Challenge of a Lifetime
By GreatAngemon
"Wow, this is a big city," Valent murmured, picking Chikorita up and putting her on his shoulder.
"Chika," Chikorita agreed, looking around in awe.
"I can't believe how big it is here." Valent looked up at one particularly tall building. "Do you think that there's a hotel anywhere?"
"Chika," Chikorita said, moving to sit on top of Valent's head.
"You're looking for a hotel?"a voice said from behind Valent. Valent whipped around, and saw the young man who was talking.
He was wearing a kimono, but it didn't have sleeves. Instead he had on a button up t-shirt. He had a piece of white cloth tied around his waist as a belt.
The most shocking feature of him was his hair. It was a shockingly dark blue, and it was swept in a style that covered his right eye. "You said you're looking for a hotel, right?" he asked.
"Yeah," Valent said. "You don't know where we can find one, do you?"
"Of course I do," the young man said. "Follow me." He led them into a nearby building and into the elevator. Pushing the roof button, he asked, "This is your first time to Violet City, isn't it?"
"Yeah," Valent said sheepishly. "Is it that obvious?"
"Well, anyone who's been here before knows where it is," the man replied. "I'm a sort of… welcoming committee."
"Well, is the hotel on the roof here?" Valent asked, confused.
"No. But I'm taking you the shortest way to the hotel." The doors opened, and Valent and the young man stepped outside. "Over here," he said. He walked over to a hang glider that was sitting on the ground.
"What are we doing with this?" Valent asked.
"Going to the hotel," the young man replied. He picked the glider up and said, "Hop on." Valent looked apprehensive, but walked to the hang glider, right next to the man.
"Good, now hold on," was all that Valent heard, before the man had started running, and they were jumping off of the roof of one of the tallest buildings in Violet City. "Don't worry, I do this every day," the man said, seeing Valent's look of fear.
"How often do you have another person's weight to drag around?" Valent asked.
"Every couple of days one of the city kids wants to go with me," he replied, shrugging. "Right over there," he said, pointing at another tall building. "We have a few minutes, so enjoy the view."
Valent looked around. The man had a point, the view was nice. From the ground, everything looked tall and modern, but from the air he could see that only about a quarter of them were skyscrapers. The rest were regular buildings, like the ones from New Bark Town.
"This is nice," Valent conceded. "I was always told that Violet City is really into the modern look, but it really isn't, is it?"
"It is, but it isn't, the young man said. "You see how the skyscrapers are spread out through the city?" Valent nodded. "They did that so it would look more modern. Spreading them out keeps room for the rustic look, but also keeps the modern look, catering to both tastes."
"That's cool," Valent said. They glided aver a few more roofs, until the man pointed the nose of the glider at the roof of one of the buildings.
They landed, and the man said, "Well, here we are. The Violet Hotel."
He led Valent through the elevator doors, and pushed the ground floor button. "Welcome to the Violet Hotel," a young woman said.
"Can I help you?" another woman at a desk asked, looking up from her computer.
"Yes, I'd like to check in," Valent said. "Do you have any rooms available?"
"Yes, we do have the Pidgeot Suite available," she said. "It's on the top floor, so you get a good view of the flying Pokémon."
"How much does that cost?"
"It's usually $200,000," she said, "But we're having a special. If you have a Poké dex you get it half price."
"That's a good price," Valent said, pulling his Pokédex out of his pocket. He handed it to her, and she placed it in a slot on the computer tower.
The Pokédex slid in, and she said, "Valent, of New bark Town?"
"Yes," Valent replied.
"I'm legally obligated to ask you which Pokémon you have with you at the moment."
"Um, I have Chikorita," he said, just as Chikorita popped out of her Poké Ball. "Yes, I already said you," Valent laughed, picking her up. "And I also have Pidgey and Sentret."
"Thank you," the woman said, typing a few more things into her computer. "Alright, you're all set to go."
Valent took back his Pokédex, and turned to the young man. "Thanks for the help," he said. "I would have been looking forever if you hadn't helped me."
"It's one of my responsibilities as the Gym Leader of Violet City."
Valent froze, looking at the man. "You're the Gym Leader?"
"Yes," he said. "My name is Falkner."
"Falkner," Valent murmured, looking at him. "That's what Jack told me." He looked Falkner up and down and said, "Well, I challenge you to a Gym battle."
Falkner laughed. "You think you can beat me, kid?" he asked, and Valent nodded. "Well, as the Violet City Gym Leader, I accept your challenge." Valent grinned, but Falkner continued, "But I can't do it right now."
"Why not?" Valent asked.
"I have some stuff I need to do today. We can have our match tomorrow at nine," Falkner said. He pushed the elevator button, and waited for the doors to open.
They stepped into the elevator together, and they each pushed a button, Falkner the roof and Valent the top floor. When he stepped out, he said, "I can't wait for our match tomorrow, Falkner.
"Yes, I look forward to it as well." The doors slid closed, and Valent walked away.
He opened the door to his room, and threw his bag on one of the chairs. Flopping onto the bed, he said to Chikorita, "This is going to be a tough match. You're not very good with Flying-types."
"Chika," she said fiercely, jumping up.
"I know you'll try your hardest, but I don't know if that'll be enough," Valent said thoughtfully, sitting up. He stood and moved to the P.C. that was sitting on the desk in the corner.
Punching in the professor's number, he saw the screen flicker to life, and then the Professor Elm walk into view. "Hello Professor," Valent said. "What is that?"
"Oh, hello Valent," Elm said, setting down what he was working on. "It's nothing of any importance, just a bit of a, uh, side project, if you will."
"Okay," Valent said. "I wanted to tell you that I'm in Violet City."
"Oh, very good," Elm replied. "Have you battled Falkner yet?"
"No, not yet," Valent answered. "He said that he couldn't today, but we have a match set for tomorrow morning."
"Very well," Elm said. "You might want to call your mother. She's been very worried about you, ever since you left."
"I'll do that Professor," Valent said. He hung up the phone, and then dialed his home's number. His mother answered.
"Hi mom," Valent said tensely.
"Hello Valent," his mom replied. "Professor Elm said you'd be calling. So, how is your journey? Is it living up to your expectations?"
"Yes," Valent replied. "Chikorita and I are having a lot of fun, and we're making a lot of new friends." For the merest instant, he saw his mother's expression soften.
"Well, I'm happy for you," she said. "If you beat Falkner, the next gym you'll want to head to is in Azalea Town."
"Thanks." Valent looked at his watch, and then said, "Well, I'd better get going, mom. I'll talk you later."
"Goodbye," she said, "And be careful." Valent hung up the phone, and turned back to Chikorita.
"Well, we should probably get some sleep, shouldn't we?"
"Chika," Chikorita replied, jumping onto the bed.
Valent lay down, and flipped off the light. He started snoring lightly, and Chikorita cuddled up to him, making a sort of purring noise.
The Next Day
"Chikorita, let's get going. We need to be to the gym in fifteen minutes," Valent said. He picked up Chikorita and hurried out the door.
They ran to the elevators, and Valent pushed the button. The doors slid open and he stepped in. As the elevator started going down, Valent breathed a deep sigh.
"This is it," he said, looking down at Chikorita, "Our first Gym battle. Do you think we're ready?"
"Chika," Chikorita said, nodding.
"Well, let's do it," Valent said. The doors slid open, and they ran out through the lobby. Valent blew past the Pokémon center, and then backtracked immediately. "Better get you guys checked out real quick," he said, dashing inside. At the counter, talking to Nurse Joy, he saw Falkner.
"Falkner?" he said, "What are you doing here?"
"Oh, hello Valent," Falkner replied. "I'm here asking if anyone knows about the Gym break in last night."
"There was a break in at the Gym?"
"Yes, but I don't want you to worry about it," Falkner said. "If you'd like, I'll wait here with you while your Pokémon are healed, and then we can go back to the Gym together."
Valent returned Chikorita to her Poké Ball and handed then to Nurse Joy. After a few minutes she handed them back and said, "Good luck in your Gym battle."
"Thank you very much," Valent said. He put his Poké Balls back on his belt, and then he and Falkner walked out.
As they walked, Valent thought about the upcoming Gym battle. They walked through the doors to the Gym, and Falkner said, "Are you ready for this match?"
"I'm always ready," Valent said, pulling a Poké Ball off of his belt.
"This will be a three on three Pokémon battle," the referee said.
"Prepare for trouble!" a feminine voice said, and Valent looked around. The voice was coming from every corner of the room.
"And make it double!" a man's voice said.
"To protect the world from devastation."
"To unite all peoples within our nation."
"To denounce the evils of truth and love."
"To extent our reach to the stars above."
"Jessie!"
James!"
"Team Rocket, blast off at the speed of light."
"Surrender now, or prepare to fight."
"Meowth, that's right."
All three of them jumped down from the rafters, and then stood up, smiling evilly.
"Oh no, not again," Valent said. "What do you three want?"
"Isn't it obvious?" the Meowth asked. "We want your Pokémon."
"And we've got the perfect plan, too," Jessie said.
And there it is, finally. The next installment in the Valent Saga.
So, tell me. How do you think Valent should get his Badge? Conventionally or not?
Review and tell me.