Unmei Force Gaiden: Spectators of PLT Finals

Final Chapter: Awards Ceremony


"Welcome back all! We're so happy you stuck around, because it's time to begin the award ceremonies of the Perfect link tournament!" Magenta Voice declared with a excited tone.

"I'm still so surprised Scott won. But considering how hard he fought to stay alive in the battle royal, I'd say he deserved it." Hope stated, as the eliminated competitors were in a stand nearby the centre of the arena.

"Definitely." Simon stated.

"I'm kinda shocked that you went out at Killer Instinct." Gemini remarked, as she appeared beside them.

"Yeah, but I took such a beating from Volt I couldn't last one more hit." Hope sighed. "Speaking of… Simon, the whole reason you were trying to beat Night so bad back there… it was because I was taken out of the tournament, right?"

"Yeah. Also, I'm not a monster am I?" Simon asked with a worried tone.

"Is this about what Pollen said at Shipwreck Shore?" Hope questioned back with a frown.

"Trust me when I say this, Simon. I'm kind of more of a monster than you are at this point." David stated.

"That's not true, you use your abilities to help protect the people you care about." Simon shook his head, as he spoke with a slightly guilt-filled tone.

"So do you." Hope argued back.

"Simon, people may think you're a monster, but don't let it give you the impression that you are one." Chopper told Simon, as he trotted towards him. "Heck, I only wanted to be human two years ago because I wanted friends. Now, I just wanna be the monster that helps Luffy."

"And here's another example Simon. My old buddy Ricardo. He became one of the Genre Generals to my family so he could help Mary. He may have become a monster, but he was also protecting Mary." Hope added as well. "Though now that I think about it, he may have only done that cause I left him and Mary behind."

"Point is, it doesn't matter what others call you, it only bothers you if you let it bother you." Jexi summarised the point for Simon, with a kind smile.

"Thanks everyone." Simon stated, as he smiled back with warmth. "By the way, I met Rodin the Weaponsmith."

"Nice. You'll have to tell us about it some other time. For now, the awards are starting." Hope responded back.

"Coming up to the podium, is Linc, to say a few words for all of the viewers and audience who stuck for the entire ride!" Magenta Voice shouted.

Linc then came up to the podium, as he took a moment to collect himself.

"Thank you all for participating in the first ever Perfect Link tournament. You have shown the truest bonds that connect people and Pokemon as you fought hard to compete in this event." Linc stated in a welcoming tone. "Now then, Scott Pilgrim, as our first ever winner, you have the right to a prize. Name whatever your heart desires and we shall get it to you."

Scott walked right up to the podium, as he was quite embarrassed from being in front of such a large audience.

"Hmmm… oh wow, this is kinda hard. I mean, I've never really had the kinda life that merits any jealousy. I'm just a young man from Toronto just living a Precious Little Life...and when I first met Ramona...being with her was all I could really want." Scott awkwardly answered back to Linc's offer.

"So in other words… you already have what your heart desires, is that right?" Linc asked.

"That's right." Scott nodded with a smile.

"Well...good enough I suppose. And to all who have participated, I wholeheartedly thank you all for joining us." Linc replied with a smile, before turning back to the audience, as Scott left the podium. "In any case, before we sign off...we have put together a little video from the worlds you all helped and fought on. I hope you enjoy it."

The video soon started in the Spirit World as Korra waved, with the scenery of the ethereal world moving behind her.

"Hey...so...I wanted to say this earlier but...if it weren't for these competitors and my friends, there wouldn't have been any peace possible. So I guess I should say...thanks Hope." Korra stated with a friendly tone.

Hope held his fist out to the video. "You're welcome, Korra." He smiled back.

The video then shifted to the twins Lann and Reynn at their personal coffee shop.

"Yeah, if it weren't for those competitors, we wouldn't have learned who we are. We owe them so much." Lann told everyone with a grateful tone.

"And if it weren't for them, we'd have died to the prophecy set. But thanks to you David… we can live our lives the way we want." Reynn stated with a more enthusiastic tone, as he jumped right in front of his sister

"Also, the way you split Brandelis in half was so nostalgic! I wish I could've done that!" Lann jumped up, as she was excited about it.

"Lann, stop it! You're embarrassing us!" Reynn whined, as she tried to wrestle him back, before it moved to the next section.

"Yeah… I wonder where you picked that up?" Trunks asked David with a smile.

"I… actually got it from you." David admitted with a timid expression.

"That part...was very obvious." He stated, with a awkward look on his face.

The video then showed Estelle along with Yuri and Flynn outside the Bistro in Twilight Town.

"Hey guys. I just wanted to say how amazing it was to be with you all again after so long. The Bistro's really taken off since you gave that cute little rat those recipes." Estelle stated.

"Estelle told us what happened during your adventures here. And we're sorry about Theo." Yuri stated, as his tone turned solemn when regarding Theo.

"But we wanted to thank you all for helping Lady Estellise in the battle against Xehanort, Brave Vesperia will always be there to help if you need us." Flynn assured everyone, waving his hand to greet them.

It then showed Ben at the Jump Force Base.

"Hello again. The new and improved Jump Force has been going well since I took over as leader. But...what I really wanted to say is...if you hadn't saved our world...none of us would even be here. So...thank you...fictionals." Ben stated with a deeply grateful tone.

"Ben...he really did trust and believe in us deep down." Hope responded back.

"But uh...don't let this think you all can just…" Ben stuttered, before the camera shifted to Rebecca.

"You've had enough air time. Hey there. Just wanted to let you know things are going good here. We're recovering from the damage caused by Normal and Prometheus quickly and hope you all are doing okay. Now that this stuff is over, I'll be allowed to return to my reporting job soon. So maybe I'll see you for an interview someday." She addressed the heroes among the competitors. "And if trouble ever hits us again, we jumpers will spring into action to protect our world."

Next then came Leia and Luke Skywalker as they simply waved as millions of planets were being rebuilt. Then footage from other worlds fixed by the competitors showed as all were fixed for the better, before it ended on a footage of Roxas and Xion in new outfits.

"Hey guys...hope you all aren't getting too lonely without us." Roxas greeted them.

"We just wanted to let you know that we're doing fine and that Namine has finally gotten a body of her own." Xion added as well. "And we're eager to meet back up with you."

"We're waiting in a city called Cho-Tokyo, so I hope we get to meet up soon. Till then, take care." Roxas waved back, as the video cut.

"Guess we know where we're going next. I wonder how Cho-Tokyo's changed since we left?" Hope pondered.

"Well in that world, we probably haven't been there in 10 or 20 years." Mari stated.

"Try 30. That's the major time difference right now." Night corrected.

"Wait, really?" David asked with a surprised tone.

"Yes, time really is mysterious when it comes to other worlds." Yellow Shocker responded back.

"Then it's high time we went back there…. And see what the new generation has to offer. For the game that we love." Hope stated.

"Yes." Sheer responded back. "The Era of the Sun has long passed. Now that world has entered...an era of Aces."

"Now...if that is all...you are all free, dismissed." Linc stated, as all the competitors and the audience began leaving in droves, before the screen only showed Magenta Voice and Rotomdex.

"And that's all for the Perfect Link Tournament!" Magenta Voice concluded, as she got out of her seat. "For those who are behind the screen, I would like to tell you that everyone here is as grateful as I am, for watching this event. Your support is what made this tournament ever so exciting. Everyone, both staff and service team, will look forward to having you as our audience once more, should we have another tournament like this. Until then, Magenta Voice, signing off~!"

Magenta Voice winked, as Rotomdex chirped, as it waved one of its zig-zagged arms in goodbye, before the feed cut off, as there was a message left, saying 'Thanks for watching.'

Richard soon turned to Nitori, who was operating the controls, as she was still working hard on making sure that everything was still functioning as it should.

"You can cut the feed off now." Richard told Nitori. "It's finished. Go and take a break, Nitori, you certainly deserve one after all you have done for us. But before that, was there any problems that you want to tell me?"

Nitori immediately shut down her tablet, before she collapsed onto the ground, lying on it flat, as she let out a long sigh, as she looked extremely tired.

"Never... again... That was more exhausting... than I thought it would be..." Nitori stated, before she took a moment to recover, as she sat back up. "No, Richard... There's nothing wrong. I made extremely sure about that."

"Good, off you go then. Let your colleagues take your place for the moment." Richard responded back with a few head-pats to get her up.

The kappa savant slowly got up, before she then trudged out of the room, clutching her forehead like she had a migraine from prolonged work.

"Well then... that's all, folks." Richard spoke with a jovial tone. "Now then, any last thoughts, before we go back to our day-by-day routine?"

"Not much... But damn, I'm envious in all honesty, at how many worlds they've saved." Sanae admitted.

"Nothing much. It was pretty interesting, with those battles." Reimu stated. "Other than that, nothing caught my eye."

"David sure doesn't cease to impress." Erika remarked. "He did manage to take Jexi out along with him, and he got a few eliminations of his own himself. And he did pretty well, more than I would have expected.

"Speaking of the worlds, I guess they've been doing their work for a long time, to have saved all those worlds..." Gus stated with a smile.

"Yep..." Richard smirked, as he chuckled for a moment. "I could say with all of my heart... this reality is in good hands, if I say so myself."

"Yes... I could feel like that these people are like the altruistic legends I heard of." Elma responded back. "I'm glad that there are always people like them who would do everything to ensure everyone is happy."

"Alright, go do whatever you want. I'm going to drop myself in bed. TV rots the brain, the quacks say." Richard stated, as he laughed heartily, being the first to leave the room, as everyone followed after him, before splitting off to their own tasks.

When Richard was far enough from the others, he immediately opened up a sukima, as he disappeared into a isolated room within the fortress, barren of any furniture or decoration, as the only thing in the room was a door that led outside.

After arriving at his destination, he immediately pulled out a large rectangular device that seemed mostly similar to a walkie-talkie, with a antenna on the top, and large speakers on the front. He then slowly inputted a series of numbers through it on the keypad on the device, before he gave a moment of silence. There was the crackle of static soon enough, to indicate that he's connected with his target.

"Yukari... You there?" Richard asked through the device.

"My my, aren't you a sneaky little spy, Richard. I don't know why you're communicating through a private channel." Yukari quipped from the other end, as she chuckled. "Fufufu~"

"Cut the crap." Richard responded back stoically. "You know exactly why I went through this channel to discuss matters with you."

"That is true. I'm well aware." Yukari answered back, as her tone lost all nonsense in it. "Tell me, what do you want to discuss with me? Surely that it would be something that only I can help resolve, if you called me through this."

"Hm. That's right." Richard confirmed back. "You have been watching the PLT Tournament as well, haven't you?"

"I won't deny that. After all, it benefits to have a finger in the figurative pie, you know." Yukari told Richard with a sly tone. "And I assume that the request is regarding something related to it."

"You know what it is." Richard stated. "If you were paying attention, it would be completely obvious."

"Richard, Richard. You know that I am our senior almost-infinite times over, in terms of wisdom and age." Yukari scolded Richard. "I most certainly know what you want. You want those Pokemon on yours, don't you? I recall that they're still living peacefully in your residence in Kanto."

"Yeah, I feel bad for dragging them back into the fray to help me." Richard responded back, with a slightly reluctant tone. "But you know why I ask for this. Because they're my Pokemon, the ones that brought me through Kanto, through hell and high water."

"And the fact that they're from a alternate world, where the physics of battle are more... realistic." Yukari stated. "Obviously, the threats and dangers they faced have made their hardened combatants on their own right. Add to the fact that they're capable of humanoid transformation... They are just as much fitting as members of your team, as anyone else."

"Yeah... My Pokemon are pretty awesome... They survived the world, and they possess gijinka properties." Richard smirked, as he had a prideful tone. "They're the best of the best, when it comes to all forms of combat, advantageous and disadvantageous. Not only that, they possess a sentience and personality that makes them more human than they would seem. And that is why I considered them to be closer to me, not as mere partners, but as companions treading through the same journey, as comrades."

"Well, aren't you confident about your own Pokemon team." Yukari chuckled, before her tone dropped to a more grim one. "But remember that because of the Nuzlocke principle applying to them, much like the world they came from, they are as fragile as any other human. A broken arm and wrist cannot be healed by mere medicine, only the intervention of a medical specialist. They had more close-calls to death than what is considered healthy, even by youkai standards. And don't forget... Although you may be a clever tactician... Not every plan will go as planned, and things could turn by either a miracle or a disaster. Being in that world, you should keep that in mind."

"I do... I..." Richard responded back, as he slowly placed his other hand on his face, as he felt tears leak from his eyes for a moment, recalling someone long gone. "Pidge... My only sin then in that world, was that he had to be the sacrifice to put an end to my journey..."

Yukari remained silent, before she then let out a long sigh.

"I'll grant that request, Richard. Minerva and I have taught you better to make foolish decisions, and I have seen enough to know that you deserve to be trusted on your intuition." Yukari accepted his request "I'll inform those four about the situation, and then transfer the Pokeballs containing them when I'm able. Until then, continue carrying out your mission. It is of utmost importance, for everyone's sake."

"I know... Thank you, Yukari." Richard responded back, as he wiped the tears off his eyes. "I cannot express how much I will owe you for this."

"Just make sure that you don't end up losing another one of your Pokemon friends, Richard." Yukari advised Richard. "Their deaths can only be reversed by nothing short of divine intervention. Once you lose them... As a Nuzlocke veteran would say... You cannot bring them back, and their death will weigh down on your conscience."

"I have let the death of everyone I cared about weigh down on me... And I barely managed to gain the strength to bear it once more." Richard spoke with a determined tone. "I won't let another loss of someone I trusted and cared for occur on me... Never again."

"Only time will tell. The future is more chaotic then ever, with how realities collide with our actions." Yukari stated with a sagely manner. "Take care, Richard. And remember, this is merely between us both. You know what you must do."

The walkie-talkie then clicked off, as Yukari hung up from the other end. Richard immediately pressed a switch on the other side of the walkie-talkie, as a wafer-thin slot opened on the side of the walkie-talkie, dispensing a electronic chip that slid into Richard's hand.

"Yeah... This is merely the prelude of a new era, shaped by me, the invader, and the heroes of this reality." Richard muttered to herself, continuing on from Yukari's last message, as he then slowly closed his hand over the chip. "None of us know what will happen... For our existence is not known yet. But should it have... Would it be for the good, or would it be detrimental? I don't know... even after I have learned my lesson before."

Richard then closed his eyes, as he recalled about his past for a moment, with each moment playing through his mind, like reminders in the far past to guide his path.

"But one thing I do know..." Richard muttered, as he let the hand holding the chip ignite in flames, as the chip slowly melted away, thus removing any trace of his conversation with Yukari from the device in his hand, before his eyes slowly opened. "I will eventually make a choice, where I will conflict with the heroes, for the sake of fulfilling my one desire within my deep dark soul, or that I can successfully co-exist with them, so that I will never have to do anything to ruin their desires to protect..."

He then let the ashes of the burnt chip fall to the ground, before he then opened up another sukima, as he pocketed the walkie-talkie.

"I only wonder... Are things as simple as I see them, or is there a even deeper meaning to everything that occurs...?" Richard asked himself, before he then disappeared through the portal, leaving the room completely empty and desolate, save for the ashes on the ground.


Unmei Force Gaiden: Spectators of PLT Finals

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