The Champion Factor

Many had heard of the news that night and in the morning. The Battle Festival had been a complete disaster after an alleged freak natural disaster tore up half the city of North Petalburg. But many were already forgetting that event and concentrating on the battle between the amateur and a true master. Someone had overheard Rod agreeing to battle the Hoenn champion Steven Stone, and protests were heard as the crowd gathered. Many laughed at the sight of Rod, staring right at an equally calm Steven Stone outside the Pokemon Centre. The amateur would be destroyed.

Only a few hours ago had Rod finally fell asleep after spending hours looking at his Pokemon and deciding the best one to use. Even though Bulbasaur and Furret had the most experience in battling, Staravia was best used in a physical contest, and Ariados and Slugma had a much wider variety of attacks that would help. Rod made a decision early on about who to use, even though he had no idea the Pokemon Steven would bring to fray. He had to make sure he was ready for anything. Still that nagging thought appeared that his experience of a single Gym Battle win was poor compared to the many trainers now surrounding him laughing. He had to prove them wrong.

Steven noticed his hesitance: "Rod, ignore these trainers. This is a learning experience for both of us, play to your strengths as I play to mine. Shall we begin?"

Rod nodded and opened his Pokeball as Steven did the same. "Go, Slugma!"

"Armaldo, lets mix it up!" Many applauded when Steven's Plate Pokemon appeared. The Rock/Bug dup pokemon was coloured blue, standing on its hind legs with two arms sticking out of its central body. It cried out, sending shivers through Rod's spine. Rod looked down at his Slugma and whispered softly: "Lets show everyone here what we can do ok?"

Slugma looked back, its lava rock body beginning to glow slightly and nodded. Forrest stood next to Rod biting his nails, he knew this would be tricky and Steven had chosen an interesting unique Pokemon to use in this battle. Not the best choice, but interestinging nonetheless. The battle began.

Steven called out: "You can have the first move Rod, do anything you please and I'll deal with it."

Rod had planned this out from the night before. "Slugma, use Will-O-Wisp now!"

The Lava Pokemon glowed blue and spat flames of identical colour towards Armaldo. It took a step back as the flames made contact and continued to burn around its body. Rod knew it had worked, the move would burn Armaldo and lower its Physical Moves and maybe it's speed. It was a factor he wanted to take out of Steven's game plan. Someone in the audience laughed at Rod's defensive based effort, but Steven spoke again as Armaldo was still caught in the flames.

"A very good start Rod, but here I come now!" Rod braced himself with Slugma as Steven readied his first attack. "Armaldo use Stone Edge. Blow the Flames away, and then fire a Flash Cannon back!"

Rod looked on as the Armaldo created large pointed stones around itself, destroying the flame add on from Slugma's attack. The flames evaporated as it jumped high above the crowd and released a Flash Cannon from its mouth. The silver beam landed directly on Slugma's head and the ground buckled beneath it. Rod covered his face as the dust whipped high. Was that the end of the battle already?

The dust cleared and Slugma lay there, dust covered its body as the audience began to jeer again at Rod's lack of tactics. Rod cried out: "Slugma, are you ok? Can you keep going?"

Steven looked on calmly. Slugma began to move again and regained its balanced as the ground was still shaking from that attack. Rod smiled, and nodded towards its Pokemon. This battle was not over yet.

Rod stood up, and regained his posture: "You are strong Steven, but were just getting started!"

Steven replied with a smile: "That's just what I want to hear. Bring it on!"

"Heat Wave now!"

"Armaldo, X-Scissor!"

The flames and the glowing green arms of Armaldo met in mid-air creating another explosion. Rod again braced himself before hearing a large impact in the smoke. "Slugma?" He called out tentatively.

The smoke cleared again and Slugma was still standing and Armaldo panting slightly. Both Pokemon seemed even, but Rod and Steven knew what had caused such an equal result.

Steven spoke first: "Look here trainers, Rod's Will-O-Wisp has lowered the attack even of an Armaldo so experienced as mine."

Rod then spoke, looking at Slugma whose body was already beginning to fade grey again. "But Steven, it still made such an impact. I'm not sure how much more we can do."

"Rod, I've had Armaldo for many years. It's power is beyond even the Elite Four. The fact that your Slugma has managed to continue standing shows how well you've trained it this far."

Rod nodded, and looked at Slugma. It wasn't going to go for much longer, the next attack would be the decider. He called out: "Slugma use Heat Wave Again!"

"Armaldo use Stone Edge and wrap up this battle."

Armaldo cried out as the flames engulfed it once again. Stones appeared around it, and fired through the heat. Striking Slugma again as it cried out in pain. It rolled onto it's back knocked out and motionless. Steven had won.

The crowd applauded and many yelled out Steven's name loudly as Rod returned his beaten Slugma. His battle strategy went off at the end and even Steven knew it. Steven approached him and put an arm around his shoulders. "Look Rod, you are one talented trainer. Just keep to your battling style. Pure strength isn't really your thing it seems, but you have the knowledge of the battlefield and of Pokemon. Use that and you may even beat me one day."

Rod nodded and responded: "Thank you Steven for battling me, and next time I'll be sure to win."

Steven clapped his hands in Rod's direction and many did as well. Forrest congratulated them both on them on a stunning battle.

The Petalburg Gym Battle was approaching fast and it had already been booked that night. Norman agreed to a three on three Pokemon battle.

Steven left that evening, departing for his home in Mossdeep City promising another battle soon. Slugma was getting healed by Nurse Joy, as Rod and Forrest began to plan the battle the next day, and also which route to take after. The journey in Hoenn had brought a lot of memories so far already, but what else would be in store for them as time went on?

…

N was at Victory Road. He looked on as the Indigo Plateau Pokemon League facility was finally being torn down after years of existence. The battles and contests that were contained there finally being left to the memory of those who traversed it. The Indigo league would be no more at last. The oldest league on this part of the world, and by far the most traditional.

Team Rocket had purchased Victory Road as a result. They used a fake organisation name to scam its previous owners. It would sneak past the government's eye as well. N was a nobody in Kanto for now. Nobody had even heard of him so far from his home, and nobody would know Team Rocket was here.

Victory Road was to become another secret base, after their last one in Saffron City was discovered by a single child many years ago. N had asked a lot about the child and who he was, but nobody wanted to speak his name. He apparently now travelled at distant lands still training his or her Pokemon, and vanquishing darkness wherever that may be.

It was late at night as the construction took place with Machamp the main Pokemon being used for such a rapid and quick task. This was to be N's new kingdom and a new beginning where he could speak to his Pokemon again with no judgement. And protect Pokemon around the world from the hardship of trainers. He smiled softly at that thought of ruling a new region.

Project D was nearly underway, and only a few more steps were necessary until it began. However, these steps were long and tedious, requiring a more traditional Team Rocket approach. Legendary Pokemon, rare items and historical artefacts. If N was to summon the powers of Zekrom back, he needed more help and time. Something, he hoped, Team Rocket would give him.