Disclaimer: I do not own Pokemon.
Chapter 53: Challenge of the Elite
After five weeks of traveling and an uneventful stop in Opelucid city, Ash and his companions had finally made it. They had reached Higaki City, the site of the Unova League. It had been a long road filled with many challenges and a few hardships, but at last the journey through the Unova Region was nearing its end. And it was not a moment too soon, for the cutoff point for entering the competition was upon them. But as they approached the doors of the stadium for Ash and Bianca to sign up the group noticed that the area seemed uncharacteristically empty.
"Hey Chili, are you sure the Unova League competition is supposed to start tomorrow?" Misty asked. "It seems like there should be more people here."
"Yeah, you'd think there'd be a lot of people in line for tickets and all that." Bianca agreed.
"Trust me, the competition always starts at the same time every year." Chili assured them. "And tomorrow is the day."
"Well we can talk about it later." Ash told them. "Right now let's just worry about getting registered."
In moments Ash and the others made it to the front gate of the stadium. The male attendant sitting in the glass both by the door quickly noticed their arrival.
"Can I help you?" the attendant asked.
"A friend of mine and I are here to register for the Unova League." Ash explained.
"Oh, well the competition doesn't start for another week." The attendant revealed.
"Always starts the same time every year, huh?" a slightly irritated Misty repeated to Chili.
"I don't get it. It should be starting tomorrow." A confused Chili insisted.
"Normally it would start tomorrow, but we have a sort of special event going on right now." The attendant explained. "It's one of those things that happens once in a blue moon. I can go ahead and register you though to save you the trouble of coming back."
"We might as well, since we came all the way here." Ash agreed. "Bianca, you go first."
"Please show me your Pokedex and badges." The attendant requested.
"Okay." Bianca replied as she held out her Pokedex and open badge case.
The attendant scanned the Pokedex screen and all eight of Bainca's badges. When he was done he typed a few things into the computer at his desk.
"Okay, you're all signed up." The attendant told her. "Anyone else in this group here to register?"
"I am." Ash answered as he held out his Pokedex and badges.
The attendant scanned the items and entered the date into his computer. As soon as he finished up though, the device made an odd beeping noise.
"Ash Ketchum… I see." The attendant said to himself.
"Is something wrong?" Ash asked.
"I'm afraid you're going to have to go to the theater across the street." The attendant informed him as he handed Ash a small blue card. "Give this to the man at the front desk when you arrive."
"Why, what's…?" Ash attempted to ask, but before he could finish his question the attendant pulled down the metal shutters of his booth.
"What the heck was that about?" Misty wondered.
"I hope there's not a problem with one of Ash's badges or something." Bianca replied.
"We're not gonna find out anything standing here." Ash pointed out. "Let's just go to this theater and see what's going on."
Ash and the others ventured across the street to the large theater building right across the street from the stadium. It looked to be the sort of theater where plays were held. There was a woman with short red hair manning the ticket booth. Once Ash showed her the blue card the stadium attendant had given him, the woman made a call on the black phone in the booth. In moments a pair of theater ushers emerged and took Ash and the others inside. Inside, one of the ushers took Ash, Pikachu, and Lucario back stage while the other took Misty and the rest of the group to the seats.
"Will you just tell me what the heck is going on?" Ash demanded to know.
"Just walk onto the stage sir." The usher told him. "It'll all be made clear in a moment."
Ash sighed and walked out onto the darkened stage with his two Pokemon companions. Whatever mystery he had landed in was starting to annoy him. Suddenly a spotlight came on above his head and the entire room was filled with the sound of cheering. Ash looked out and saw that the theater was packed with people. He saw Misty and the others right in the front row. A second later another spotlight came on and Ash saw Alder standing right across from him on stage.
"Hello Ash." Alder greeted as he walked up. "Sorry for all the mystery. I'm glad you finally made it here."
"What's going on here Alder?" Ash asked.
"You've been selected for a great honor Ash." Alder revealed. "Word of your victory over Cynthia, the Champion of Sinnoh, has gotten around. So it's been decided that instead of participating in the normal Pokemon League competition you have the chance to battle me."
"You're challenging me to a battle?" Ash realized with a look of surprise.
"You could say that." Alder replied. "But you're going to have to make it to me by defeating the strongest trainers of this region, the Unova Elite Four. Now you have the option of declining this challenge of course, but I have a feeling that you're not the kind of person to do that. So what do you say, Ash?"
"The chance to battle you and the strongest trainers in Unova, huh? How could I not turn that down? You're on Alder." Ash agreed.
"Then come back to the stadium tomorrow." Alder told him. "Your challenge shall being there."
A little later down at the city's Pokemon Center, Ash and the others had gathered in the waiting area to talk about what had just transpired. It was indeed and unexpected turn of events, and Ash was still taking it in.
"Wow, a chance to battle the strongest trainers in Unova. You're so lucky Ash." Bianca declared.
"Ash do you think you stand a chance against them?" Misty asked.
"With a skill level like his, he should do okay." A familiar voice cut in. Ash and the others turned to see Trip walking towards them.
"So you're here too, huh Trip?" Ash observed.
"Obviously." Trip replied. "And I was in the audience when Alder challenged you."
"Funny, I don't remember seeing you there." Bianca recalled.
"That's because I could only get a seat in back." Trip admitted. "I'm guessing that being Ash's friends you got to be in the front row."
"So what do you know about the Elite Four of Unova?" Ash asked him.
"Well I don't think I need to tell you that they're the strongest trainers around." Trip replied. "They're not quite as good as Alder, but they shouldn't be taken lightly. There's Caitlin, a powerful user of Psychic-type Pokemon. Then there's Grimsley, who uses Dark Pokemon. Next there's Marshel, who's an expert when it comes to the Fighting-type. Finally there's Shauntal, who uses Ghost Pokemon."
"Wow, looks like you've got your hands full Ash." Bianca observed.
"No kidding." Chili agreed. "You're going to need one heck of a strategy to beat these guys."
"Don't forget, if you do beat the Elite Four you'll be up against Alder next." Trip pointed out. "He's really someone you shouldn't take lightly."
"Thanks for the advice." Ash told him.
"Just try not to lose too badly, if you lose at all." Trip replied as he turned and left.
"Still a little stuck up, it looks like." Misty observed. "So Ash, what're you going to do."
"Right now I was thinking I'd have lunch." Ash replied. "I can't think up strategies on an empty stomach."
"I have heard of a really good restaurant that's around here." Chili recalled. "We could have a quick lunch there."
"Sounds good to me." Ash agreed.
With that, Ash and the others left the Pokemon Center and headed down the street. Their route took them past the Pokemon League stadium. And as they passed, Ash looked and noticed a pair of male Team Plasma agents looking at the arena. Deciding that they were most likely up to no good, Ash went over to confront them.
"Hey! What the hell are you guys up to?" Ash demanded to know, getting the two's attention.
"This is none of your concern!" One of the Plasma grunts told him. "Leave at once!"
"Hold on." The other Plasma agent told him. "I've seen this young man's picture at headquarters. He's the trainer from Kanto who's become Lord N's enemy."
"Then let's get rid of him once and for all." The first Plasma agent suggested.
Before either of the two could do anything though, both of them glowed with a faint blue aura and were hurled back hard into a nearby tree by an invisible force. Ash and the others looked up to see a grayish-white humanoid cat with a purple tail and belly descending to the ground. The group immediately recognized the Pokemon as Mewtwo. The two Team Plasma agents got to their feet and looked at the Legendary Pokemon with frightened expressions.
"Leave now, or else." A voice in everyone's head warned. Ash and Misty knew right away that the voice was Mewtwo's.
The two Team Plasma agents ran away as fast as their feet could carry them. Once they were gone, Mewtwo turned his attention to Ash and his friends.
"Uh, hey Mewtwo." Ash greeted. "What brings you here?"
"I was simply passing through this city when I noticed your presence." Mewtwo explained. "You seem different from before."
"You seem pretty much the same." Ash replied. "So why have you come to Unova."
"Curiosity." Mewtwo answered bluntly. "I have never been to this region before now."
"Well, as long as you're here you can watch Ash's battles." Misty suggested. "He's going to take on the Elite Four and the region's champion."
"I'm sure he'd like for you to cheer him on." Chili added.
"…I will consider it." Mewtwo replied after a moment before suddenly flying off.
"He seemed a little… grouchy." Bianca observed.
"Mewtwo's a pretty hard Pokemon to figure out." Ash told her. "We can talk about it more over lunch."
"What do you think those guys from Team Plasma were doing here?" Misty wondered as they began walking.
"Nothing good I'll bet." Ash assumed.
Ghetsis stood in the lab before the tablet of he had retrieved from the Castle of the Black Hero. He was pleased that the translation of the ancient text was nearing completion. All of his plans were nearing fruition. Ghetsis' thoughts we interrupted when a member of Team Plasma walked in a kneeled before him.
"Sage Ghetsis, two men from our advanced team in Higaki City have reported seeing the trainer from Kanto who has become Lord N's enemy." The Plasma agent reported.
"Ah yes, the Ketchum boy. He is something of an irritant." Ghetsis recalled, remembering how N's last encounter with Ash caused him to waver somewhat. "But he is of little consequence. Leave him be for now."
"Yes sir, but there is something else you should know." The Plasma agent replied. "The men also reported seeing a strange Pokemon with immense psychic powers. And it had come to the Ketchum boy's aid. That Pokemon could prove to be a major problem for us."
"Hmm, I see. Put Colress from the research division on it." Ghetsis ordered.
"But Sage Ghetsis, Lord N does not exactly approve of Colress' methods." The Plasma agent reminded him. "You remember how furious Lord N was when he learned of the project Croless and Scientist Dudley had begun working on."
"Yes, but what Lord N doesn't know won't hurt him." Ghetsis pointed out with a sinister grin. "Now carry out my orders."
"At once sir." The Plasma agent replied before leaving.
Ghetsis turned his attention back to the stone tablet. He didn't know just what sort of Pokemon it was that interfered with the advanced team, but he did not care. Ghetsis was sure it would not be a match for Zekrom, and he was sure Ash would not be a match for it either. The world was soon going to be his.
Author's Note: I know this was sort of a short chapter, but it does set a few things up. Plus it was nice to have a little break from all the Pokemon battles. So obviously Ash is going to be facing the Unova Elite Four instead of the normal Pokemon League competition shown in the anime. I always found it a little weird that the Pokemon League in the games was facing the region's Elite Four while in the anime it was just a standard tournament. Plus I decide that another regular tournament would just be a rehashing of the battles that happened in the World Tournament/Bianca arc.
Please review and let me know what you think.
