. Dragonite's eyes glowed and its hands balled into fists as it opened its mouth and released a blast of energy which consumed the entire field. The resulting impact was a flash of light which made the crowd gasp and Gary wince. As the light dispersed, Dragonite stood tall and proud, looking down on Arcanine, who lay unconscious upon the ground.

"Arcanine has been defeated!" the announcer yelled. "Lance is the winner!"

The audience was deafening with their applause. Fanfare rang out as Lance was heralded as the still-reigning Champion.

Miles away, in a small town called Pallet, a young boy named Daniel watched the television with fascination as Lance returned his Dragonite to its Pokeball and headed out of sight. The cameras caught sight of Gary, who had returned his Arcanine to its Pokeball and was miserably headed in the direction of the nearest Pokemon Centre.

"Beth," Daniel said, his gaze not moving from the screen as his sister sat down beside him. "I want to be a Pokemon Trainer."

A/N: I have most of the chapters for this story on my computer and will upload more as I continue to edit and redo paragraphs to ensure they are of good quality. Thanks for your patience.