AUTHOR'S NOTE: Greetings, readers! Here is Chapter 53 of the continuing adventures of Tristan, Hillary, and Pikachu as they continue their journey through Kanto. Tristan and Hillary's grandparents, Veronica and Eric, as well as Professor Charles Goodshow from the anime make appearances in this chapter. As always, please feel free to read and review. And remember, feedback of any kind is always welcome. And, if you have any suggestions, please feel free to message me.

TEASER: The day of the opening ceremonies has finally arrived, but an unfortunate accident causes the stadium to go up in flames! Will the whole competition go up in smoke?

Chapter 53: THE FIREPOWER

(Music Cue: Opening & Title Screen 1997-1998 (as heard in "Enter the Dragonite"))

After many days of training, the long-anticipated Pokémon League competition is about to begin. Today, he, Hillary, and Pikachu are taking a last-minute run to build up their stamina.

"This is a great way to get in shape," said Tristan as he and Hillary ran on the streets early one morning. "Professor Goodshow expects us to be in great shape, and he's counting on us to carry the torch to Indigo Stadium. I have to be in shape so my entire team will be in shape, too."

"I agree," replied Hillary. "And even though I won't be competing, I feel that all this running is pushing me to be at my best, too."

Pikachu also agreed.

Tristan and Hillary continued to run on the streets as they thought about the upcoming tournament.


After Tristan, Hillary, and Pikachu finished their run, they made their way back to the Pokémon Center and got some ice-cold water.

"Ah, that sure feels good!" said Tristan.

"I agree," added Hillary. "Let's register for the competition."

"Good idea," replied Tristan. "The last thing I need on my mind is to be too late to register."

They quickly made their way to the reception desk where Nurse Joy was waiting for them.

"Hi, there," greeted Nurse Joy. "Welcome to the Pokémon Center. May I help you?"

"I'd like to make sure my Pokémon are in good shape for the competition," replied Tristan.

"I'll take a look at them right away," said Nurse Joy as she took Pikachu and Tristan's five Pokéballs with her to the examination room.

Presently, Veronica and Eric arrived at the Pokémon Center. "Hello, kids," they said.

"Hi, there!" replied Tristan and Hillary together.

"So, are you ready for the tournament?" asked Veronica.

"Almost," answered Tristan. "Right now, I'm having my Pokémon in for a little checkup just to make sure they're ready for the competition."

"I can hardly wait to see the battles in this competition," added Eric.

"Your grandparents aren't the only ones who can hardly wait," said a voice.

Everyone turned around to see Professor Goodshow arriving.

"Hi, Professor Goodshow!" said Hillary. "What brings you here?"

"I'm just checking in and wandering around," replied Professor Goodshow. "With the Pokémon League just one day away and the running with the torch just hours away, I wanted to make sure to give you some pointers on how this competition will work."

"So how does this tournament work?" asked Tristan.

"This tournament, formally known as the Indigo Plateau Conference, has many battles, and is composed of 256 trainers," explained Professor Goodshow. "Trainers will need to emerge on four different varieties of fields: grass, rock, water, and ice, in order to qualify for the final rounds in the Indigo Stadium. Matches on the four fields will consist of three-on-three battles as well as the first matches in the Indigo Stadium. Trainers making it into the final eight and up will participate in full six-on-six battles, making every trainer's strategy all the more important. Furthermore, if you switch Pokémon in the middle of a battle, it will be considered out of the match, and you won't be able to use it again for the duration of the battle."

"That's going to make these battles even tougher for you, Tristan," said Hillary. "So every team you put together will be very important, especially if you want to attain victory."

"And that means you'll have to adapt to not only the battlefield you're battling on, but also the Pokémon you're battling against," added Veronica.

"I can do it all," said Tristan. He was feeling very confident.

"That's the spirit," replied Professor Goodshow. "I love a trainer who has spirit. And that's just what this competition is all about."

Presently, the recovery signal rang as Nurse Joy emerged from the examination room with Pikachu and Tristan's five Pokéballs. "Your Pokémon are all ready to go, Tristan," she said.

"Thanks a lot, Nurse Joy," replied Tristan as Pikachu happily leaped back on Tristan's shoulder. "What do you say, Pikachu? Are you ready to win?"

"Pikachu!" replied Pikachu. It was very excited, indeed.

"Then let's get ready for the running of the torch!" smiled Professor Goodshow.


Tristan and Hillary quickly switched into their gym clothes as they prepared to run with the torch. They met Professor Goodshow, their grandparents, and Officer Jenny outside the Pokémon Center. They both knew that Moltres' flame was very important for two reasons: One, without it, the Pokémon League couldn't begin, and two, Mewtwo and Moltres had entrusted it to them as a sign of their gratitude for helping them earlier.

"Now we just have to decide which one of you will go first," said Professor Goodshow. "And it starts with a coin." The coin had Magikarp on one side for heads and a Pokéball on the other side for tails. "Whoever calls it right will carry the flame first while the other party rests. It's all about taking turns."

"Well, sis, we both know that we'll each carry it at some point," said Tristan. "I call heads."

"Then I call tails," said Hillary.

Professor Goodshow flipped the coin into the air. It landed neatly in his hand Pokéball side up. "Looks like it's tails," he said.

"That means I'll go first," said Hillary.

"You can do it," said Tristan.

"Good luck," said Veronica and Eric together.


(Music Cue: Depart to the Pokémon Castle)

A few moments later, the running of the torch got underway.

Hillary ran in front with the torch in hand while everyone else rode on the top of the van behind her.

Tristan was impressed with Hillary's stamina as he saw her run. She'd be a really good trainer someday, he thought.

The residents were watching the action from the sidewalks as everyone drove by.

When they were halfway to Indigo Stadium, Hillary passed the torch flame to Tristan and Pikachu, who ran in Hillary's place while she rested on top of the van.

A little while later, Indigo Stadium began to come into view.

"Is that where the Pokémon League will be held, Professor Goodshow?" asked Hillary.

"Exactly," answered Professor Goodshow. "It's empty now, but tomorrow, during the opening ceremonies, it will be filled to capacity as the central torch in the stadium will be lit."

"Tristan and I see why the flame is so important," said Hillary.

"It sounds like you two understand the responsibility quite well," replied Professor Goodshow.

A crowd of people waited to see Tristan and Pikachu arrive with the torch in hand. They cheered as they made it through the finish line.

Professor Goodshow, Veronica, Eric, and Hillary climbed off the van to greet him.

"Here is the flame of Moltres, just like we promised," said Tristan as he handed the torch over to Professor Goodshow.

"Thank you," replied Professor Goodshow. "You and Hillary gave us a great show today. I trust that you'll be present at the opening ceremonies tomorrow?"

"Yes," answered Tristan and Hillary together.

Professor Goodshow smiled. He knew he made the right decision in allowing Tristan and Hillary to run with the torch as the crowd continued to cheer and applaud them.


That evening, Tristan, Hillary, and Pikachu, along with their grandparents, Veronica and Eric, found their way to the Pokémon League Village.

"This must be where trainers stay during the competition," said Hillary.

"It sure is, dear," replied Veronica. "I remember staying in this place many years ago, but they've certainly made quite a few updates since I was here last."

"Plus, trainers receive free food and lodging during the competition," added Eric.

"You mean the food's free?" asked Tristan. He was really excited now. "All right, let's go!" And he dashed off.

"Tristan, where are you going?" called Hillary.

"To find a restaurant!" answered Tristan.

"But you don't know where it is!" shouted Hillary.

That was when Tristan stopped. It was true: he didn't know where the cafeteria was.

Fortunately, Veronica did. "I think you'd better follow me instead," she said.

And everyone else followed her.


The restaurant was full of many good things to eat. Tristan grabbed dish after dish of delicious food.

"There's definitely nothing wrong with Tristan's appetite tonight," remarked Hillary.

Both Veronica and Eric agreed as they grabbed their dishes, too.

In no time at all, everyone was happily digging in to the food they got. They all agreed that it was good

"It's just as I remember it," said Veronica. "I guess the next generation of chefs is just as good as the chefs I knew back in the day."

"The food may be good, but from what I've heard, Tristan will be up against some really tough trainers," added Eric.

"I'll be okay," replied Tristan. "And I'll try not to be overconfident."

"Just do your best, and you'll be a winner, no matter what," added Hillary.

"Thanks a lot, guys," replied Tristan


The next morning, the opening ceremonies of the Pokémon League Competition were about to get underway. Indigo Stadium was filled to capacity with spectators. Hillary, Veronica, Eric, and Professor Goodshow had front row seats as they waited for the Trainers to make their appearance.

"When will the Trainers show up, Professor Goodshow?" asked Hillary.

"I'd say right about now," answered Professor Goodshow.

Sure enough, many trainers were starting to arive in the stadium. One by one, they lined up.

Presently, Veronica saw Tristan and Pikachu in the crowd. "There's Tristan and Pikachu!" she said excitedly.

Tristan and Pikachu entering the stadium. They looked a little nervous, but took in deep breaths to keep their focus.

An annoumcer's voice blared through the stadium's loudspeakers. "Welcome, ladies and gentlemen to Indigo Stadium at the Indigo Plateau, where this year's exciting Pokémon League Competition is about to begin! To compete here, trainers need to show their fighting spirit here by traveling to Gyms all over the region and earning eight Gym badges from the respective Gym Leaders. And it looks like this year's trainers have done just that."

Professor Goodshow smiled as he looked on. This was the thing that always made him happy: a crowd of trainers with boundless spirit.

"And now, we await the arrival of our torch runner, who will light up the central torch, thus beginning the Pokémon League Competition!" boomed the announcer.

"Where's the central torch?" asked Hillary.

"At the top of those ateps," replied Professor Goodshow as he pointed to the top of the platform.

Presently, a man in gym clothes entered the stadium and proceeded to the top of the steps, two at a time, to light the central torch.

"I can hardly wait," said Hillary. "This is so exciting!"

Unfortunately, at that moment, the man tripped on the stairs and fell. He wasn't hurt, but his fall caused him to lose his grip on the torch.

"Oh, no!" cried Professor Goodshow. "The torch!"

Trainers and spectators alike gasped in shock.

"Unbelievable!" shouted the announcer. "The torch runner has had an unfortunate accident, and now the torch has been sent skyward!"

The torch kept falling from the sky. Every trainer in the stadium did their best to catch it, but they kept running into one another.

The torch landed at the foot of the stairs flame first, causing a major conflagration.

(Music Cue: Desperate Situation (Kanto) as heard in "Volcanic Panic")

The result was instant panic.

"Oh, no!" gasped Hillary. "That fire must've ignited when the torch fell on the ground!"

"Without the flame of Moltres, we'll never be able to start the competition!" added Professor Goodshow.

Every trainer in the stadium screamed and fled from the scene in fear as fast as they could, but Tristan and Pikachu, brave as ever, stayed behind because they wanted to make sure everyone else got out of there first.

"That's it, guys, keep it moving!" encouraged Tristan.

Every one of the trainers quickly made their way to safety a short time later, but the massive fire grew with every passing second.

"Tristan, get out of there, quick!" cried Hillary.

But it was too late, for the fire had grown so big so fast that Tristan and Pikachu couldn't find an opening big enough to get away in time. They were now trapped.

"Now what do we do?" asked Veronica. "Tristan doesn't stand a chance against that fire."

That was when Tristan began to think back to that terrible time when he was trapped in one of Team Rocket's trucks while a fire roared uncontrollably at the abandoned gas station near Pallet Town. He didn't remember it very well because the mysterious Pokémon under the disguised Giovanni's ownership had made him forget all about it. However, he didn't know why that vision was coming into his head.

"We can't just sit here and do nothing!" exclaimed Hillary. "We've gotta help Tristan somehow!"

"I know, but I don't know if there's much we can do," replied Eric.

Tristan didn't know what to do himself, but he knew he had to do something to get himself out of danger. He took out a Pokéball and threw it. "Blastoise, go!"

Blastoise emerged from the white light that shot out of the Pokéball.

"Blastoise, use your Hydro Pump attack to keep the fire at bay!" commanded Tristan.

Blastoise shot two powerful blasts of water from the cannons on its back at the big fire; however, the Hydro Pump blasts proved to be ineffective.

"It's no use! That fire is way too big!" grunted Tristan.

The flame grew hotter and bigger until a big flying Pokémon came from out of nowhere and shielded Tristan, Pikachu, and Blastoise from the fire. It had red and pink flames on its wings, tail, and forehead.

(Music Cue: Fighting Spirit)

Everyone gasped in astonishment as they looked on.

"Is that a Pokémon?" asked Eric.

"Moltres," added Veronica. "It must have come to help Tristan."

"I wonder if it's the same one we helped before," said Hillary.

Professor Goodshow smiled. "It came just in time."

Moltres gathered up all the flames that were burning inside the stadium and transferred them to its body. Then it flew into the sky and shot a powerful Flamethrower into the central torch at the top of the stadium steps.

Everyone cheered as Moltres flew overhead and the flame burned brightly.


A few minutes later, all the trainers came back into the stadium and the opening ceremonies proceeded as scheduled.

Professor Goodshow stepped onto the podium and made a speech to every competing trainer. "Welcome, one and all! This stadium is a very special place where all the trainers who love Pokémon have come to compete. The flame of Moltres watches over all of you here. Battle with all the fire and passion in your heart and in your spirit, and you will never regret a single moment of your time in this competition!"

Everyone cheered and applauded as Professor Goodshow finished his last sentence.

Tristan and Pikachu watched the flame of Moltres burn brightly. Thank you, Moltres, he thought. You're not just my hero here, but you're the hero in everyone's heart. And we'll keep your fire burning. He turned to Pikachu and said, "Well, this is it, pal. Are you ready to win?"

"Pi-Pikachu!" answered Pikachu eagerly.


And so, the Pokémon League Competition is finally underway. How will Tristan fare against all the other trainers? The battles will be intense, but for now the only thing for you to do is to stay tuned!

TO BE CONTINUED...