97. The Long Road
The hallway leading to the Champion's room was long, probably intentionally so, and my nerves only got worse with every step.
This was it—this was the moment that I had been working towards since I left on my journey over a year ago, the moment that I saw in my dreams. I was going to face the Champion.
I stopped outside the door and slapped my cheeks, pulling my confidence back out again.
I could do this. I could do this!
But when I stepped into the room and saw the man standing there, I wasn't so sure anymore.
98. Champion
"Hey, May," Steven greeted with a wave.
My jaw dropped. Steven was the Champion? But… how could I not have known that? How could he not have told me?
All along… I had fallen for the Champion?
Some rich kid from Rustboro, my mom had said when my dad asked if I knew who the Champion was—and I had been stupid enough to refuse the answer. Rustboro was where his dad lived, so he must have grown up there before moving to Mossdeep…
How was I supposed to battle now?
No, I had no choice. I came to win.
99. The Challenge
"Hi, Steven," I managed to squeak, and I cleared my throat.
He just smiled, and I pulled myself out of the doorway and walked towards him. Somehow he had this ethereal aura now.
"I was looking forward to seeing you here one day, May. You have been through quite the ordeal, unfairly so, and for that, I apologize."
I wondered why he spoke so formally to me now… but he must have been as nervous as I was.
"But from all that, you've had experiences that have made you grow. I want to see it all."
And the battle began.
100. New Confidence
I realized as we began battling that it made no difference who the Champion was. It could have been my own dad, and it wouldn't have mattered. What mattered the most was the effort that I put into it and the bonds I shared with my team.
I liked Steven. He wasn't the presumptuous or patronizing person I originally pegged him as, but he was a kind and helpful person who saw the best in me.
It would be an insult to him if I gave anything less than my best. At the end of the day, I'd be Champion.
Author's Note: Well, I reached my goal! I've written one hundred drabbles. Originally that was my intended stopping point, but obviously I'm not done yet. So, um, yeah. I'll keep the updates coming, haha.
I'm heading back up to my college to work at a camp this upcoming week, and the Internet situation is a little questionable since I'm not a student there anymore and the guest network is not great—not sure my laptop will get Internet.
That said, updates should continue as planned (I'll get Internet somewhere, even if that means I need to go to the Panera down the road), I'm just not sure what time. They might be in the afternoon, maybe at night (for me, anyway). Just watch for those e-mails, I suppose. :)