Latias and the Spirit Trainer: The Challenge

Chapter 9: Viridian City Challenge

"Finally! Viridian City!" exclaimed Rick with joy.

We now join our young heroes as they finally make it to Viridian City without any Team Rocket interruptions. Even if the time is 10:30 at night, their joyous expressions shine bright through the dark. But only one thing is on Cody's mind right now as they head for the Pokemon Center; registering for the Kanto League.

"I am so psyched up right now!" said Cody.

"Why's that?" asked Bianca, clearly puzzled.

"Uh, hello? Kanto League ring any bells?" asked Cody.

"Oh right! The Kanto League registration is here! Man, my legs are killing me! I need some sleep," said Bianca, who was hanging onto Cody for support.

"Yeah, I hear ya, Bianca. We could all use some sleep," said Rick.

"I don't know what you're talking about," said Cody in between yawns.

"Sure you don't, Cody," said Bianca with a sarcastic tone to her voice as they entered the Pokemon Center.

"Welcome to Viridian City's Pokemon Center! How may I help you?" asked Nurse Joyce.

"Say, aren't you the Nurse Joyce who was in Vermillion City?" asked Rick.

"No, you must be thinking about my sister's sister on my mom's side. Here, let me show you," said Nurse Joyce as she pointed to a very large photo on the wall. It had to have shown over thirty different people that all looked just like her!

"Here's me," she said as she pointed to one of them, "and here is the Nurse Joyce you are talking about," as she pointed to another person on the photo.

"Wow, I didn't think that there were that many," said Bianca.

"Yes, there sure are a lot of family members. Now, how may I help you?" asked Nurse Joyce.

"We'd like two rooms please," said Bianca.

"And I'd like to register for the Kanto league, please," said Cody.

"Alright, I'll just need to see some I.D.," said Nurse Joyce.

"Um, like what kind of identification?" asked Cody.

"Your Pokedex, please," asked Nurse Joyce.

"Oh! Sorry," said Cody as he handed over his Pokedex for registration.

"Alright, let's see, Cody Spirit, and there we go! You're all registered for the Kanto League! Oh! And here are the keys to your rooms," said Nurse Joyce as she handed them their keys and Cody his Pokedex.

"Alright everyone, get some rest. We've got a big day planned tomorrow!" exclaimed Cody as they went to their rooms.

The next day, Bianca awoke to someone pounding on her room door. She got dressed and went to answer the door.

"Rise and shine, Bianca!" exclaimed Cody.

"Oh, for Arceus' sake, what time is it?" asked Bianca, who was clearly still tired from yesterday.

"7:30 in the morning. Come on! Get up! The Battle House is holding a tag team tournament, and I need a partner! What do you say, Bianca? Want to be my partner?" asked Cody, who was clearly excited for the event.

"Sure. Just, give me five minutes," said Bianca as she shut the door and tried to fall back to sleep. But sure enough, exactly five minutes later, she awoke to more pounding on the door.

"For Arceus' sake, Cody! When is this battle tournament?" yelled Bianca, not wanting to get out of bed.

"It starts in a half hour! Come on! Let's go!" Cody yelled through the door.

"What? In a half hour?! Alright! I'm up! I'm up!" said Bianca as she grabbed Latias's Poke Ball and the rest of her stuff, and went to meet Cody.

"About time! I was just about to come and get you up again!" exclaimed Cody.

"Well, sorry if I like to sleep in! Is that a crime?!" yelled Bianca.

"Haven't you ever heard the saying, 'Early to bed, early to rise?'" yelled Cody.

"You know, the way you two argue, you'd think that you two were a couple!" said Rick, laughing. But all he got for his little joke, was two punches to the head.

"Put a sock in it!" yelled Cody and Bianca.

"Alright alright! Sheesh, I was only kidding around," said Rick, fearing two more punches.

"Alright, let's get going. The tournament will start in about twenty minutes," said Cody.

When they finally arrive at the Battle House, the line was fairly short. As they went inside after waiting five minutes in line, they noticed a trainer all by himself.

"Who's that trainer?" Cody asked as he signed Bianca and himself up.

"Oh him? That's the Battle House champion, Josh. If you defeat all the teams, one of you will be able to battle him," explained the receptionist.

"COOL! I can't wait to battle him!" exclaimed Cody, getting pumped up for the battles ahead.

"Well we have to defeat everyone else first, you know," said Bianca.

"Way to burst my bubble," said Cody.

"Oops, my bad," said Bianca, throwing back a fit of giggles.

"Alright, trainers! Listen up! The first match will be in ten minutes! Sign ups will be closing in five! We will post the match-ups four minutes after sign ups close, so be ready! Here's wishing all the trainers the best of luck!" exclaimed the receptionist. Her small speech was followed by the loud cheering of trainers. One tag team just happened to start chanting "We're number one!", causing a brawl between them and another tag team. Both teams were promptly escorted out of the building and disqualified.

"Looks like there are only eight teams left including us," said Cody.

"Yeah, let's just hope none of them work for you know who," said Bianca, not wanting to say Giovanni's name out loud.

"Yeah, I hope not," said Cody, shivering at the accursed thought of having to deal with Team Rocket again.

"Come on, Blitz!" said a random trainer walking towards them, followed by a Growlithe.

"Growlithe!" said the faithful puppy Pokemon, happily following behind. Just then, he brushes up against Cody, almost knocking Cody over!

"Hey, watch it!" said Cody, clearly ticked off.

"What did you say, punk?" asked the trainer.

"What did you just call me?!" said Cody, who had about had enough of this trainer.

"Hey, save it for the battlefield, Cody," said Bianca, trying to calm Cody down.

"Grrr… fine," said Cody, trying to calm down.

"Ha! You're so weak, you need miss girly-girl to defend you! The name's Ventus. Remember it," said Ventus as he walked off, laughing.

"Girly-girl?! Oooh, now I can't wait to go and kick his-"

"Arceus!" interrupted Cody.

"Huh? Oh, thanks, Cody. Nice catch," said Bianca, realizing what she was about to say.

"Alright, trainers! Pairings are now posted! Be on your battlefield within two minutes!" yelled the receptionist.

"That's our cue, Cody. Let's go," said Bianca, grabbing him by the arm, and dragging him to where the pairings were posted.

"Okay, it looks like we're up against Joey and Krise first on field three," said Cody.

"Alright, Cody, let's win this!" exclaimed Bianca.

"You got it!" exclaimed Cody as they headed for field three. When they arrived, the two trainers didn't seem that confident.

"R-ready to b-battle?" asked Joey, who was clearly nervous.

"Don't worry, even if we don't win, at least we tried our hardest," said Krise, trying to comfort her partner.

"Alright, trainers! Bring out your Pokemon!" exclaimed the judge.

"Alright! Go, Raticate!" yelled Joey, as a giant rat appeared on the field.

"Go! Cubone!" yelled Krise, as a Pokemon appeared that appeared to be wearing a skull.

"Ready, Bianca?" asked Cody.

"Ready, Cody! Go, Latias!" exclaimed Bianca as Latias appeared onto the field.

"Alright! Let's go, Latios!" exclaimed Cody as Latios appeared next to Latias on the field.

"This shall be a two-on-two battle. The battle shall begin when you hear the bell," said the judge, knowing that a great battle was ahead.