To be a Pokémon Champion - Chapter 2

DISCLAIMER: I OWN NOTHING.

Wow, over 600 views, 29 followers and 19 favourites! Thank you all for taking the time to read the first chapter! *bows* I hope this one lives up to your expectations.

Thanks to juatim for beta'ing for me, I really appreciate it!

Shout out to Bass and Relden Calder, who have helped me in forming this chapter and have been incredibly supportive and guiding me through my writing - I owe you guys a pint when I head back down your way!

Descriptions of Pokémon come from Bulbapedia.

Review Responses

Little Lady Otaku - I've mentioned the names of ORANGE's team below, can you guess what Pokemon they are?

xbox432 - She's going to catch her starter, no eggs.

zath9 - Thank you, I hope you enjoy this chapter!

Guest Sept 30 - You guessed right!

-Chapter Start-

"Man, your magic is really something else!" exclaimed ORANGE as he lay in bed whilst the nurses performed several healing spells on him. "I thought I'd be confined to this bed for at least a week or two - It's like magic!" "It is," stated Colbert drily as he, Osmond and Louise observed the child-like wonder on his face. He cleared his throat before continuing. "Your training plan for Louise is rather ... lacking in both detail and duration. There's almost two more terms remaining for her, and I doubt Headmaster Osmond here will sign off your plan when such information is scarce."

ORANGE grimaced as he propped himself up on his pillows, despite the protests of his nurses. "Cut us some slack will yah? We've only just agreed on the terms and you already want a detailed schedule? How long does it take you to come up with an entire syllabus for this place?" he challenged, looking between Colbert and Osmond. "Usually, we update the ones that my staff currently teach," said Osmond, stroking his beard. "An entirely new subject is created over the course of a year or more with careful planning and finding practical applications for the students." "Then why are you asking me to come up with all of that on the spot using what I've learned over 12 years when it takes all of your combined knowledge and experience over a year?" ORANGE asked, frustrated.

"Because you proposed it, we only thought you had some basic schedule you yourself had kept to while you were on your way to becoming a Champion," said Colbert as he raised his hands in a placating manner. ORANGE stared at him before sighing and running a hand through his matted hair. "You had a very basic overview of Pokémon as part of the core curriculum when you were a child. By the time you were 10, if you chose to become a Trainer, you had to be linked with a Professor or a Champion who will vet your capability."

"If you passed the checks, you then have two options. The first option is to enrol in an Academies. They range from teaching the basics from primary school level to advanced battle strategies, biology, ecology, archaeology blah blah blah at more advanced institutions. There are a few of those dotted around, all very prestigious and all unbelievably difficult to get into; you not only had to show you had the intelligence, but the drive to be a person who will accomplish feats - whether they be in battles or research - that will go down in history. Passing through one of these would give you the same qualifications as defeating the 8 Gyms."

"The second option was receiving your starter Pokémon and getting on your bike to defeat the 8 Gym Leaders sanctioned by the League. There is one allowed per metropolitan area, and each one has a Gym Leader who is the most powerful trainer in a given Gym. In doing so, you were rewarded a Badge for your efforts. Choosing the Gym route was tough, especially when the type I picked only had the advantage over one and weak against three. Yes, I know, I could've picked a balanced team that would've succeeded against Gyms, but I like Fire-type Pokémon, so there. That's not to say I only have Fire-Types in my Box - I'd be a fool to only travel a single type across the region."

"There's so much she needs to learn, studying all of it at a desk will set her back time she can't afford to lose. It's quicker for her to learn the basics, make a decision on the starting type and I can tailor the learning on the fly." He reached into his jacket, pulling out a small purse and handing it to Louise. She opened it and gasped as she saw several badges, gleaming and pristine. "They're beautiful ... why do you have more than 8?" "Because I went around several regions and defeated all the Gyms. I wasn't content with settling for my region, I wanted to be the best Trainer in the world and be a Champion in every region."

"After you graduate from the more advanced institutions or you get your 8 Badges, you are then allowed to challenge the Elite Four. These trainers are regarded as the best in the region, short of the Champion. You have to defeat these Four in sequence with no opportunity to rest in-between. If you succeed, you then have the chance to challenge the Champion. Even if you beat them you can't just call yourself a Champion - you must be willing to carry their responsibilities around the region. Resolving Pokémon or political disputes, hosting seminars, teaching the younger generation about becoming a Trainer, aiding research and development and promoting the League are all part of the job."

"But before all-yes?" ORANGE turned to the nurse on his left as she tapped his shoulder gently. "We need you to remove your shirt so that we can make sure that you've been fully healed." He drew in a breath, looking hesitant at the request. "Is it necessary?" he asked quietly, glancing at three sitting before him. The nurses nodded. "Yes. If you want, we can ask them to leave to give you some privacy?" ORANGE mulled it over before shaking his head. "No. Perhaps it's better she sees..." He sighed as he started to remove his body warmer, gloves and long-sleeved turtleneck jumper.

As he pulled off his jumper, there was a dark outline of a burn that had once covered most of his chest, snaking its way up his neck and around his right arm. While the skin enclosed by the outline appeared to be fine, it was a shade lighter than the surrounding skin. Had it not been for the outline, it would've been almost un-noticeable. "Is that it?" asked Louise, unimpressed. "You wanted me to see a birthmark?" ORANGE chuckled to himself as he absentmindedly scratched his chest. "If that's what you see it as, I'm happy with that." Colbert placed a hand on Louise's shoulder, gesturing to ORANGE's chest with a nod of his head once he had her attention. "That's not a birthmark Ms. Vallière, that's the remnant of a rather large burn. May I ask how you received such a thing?"

There was a long silence as ORANGE mulled over the response. "Raising and training Pokémon is dangerous" ORANGE said quietly, playing with his sheets as the nurses continued to check him over. "You have to be constantly aware of your Pokémon's mood and behaviour, as well as keeping yourself out of any unecessary trouble with the wild ones or any unscrupulous groups or Trainers. EDDIE was my starter; when I started raising him, he was obedient, happy and eager to spend time with me. However, as my team started to grow in numbers and strength, I started to do rotations to allow everyone to gain the necessary battle experience and exposure. As EDDIE grew in size and strength, he became resentful that he had missed some of the higher profile matches. He began to disobey my instructions, choosing to be too aggressive and showing off during battles."

"The tipping point came when he tried to kill a fellow Trainer's Pokémon after it had fainted because it had landed a hit on him during the battle. Luckily it was a double battle, so Lee managed to protect both the Pokémon and Trainer as I tried to calm him down. However, he snapped and turned his anger on me. EDDIEs' species never turn their flame on someone weaker than them, but in my case he made an exception. Although he missed me thanks to Lee, his flames were hot enough to cause this," he said, gesturing to himself. "The rest of my team came out after hearing my screams and beat him into submission while the Trainer went to get help." He sighed as he looked down at his arm, flexing his hand.

"So why didn't you terminate him?" asked Colbert curiously. "Any creature attempting to kill their master would have been put down immediately." "Because they are not familiars; they are family. You eat, sleep, train and fight beside them. Whether it's a win, loss or draw we're always together through it all, supporting each other as we go. When you have a family member who's made a mistake, do you not sit down with them and work to understand them and resolve their issues or do you cast them aside immediately and continue on with your life as if they never existed?"

"I pulled a few strings and cut a deal; if I couldn't resolve my issues with EDDIE within 6 months after my recovery, I'd have to put him down personally. My team, mother and friends were in much the same mind as you - they wanted him dead for what he tried to do. I couldn't bring myself to do it - how could I kill my oldest friend, my brother who had been with me through thick and thin without even trying to work at our grievances? We worked at it; started off under League and team supervision, and progressed to the point where we are now. Things are still awkward between all of us, even after so many years."

"All this happened because I grew complacent in my own training and failed to see what was happening to my team as I blindly pushed towards my goal. First on the cards is to assess your physical state before I start teaching you the theory. From what I understand you take to theory like a Magikarp to water, so I'd like to address the other side of your training first. Of course, you'll never be able to match the speed of an Arcanine, take a hit like a Chansey or swim like a Golduck. But, put in the effort and you'll find that it pays dividends when a wild Pokémon ambushes you, the bridge that you're crossing collapses and you have to swim in raging currents or when one of your team decides you'd be better medium-rare, for example."

"Erm ... neither my stamina, strength or speed are the greatest," said Louise, chuckling nervously. "And that's OK," ORANGE replied, smiling. "We'll work on a routine for you so you can get yourself fit, and then we'll look into getting your starter after we've covered the basics." Louise's face brightened at the mention of receiving a starter. "Will you give me one? What type will I get?" "I won't be deciding your type - that will be up to you. As I mentioned earlier, I picked Fire types because I liked them. After we cover the basics, you'll have an idea as to what type suits you best. After that, we'll go find some wild Pokémon for you to catch."

Osmond frowned. "And how will you do that? How do you know if there are any Pokémon is this dimension?" "I don't," replied ORANGE simply. "Call it a hunch - if I can make through to here, I'm assuming others have done the same, whether it be through Arceus's volition or one of your mages. In regards to catching them, I have more than enough Pokéballs to help Louise get started." ORANGE yawned and looked out the window. "So with the afternoon almost over, what are my living arrangements?"

Osmond and Colbert glanced at each other before looking back at ORANGE. "Well ... it's normally customary for the familiar to sleep in the same quarters as their master. At such short notice, I'm unsure as to whether we have any spare guestrooms for you; we have quite a few of the parents of the second years staying at the moment to cast their eye over their children's summons." "Well be sure then," said ORANGE flatly, crossing his arms. "In our culture, people of the opposite gender only share rooms if they are extremely close or are in a relationship. Me and Louise are neither. Find me a room, or I'm camping outside."

Osmond put his hands up to placate the irritated man in front of him. "I will ask my secretary to see if there are any rooms available." ORANGE nodded. "I appreciate the effort. In terms of the rest of the items; food, water, baths and whatnot - do I need to pay for them? I have a small amount of gold, stardust and gems that could be converted into your local currency to pay my way." "That won't be necessary," Osmond replied, waving his hand. "You teaching Louise will be more than enough to cover that. I will look into the conversion rates and advise you accordingly. One thing i would like to ask of you - may I study your Pokémon under your supervision?"

ORANGE grimaced as the thought. "If I said yes, I couldn't guarantee your safety. I have to introduce you to them first, and it is they who will make that decision, not me. If I came up to you and started prodding you with a stick because Louise asked me to see if you were ticklish, I'd say you'd magic me to some Arceus-forsaken mountain range in the middle of winter, wouldn't you?" Osmond and Colbert laughed at the thought. "I understand, I'll wait till you and your team have settled down." ORANGE bowed his head. "Thank you. I will speak with them and and I will introduce you to those who are keen on meeting you."

"In terms of dinner, the main hall will be open soon. Once the nurses have given you the all-clear, you can follow Louise to the hall, and she can give you some recommendations based on your tastes. Me and Osmond will go ahead to check on the rest of our students and their respective familiars. If you have any questions please do not hesitate to approach us," Colbert said, extending his hand. ORANGE reached over and shook it warmly. "Thanks for all that you've done for me, I'll bear that in mind. Be seeing you soon Professor, Headmaster," he said, nodding in his direction. Osmond nodded back as they both turned and made their way out of the medical wing, talking amongst themselves as they went.

The was a comfortable silence between the four people left in the wing before one of the nurses spoke up. "Excuse me," the nurse started, causing ORANGE to jump. "the treatment has been completed, but in regards to your burn, we can heal the wound if you like?" ORANGE stared at the nurse, causing her to squirm under his gaze. "You can do that?" he asked quietly, looking down at his chest. "Yes, our magic is very versatile and can heal all but the most grievous of wounds." He closed his eyes for a few moments before breathing out heavily through his nose. "As much as I'd like to take you up on your offer, I'm afraid I'm going to have to decline. I would like to keep this as a reminder, if that's alright with you."

The nurses smiled. "Of course! But if you ever change your mind, please come and speak to us." ORANGE nodded. "Thank you for your help this afternoon," he said earnestly as they nodded and walked away. As he began to get dressed, he motioned for Louise to come stand by his legs. "So, what time does dinner start? I'd like to introduce you to the rest of the team after we've eaten." "It starts in half an hour," she glanced at her watch before looking back at him curiously. "So how many Pokémon do you have?" ORANGE leaned over the bed and reached into his large bag. "If you're sanctioned to fight in the League, you are only allowed 6 Pokémon on your person at any one time. Because I'm retired from the League and a former Champion, it grants me certain benefits. Such as being able to go over that 6 Pokémon limit."

After some rummaging around, he pulled out a small, grey box that looked as if it had definitely seen better days. "Of course, when I'm challenged for a battle I must pick my 6 that I will be fighting with against the opposing Trainer. I have an additional four on top of the standard 6 to allow rotations between team members. TAGSIE is techincally not mine; he decided all on his own to make my life a misery," he grumbled as he opened the box, placing it near the foot of his bed. Inside there were 9 Pokéballs, all in immaculate condition. "EDDIE, LEE, NOAH, INARI, HATHOR, JACK, DAISHI, GWGRI, PYTHIA and FUEGO," he smiled, gently running his hand over the Pokéballs as he spoke their names.

"ORANGE," she started but tailed off, looking down as she fingered NOAH's Pokéball. "Yes?" He craned down, trying to see her face, worried. "I'm sorry," she said quietly, her lip trembling. "For taking you away from your home." ORANGE sighed as lent back, the look of worry replaced by one of relief. "You had me there!" he said with a huff of laughter. Louise looked up shocked. "But you're-" "You did nothing wrong," he interupted, waving her protest off. "You used a spell that you didn't expect to work and it pulled me through what looks like the fabric of space and time here to get you out of your funk. Besides, logic dictates that I got here, I must be able to get back," he said shrugging. "If I can't ... I'll deal with it then."

"I noticed in the courtyard that you seemed to be upset at the comments your peers were directing at you. Don't judge your worth by the status you hold, but by your words and actions to others." He grimaced as he eased himself out of bed and into the chair next to him, bending over to fit his boots. "Because you thought my freedom was more important than your place here at the Academy, I hold you in high regard. Of course, you may think that a plebeian's opinion doesn't count for much, but you should only care for the opinions of those that you hold dear."

"There are only three people who's opinions I truly care for; my rival, my childhood friend and my mother. My time was spent racing through regions to achieve my goal, and because of it I never really get the chance to form bonds with anyone else. In addition to that, destroying the dreams of fellow Trainers doesn't really endear you to them," he chuckled as he remembered some of the more creative threats that came his way over the years. He scuffed his heels on the ground before eagerly jumping up out of the seat and cracking his back. Surprised at the sudden movement, Louise's finger forced the Pokéball out of its indentation and it hit the floor after bouncing off the sheets. It lay still for a moment before suddenly increasing in size and bursting open.

The red light faded away, revealing ORANGE's second Pokémon. What looked like a very large large dog crossed with tiger was now sniffing Louise. Its diamond-shaped ears twitched as it made its way around Louise, keenly observing the medical wing in which they were in. There were large amounts of beige fur on the Pokémon; it's head, muzzle, and chest were covered shaggily, with large tufts of the stuff sprouting from behind the knees and ankles. Even the large bushy tail was also of the beige variety, bent sharply in the middle. "Louise, meet NOAH," he said, guesting to both of them as she reached out to its mane. "So soft," Louise murmured as she sank into its chest, sighing contently. "And warm! Why did you name him NOAH?" she asked, her voice muffled by the volume of fur. "NOAH's a she," ORANGE said, laughing at the reaction on Louise's face. NOAH lowered her head and nuzzled Louise's back, breathing in deeply as she took in her scent.

"Shall we make our way over to dinner?" he asked, reaching over to the box and snapping it shut.

-Chapter End-

Thanks again for reading this chapter, any feedback would be much appreciated!