When you're at the top, where else is there to go?
Holding your position is an important part of being champion. There are always challengers trying to reach the highest office a trainer can aspire to. Sometimes the previous champion will challenge the newcomer, in order to prove that their victory was no fluke. Other times a group may take offense to the position of champion being passed to new hands. The Ferris family has historically challenged every new champion, making up the first ten or so challengers. Despite the infamous power of Athena Ferris' pokémon, her family is significantly less threatening and Athena has never participated in any of these power grabs anyways.
But when you're secure in your title, what do you do?
Well, there's always something else to do, honestly. Many regions host battle facilities where trainers from all over the world can meet up and test themselves. The most notorious of these battle facilities would probably be the battle frontiers, which while part of the region they call home are technically sovereign. Frontier brains often claim themselves to be the greatest trainers in the world, and there is some degree of merit to this. But most established champions have already taken the opportunity to challenge and defeat every frontier brain. Newer champions sometimes drop out of their position as champion specifically to have free access to the frontiers. Other new champions rush for the frontiers to better prove their worth and wind up losing battles as well as hope, their positions retaken by the veteran champions. The wisest, longest-lasting champions have been beaten a few times but came back when their challengers crumpled under the pressure. Only a select few champions can claim an undefeated career for more than a few years, and those with the longest streaks don't come back to reclaim their thrones.
Aside from those new challenges, there are also the duties a champion must partake in. Protecting the region from threats – be they criminal, existential, both, or otherwise – is an essential role that the champion plays. Political maneuvering with other regions and individuals of note is also an important part of the champion's job. In Toreta, the champion acts as the president of the League and the main link between the Pokémon League and the government. The transition of political power is not instant – it usually takes about half a year for a new champion to be eligible for the role of League president. If the new champion proved to be a poor fit for the job, the previous champion would hold on to the position of president.
Occasionally you find a champion who is not only a stellar battler, but politically talented and comfortable with their position. These champions last the longest, and even when they retire or are dethroned they retain political power for the rest of their lives. Champion Tanner would be one of these people, alongside his contemporaries such as Cynthia Shirona of Sinnoh and Lance Blackthorn of the Kanto-Johto conjoined League.
All that said, new champions had best beware. There are some very unscrupulous people out there, and they all want a piece of your influence.
"You know, the team has wanted to talk to you for a long time," Zane said, leading Finn through a back door and into a far less grandiose part of the League HQ. Metal plating gave way to cozy drywall. "Well, most of them. They watched all of your gym battles. I avoided looking at them, since it would ruin some of the surprise."
"I didn't think the battles were recorded." Finn furrowed his brow.
"Well, not in any official capacity. The recordings are for internal review. The only gym that doesn't record matches is Vernac's, because it's down to gym leader choice. Even Daniel's gym has cameras, although he's the only one with access to the footage," Zane said. "But I digress. Miles is the only one who wants nothing to do with you, and given the fact that you got spider webs on his scales I don't think that's changed. After you've been reunited with my team, Sparks has something he wants to talk to you about."
"It… sounds like you've planned this all out." Finn blinked in surprise. He glanced over to Athena, who returned a shrug. The rest of his team had been returned to their pokéballs for now. He would let them out when they reached a good place for it.
"Finn, I have hoped and dreamed that this day would happen for years." Zane gave an ear-to-ear grin. "You would not believe how proud I am."
The hallway opened up into a dojo of sorts, with wood paneled walls. A computer was set into one wall, with a tray attached for the depositing and withdrawal of pokéballs. Zane strode across the room with quick steps, reaching the computer and tapping in a couple of commands. Six pokéballs appeared in the tray, and the former champion tapped each one in turn to release their inhabitants. Zane then tapped a few more buttons, causing five high-tech collars to appear in the tray as well.
The first pokémon to exit their pokéball was Darling the lopunny, and she caught the talker collar as Zane tossed it to her. Cookie the scrafty was next, and the collar bounced off of his head before he fumbled with it to keep it from hitting the ground. Then Miles the milotic, who didn't even have to move as the collar slipped over his head and settled further down his neck. Sparks was next, and he caught his collar with both hands. Napoleon the grumpig used his psychic powers to catch the collar. Fezzick the alakazam was last, and he didn't even get a collar. Probably because he hated them.
With their talker collars on, Zane's team started to speak.
"Urgh, I hate spiderwebs." Miles was the first to say anything. The milotic shot a glare at Finn and slithered across the room to the furthest corner, where he curled up and rested his head on his tail. "I'm just going to lay here until the feeling of something crawling under my scales goes away."
"Baby." Cookie stuck his tongue out at the water type, the voice synthesized by his collar deep and gritty. The scrafty tugged his hood up over his head and sat down on the floor, leaning back against a wall and closing his eyes. "Grow a spine, snakey."
"Fuck you." There was no real venom in Miles' words. Just bickering.
"Same to you." The scrafty waved dismissively, then promptly fell asleep.
"Yo, how'd the battle go?" The grumpig spoke up now, lifting one hand.
"It. Was. Awesome," Darling said, with eyes wide in excitement. She walked up to Finn, looking up at him with an eager expression. "Your machamp is the best fighter I've ever fought. Lee's team have nothing on her. I want a rematch, or sparring, or something, because that was the most exciting duel I've ever been in." She paused. "Although that might have been the poison. Probably not, though. I don't think I would have won even if she hadn't thrown that orb at me."
"I'm glad you enjoyed it," Finn said with a small smile.
"I haven't had a battle that great in almost twenty years," The lopunny said. She wrapped her arms around Finn in a hug. "Thanks kiddo."
"It wasn't all me." Finn gave a quick hug back. It could be hard to wrap his head around the fact that most of his father's team was older than him, but he had known all of them since he was very little. "Belle put in the muscle."
"Then I'm going to have to meet Belle." Darling pulled away, smiling up at Finn for a bit. "Oh, I hope I didn't hurt your gardevoir too much. His neck went way further than I was expecting."
"He's fine. He doesn't have bones." Finn shrugged.
"That's… good?" That one threw Darling off for a few moments. "Oh, right. Amorphous pokémon. Don't run into them very often."
"That's because we don't fight very often," Napoleon the grumpig complained. "I didn't even get to be part of the big battle against Finn. Zane gave my clay to Fezzick and I got replaced by a robot. Stupid robots stealing our jobs."
"The registeel is technically a golem, rather than a modern-," The telepathic voice of the alakazam interjected.
"Yeah, yeah, not a robot." Napoleon waved him off. "But if it looks like a robot, acts like a robot, beeps and boops like a robot, it's probably a robot."
"Except when it's not," Darling said. "Like Xollen."
"Yeah, like Xollen." Napoleon nodded. "Hey, you think we'll-,"
"Ah!" Zane interjected, stepping over to turn off the talker collar. That earned him a dirty glare from the psychic type swine, but he ignored it. "Let's leave that one a surprise for Finn, okay?"
Napoleon turned his collar back on, waiting a moment as it booted up. "Yeah, okay."
"How about you guys." Zane looked around at his pokémon. "Head out to the yard. Finn can let out his team and you all can chat. But me and Sparks will stay in here to talk to Finn, okay?"
Miles was the first one out of the room, taking the opportunity to get as far away from Finn as possible. Darling reached up to pat Finn on the shoulder before she left. Fezzick nodded, then headed out the same door as the others. Napoleon gave Finn a thumbs up and a smile on the way out.
Cookie was the last to leave, hopping straight to his feet from his position against the wall. He strode over to Finn first, putting up one hand balled into a fist.
"You did real good, bud." The scrafty smiled.
Finn gave him a fist bump. "Thanks, Cookie."
"I'll see y'all outside." Cookie set off, waving over his shoulder as he went.
"Actually, Cookie, if you could wait a moment," Zane said.
Cookie stopped and looked over his shoulder. "Yeah?"
"If you would guide Finn's pokémon to the yard, that would be appreciated," Zane said. He looked at Finn. "Go ahead and let them out."
Finn obliged, releasing his team. "Hey guys. Cookie's going to lead you to the yard so you can hang out for a bit. Me and Athena are going to stay here to talk to Dad and Sparks."
He got nods, and the group of pokémon headed out into the hall to go to the yard. Once they were well down the hall, Zane stepped over and closed the door, turning to Sparks. "What should we start with?"
Sparks, who up until this point had been waiting with barely contained excitement next to the computer, rushed across the room and scooped Finn up into a hug. Care was taken to avoid impaling Finn on his chest spike.
"I'm sorry, I'm sorry, I'm sorry!" Sparks kept repeating the same apology over and over, burying his face in Finn's shoulder. "I'm sorry."
"Hey, whoa." Finn pat Sparks on the back. "What are you sorry for?"
"I'm sorry for leaving." Sparks pulled away, looking up at Finn. He was taller than most lucario, which made the difference in their heights less significant.
"But… that wasn't your choice," Finn said, confused.
"It…" Sparks' gaze went down to the floor. "It was, though?"
Finn looked at his father in confusion. "What's going on?"
"Finn…" Zane Ferris took a deep breath, then spoke. "I told you that giving you Sparks was something of an experiment. That's because… well. I've known about your aura problems since… the beginning. I'm an auric, though not a trained one. The aura guardians don't let their members be participants in the gym circuit, and they're the only ones who know how to properly train someone to use their aura. I can't see auras like the best can. But I can sense when someone's aura is off. I can tell when people are lying. I can sense a dark aura coming from a mile away." He looked Finn in the eye. "I knew that you were going to have difficulties from the moment you were born. Not how bad they were, but that life wouldn't be easy for you.
"That said, I wanted to see if you could forge a bond. Not just a relationship, but a full-on auric bond. I got permission from Sparks' parents to give their child to you – they were both my and Athena's pokémon, after all." Zane sighed, breaking eye contact. "Riolu are in a small group of pokémon that require unique conditions to evolve. They require a strong relationship with a human to evolve. It can be forced through some rather… unethical procedures, but the main method requires a stable and strong friendship. The friendship itself is the surface-level result of an auric bond. A two-way exchange between human and pokémon.
"Unlike most pokémon that evolve through this method, a riolu can tell when it's going wrong. They can know when it doesn't work properly or when it's not reciprocated." Zane looked over at Sparks, then back at Finn. "When you were seven, Sparks came to me. He was worried. He was giving you everything he had, but you weren't giving anything back. This was completely at odds with your behavior, since you loved him like a brother. He was so distressed. He wanted it to stop. Riolu are sensitive to auric disturbances, and it was incredibly worrying to him that your aura was reacting incorrectly.
"Dark auras are rare, and usually earned. But when they appear several notable changes to how the aura reacts occur. The dark aura is rigid and resistant to interference, which is why psychics can't touch them. They're also very brittle, which makes them more vulnerable to auric attacks. But the third and – in this case – most important trait is that they take from others around them. If you've ever heard of someone referred to as an energy or emotional vampire, that person probably had a dark aura. Others can pour endless amounts of love and care and energy into them, but they never return any," Zane said. "You, on the other hand, return that love and energy. But not the aura. And it's this auric disturbance that made Sparks so upset. He begged me to make the discomfort stop. The only solution I could think of was to make him evolve, so he could control his aura better."
"I wanted to come back," Sparks said, his ears drooping. "But… there was never an opportunity. I evolved, and then I was replacing my mother on Zane's team. He needed a full team as the champion, and… I was just the best candidate. I didn't want to let Zane down. I'm aurically bonded to him, and it… it hurts to let someone you're bonded to down like that."
"I understand." Finn nodded. He stepped over to Sparks and put a hand on the lucario's shoulder. "Hey. I understand. You were trying to have a good life. I can't blame you for that. And…" Finn took a deep breath before he continued. "I understand not wanting to let down someone you have a close bond to."
Sparks embraced him again, and Finn returned the hug for a while. When he eventually pulled away, the lucario had tears in the corners of his eyes, but a small smile on his face.
Zane Ferris cleared his throat, blinking his own eyes rapidly. "I'm very, very happy that the two of you get to see each other again, but there are a few more things that we need to talk about. You'll have all the time you could ever want to catch up after, but while we're here we need to talk about something else pertaining to your aura, Finn."
"Yeah." Finn nodded. "Okay."
"Sparks, if you would give us a scan," Zane said.
The lucario nodded, closing his eyes. His aura-sensors vibrated and began to twitch, floating upwards as his powers were brought to bear. Blue light pulsed out from the centers of his paws, washing over Finn and bouncing off a short distance away from his skin. A similar effect happened when the pulse reached Athena, though it got much closer than it did to Finn. Finn closed his own eyes, using Athena's unique vision to see what was happening.
What met his vision – and what Athena had been seeing the whole time – was a blaze of blue fire flooding the room. Most of it was coming from Sparks, flowing out of his palms in a controlled pulse that bounced off of Finn. But almost as much of that blue fire was coming from Finn's father, flowing into Sparks where it was channeled into the scan. There was a clear line between the two, a flowing tether that sent pulses from one to the other. Another thing that stood out was that, when Athena turned to look at Finn, there was a dead spot in the air. Sparks' aura was flooding the room, but there was a line between Finn and Athena that had no visible activity.
In fact, now that he looked closer, there were six such lines. The rest were hair-thin, but they were there.
Finn opened his eyes to see the world with his own eyes again. Sparks and his father were both giving him a weird look.
"How did you do that?" Zane asked, rubbing his chin.
"I don't know. It's just… something I can do?" Finn gave a confused shrug.
"Huh…" Zane slowly nodded. "Sparks, what did you see?"
"I just saw Finn dump his entire aura into the aegislash," Sparks answered.
"Right." Sparks' aura sensors calmed. "Um. Yeah, so, um, that's weird."
"Do you… know what happened?" Finn looked between his father and the lucario.
"I… have a few theories," Zane said. "Do you know how mega evolution works?"
"The stones allow a trainer to activate latent power in the pokémon?" Finn said uncertainly. "Although thinking about it, I've heard that it requires a strong bond between trainer and pokémon to work, so I'm assuming it also has something to do with aura?"
"Yes, it does. The reason you need both a keystone and a mega stone is because the keystone links to your aura and acts as a conduit to your pokémon. The influx of aura is what allows the mega stone to evoke an evolution in your pokémon. What's happened with you… is kind of like that. But also completely different," Zane said.
"Then… why bring it up?" Finn scratched his head as he furrowed his brow.
"Because it's a good jumping off point to talk about what I think is going on. Could you take your gloves off? Athena – your mother, not the aegislash, sorry – told me about the physical changes, but I want to see it personally," Zane said.
"Sure." Finn shrugged and pulled off his leather gloves.
"So, if pushing a human aura into a pokémon allows a temporary change and a massive increase in power…" Zane looked Finn in the eyes. "What happens when it goes the other direction?"
"Well, it would…" Finn stopped, blinking. "Oh. It would cause physical changes to the human. Like… like me. Is that what's happening?"
"Probably not. Again, it's for the basis of explanation. I'm going to introduce one more concept to you. If a human and a pokémon are so in-tune that their hearts beat as one – and I do mean in synchronization, as well as a complete integration of both auras, then they enter a state called battlebond," Zane explained. "There's only ten or so historic cases of battlebond. None confirmed. But the theory behind it is that the total integration of two auras allows both parties to gain new abilities. The human gains powers from the pokémon, and the pokémon becomes even stronger. Their consciousnesses become interchangeable. They can use each other's senses, know what the other knows, and share sensations. What you have looks like a battlebond, but it can't be. Athena – your aegislash this time – is not at the absurd level of raw power that battlebond causes. Battlebond doesn't cause physical changes to the human either, and it causes far more drastic changes in the pokemon than we can see with you."
"I'm not the only one with powers gained from a pokémon either." Finn looked down at his hands. "Not even the first."
"Correct." Zane nodded. "And, of course, battlebond cannot last more than a minute or two, as it drains energy from both parties. Your link with Athena is permanent and lasting."
"So… what do you think it is?" Finn asked.
"Well…" Zane took Finn's right hand, pulling it out parallel to the ground. He pushed Finn's sleeve up to his shoulder, then nodded as he saw the winding scar. "This arm was always an oddity. No physical issues, just unable to move. That was an auric deficiency, caused by your aura being both malformed – it didn't encompass your arm – and dark – it couldn't flow down the natural channels. There was no aura where this scar touched. So what happened when you were touched by a soul-stealing sash?"
"I survived." Finn's eyes widened. "And my arm was no longer paralyzed. Are you saying that Athena, like, sucked my aura into my arm?"
"Like trying to drink through a clogged straw." Zane's eyebrows went up. "Some got through, but mostly it stayed in the straw. I think some of your aura was taken, but since your aura is dark – vampiric, remember – it took something back. It clearly didn't take your aura back, it took something else."
"Like an aura transplant. It took Athena's."
"Exactly!" Zane nodded. "A freak accident that led to what I'm going to call aura displacement. You traded parts of your aura with each other. Did you know that, in older times, lucario were known to communicate with humans in what seemed like normal speech? The technique was lost to time, but theoretically it would involve the lucario giving some of their aura to the human, and taking an equivalent amount. Not much, mind you, but that little bit was enough to ignore the normal language barrier."
"So that's why I can understand my pokémon!" Finn exclaimed, understanding coming at last.
"If the theory is correct, yes." Zane grinned widely for a moment. "So based entirely upon your experiences, it seems as though that initial aura displacement destabilized your dark aura, making a traditional auric bond possible, but in a strange way that leads to a more complete understanding between both parties by exchanging chunks of aura, rather than forming a normal link."
"So… every single one of my pokémon has undergone an aura displacement with me."
"Um." Sparks spoke up. "Not just your pokémon. I can detect eight auras attached to yours that aren't human."
"So… Harvest and Rath." Finn nodded. "I think I finally understand now."
"You have managed to establish a battlebond-esque link with your aegislash and auric displacement with seven other pokémon, but here's the kicker." Zane's face split into a smile. "That battlebond-like link is also happening with your other pokémon."
"…You're right." Finn's eyes widened in surprise. "I… I recovered from my coma way faster than I should have been able to. That would probably be from Belle."
"I think, given enough time, you would notice benefits from all of your links," Zane said. "You said that others had powers like yours, but I doubt any of them have this kind of link with their pokémon. But then, I don't know for certain. It seems to require a dark aura destabilized in just the right way. As far as I can tell, you're one-of-a-kind."
"Would that change if Team Plasma has my DNA?" Finn asked apprehensively.
"Um. Oh." Zane turned to Sparks.
"Uh…" Sparks scratched behind his ear. "Blood has a sample of the aura. That sample doesn't really change unless it's brought close to the whole, but it could be enough to replicate some of what's happened. When did they get it?"
"Before I caught Nyx." Finn looked between Sparks and his father.
"Then that would just be your link to Athena. And Athena as a honedge, at that," Zane said. "Now, I'm no scientist, so we would have to tell all of this to Aspen and get her opinion on it. But I don't think that's enough to replicate the aura displacement. They might figure out how to go one way, but not both. And both is required for all of the benefits you're exhibiting. Powers would be expected, but much more than that would require DNA from your pokémon too. Without the sample of your DNA, they wouldn't be able to do much beyond physical enhancements. Although I think psionics only barely count as physical enhancements, and I'm not entirely sure how one obtains ghost-type powers."
"You're talking about Renard and Mono." It wasn't a question.
"Yes, I am." Zane nodded. "With the mystery of your link hopefully solved, let's move on to another pressing matter: Team Plasma and their elites. You already said you haven't run into the shadow triad, right?"
"No," Finn answered.
"Count yourself lucky. They're literal actual ninjas and I don't know where they came from but they're a pain in my ass." Zane scowled at the mention of the ninjas, shaking his head. "They've tried to sneak in here at least half a dozen times. Fortunately Cookie's amazing at catching thieves, which apparently means he's also able to shut down ninjas. You said you've dealt with people who have powers. Your mother told me about that, but I want to hear it from you."
"Yeah. People with powers derived from pokémon. I could name all of them and what they're getting powers from, if you'd like." When Zane nodded, Finn started counting on his fingers. "Let's see. The Numer siblings. Trinity's got power from her rhyperior, I'm sure. Dua… I don't know what she has, but it's electric type. Mono… he's not human anymore, I think they've managed to fuse him with his dusknoir."
"Wow, I seriously underestimated what they could do with that DNA sample." Zane reached up to massage his temples. "Okay, continue."
"Renard's gaining power from a psychic type, which you knew, but he mentioned a pokemon named Meobus, which based purely on the name I think is a reuniclus. Cyril-," Zane frowned, but Finn continued. "Has gained power from a metagross. And Darrell-,"
"Wait, Darrell? Darrell Leifeld?" Zane asked. "The kid who went to school with you?"
"The guy who bullied me, yeah." Finn nodded, and Zane winced. "He's getting power from his magmortar. I don't think they have the same bond as I do with Athena, though. He had to give it orders, while Athena knows what I want almost before I do." Athena bobbed in confirmation.
"Okay. Um." Zane ran a hand through his hair. "Bad news. Darrell has registered to challenge the elite four and champion tomorrow, and you're going to have to be there."
"What?" Finn recoiled. "Why?! He tried to kill me!"
Zane winced again. "Okay, so, multiple reasons. For starters, Fezzick and Napoleon both foresaw it as part of our best course of action. I trust them with this, and if nothing else I will keep you safe. The other issue is that we can't bar him from challenging the elite four, since his record has all eight badges and he hasn't been recorded committing any crimes."
"What about eyewitness testimony?"
"Finn," Zane said, clearly uncomfortable. "You know why you can't give a testimony. They'll call for a telepathic memory examination, and you can't do that. Plus, if Cyril does have the powers of a metagross, she can easily alter the memories."
"Well, what about Lorenzo?"
"He wasn't in the country and doesn't have footage or recordings. The amount of time it would take him to get here for a testimony means that we won't know when Team Plasma intends to strike. If Darrell sees you here – just in the HQ – that will kick off a series of events we can predict and counter." Zane sighed. "Please, trust me on this one."
Finn was apprehensive about the idea of having to confront Darrell again. But if his father had a plan, then he would trust it.
"Okay. I'll face Darrell tomorrow." Finn sighed. "But I'm not going to be happy about it."
"Nobody stipulated happiness." Zane nodded, letting out a tense breath. "Alright. I think that's all of the pressing matters. Let's go see what kind of chaos Napoleon and Cookie have tried to start with your pokémon."
"I think Crai and Bastion would probably have started something by now, honestly," Finn said.
"Wonderful. They'll get along like a house on fire: by causing a ton of collateral damage." Zane laughed. "Well, they're all champion-level pokémon. They should be fine."
Zane led Finn and Athena out of the training room, with Sparks trailing close behind. The winding hallways that made up the interior of the League HQ eventually opened out into a massive indoor space. The ceiling, some fifty feet up, was covered in screens and lamps, meant to mimic an outdoor area. The center of the ceiling had an artificial sun, probably capable of replicating all of the effects the sun had, seeing as the room – if one could call it a room – had trees and foliage growing near the edges. The center of the yard was a set of three side-by-side dirt pokémon battle arenas. A set of benches lined one wall, situated far enough away from the arenas to avoid stray attacks.
As soon as Finn and his father emerged into the yard, there was the crack of splintering wood, and one of the trees shook violently.
"Cookie, you dumbass!"
There was a heavy blow, and the scrafty went flying through the air across the yard, starting at the base of the tree that had shaken and ending nearly on the opposite side. Cookie's expression was deadpan, and didn't change when he hit the ground hard enough to leave a small crater. Darling leaped across the yard from the base of the damaged tree, crossing to Cookie's location in a single bound. She stomped down where his head had been just a moment ago, but he tilted his head just enough to avoid the attack.
"What do you two think you're doing?!" Zane roared, for once seeming big and imposing. Both of the pokémon froze like a deer in headlights.
"Cookie started head-butting the trees and vandalizing things again-," Darling began, pointing at the scrafty.
"I was tryin' to show Belle and Nyx how I fight without hurtin' nobody." Cookie interjected, rolling his eyes. "It's just a tree, Darling."
"You just break everything you touch!" Darling shouted down at the scrafty.
"The world wasn't meant for someone as strong as me." Cookie stuck his tongue out at the lopunny. "It's just a fuckin' tree."
Zane covered his face with one hand, sighing. "Cookie, stop attacking trees, please. Darling, it's not a big deal this time. Nobody's hurt, and trees are not really that important. Okay?"
"Told you." Cookie rolled his eyes again, hopping to his feet in one fluid motion.
"Don't." Zane glared at the scrafty. "Don't start this again."
"Aight." Cookie walked over to the benches and plopped down, pulling up his hood and closing his eyes to doze.
Darling crossed her arms and scowled. "I swear, he has no respect for anything."
"Darling, you know that's not true." Zane put one hand on her head, scratching behind an ear. The lopunny leaned into the affectionate touch. "He cares about people, but he doesn't care what happens to things. You two just have different values."
"It's just so frustrating…" Darling trailed off, sighing.
Zane turned to Finn. "Do you have these kinds of issues with your team?"
"You have no idea." Finn let out a steady breath, puffing out his cheeks. He looked around the yard. His own pokémon were up to their own things, some of them interacting with his father's pokémon.
A sudden wave of weariness overtook him, and Finn walked over to one of the benches and sat down. Sparks joined him, leaning against his shoulder. Finn was just happy to see him again, and it seemed Sparks felt the same way.
Finn looked out over the yard as Darling challenged Belle to a duel. The two walked over to one of the arenas and Darling looked askance at Finn's father, who put up one hand and left to retrieve his mask.
He let out a heavy breath, and closed his eyes to appreciate just how far he'd come.
O-O-O
It was the next day when Finn officially talked to the elite four. He had spent the night in a room designed for challengers to stay in, with assurances from his father that they would have a room ready for him specifically within the next couple days. Right now though, Finn stood in the training room with the elite four in front of him, his father to his right.
"Alright," Zane said, rubbing his hands together. "We have challenger Darrell Leifeld coming through in about half an hour, so let's make this quick. Everyone, you've already met Finn. He's the champion now, so if you have any grievances, it's time to air them."
Tyson put his hand up, a cheeky grin on his face.
"This isn't school, Tyson." Zane rolled his eyes.
"Yeah, I have a minor issue," Tyson said, his grin growing. "Finn's aegislash and machamp completely obliterated my team with minimal issues, and I am still a little bit sore."
"Complaint dismissed." Zane shook his head as he put a hand to his forehead.
Nik looked between Zane and Tyson for a moment, their mouth slightly open and their brow furrowed. They did this for a moment more, then blinked and closed their mouth. "Oh, it was a joke."
"Yeah, sorry Nik." Tyson's smile faded. "Didn't mean to confuse you there."
"Understood." The electric elite nodded.
"I have a legitimate concern," Lee said, glaring at Tyson. He returned his attention to Zane. "Why are we permitting a child to be our leader in this time of danger? We need an experienced leader, not a boy who won by fluke."
"Fluke?" Zane blinked a few times. "Do you have any idea how well-played that battle was? Had Finnegan not accepted the additional challenge of fighting a legendary tier pokémon, he would have had at least two pokemon left after winning handily. Even then, he maneuvered me into a position where I had no legal options, displaying a masterful understanding of the rules. I dare say Finn has become better than me in less than two years."
"And yet he has no combat experience. Will he be able to keep his calm in dangerous situations? Does he know any actual combat strategy? What about talking to the help we're getting? Why should we allow a child that kind of authority in the League?" Lee stepped forwards, glaring down at Finn.
Zane opened his mouth to speak, but Finn stepped forwards first and spoke.
"I have fought for my life against spies and assassins, I have fought and won against horrible creatures that should not exist, and I have in my head the knowledge required for effective use of every conventional weapon and nearly as many forms of hand-to-hand combat." Finn walked up to Lee, leaving only a couple inches of space between the two. "Try me."
To Finn's secret surprise, the elite actually took a half-step back. There was a flash of… something on Lee's face. He couldn't make it out.
"This is all a stupid reason to complain anyways, Lee. Finn won't be the president of the League, I will," Zane said, stepping forwards and putting a hand on Finn's shoulder. "Literally nothing changes. Stop trying to pick fights."
"Hmph." Lee turned and walked away.
As the fighting type elite left, Aelius flipped him the bird. The old man shook his head, putting his hand down. He ran a hand through his long hair. "What a dick."
"No kidding," Tyson said, grimacing. "I know I was joking about it, but he's actually such a sore loser."
"I did not think it was possible for Lee to be this emotional," Nik observed, grabbing their helmet. "Normally he is stoic. Regardless, I should get to my station."
Nik put on their helmet and also took their leave, heading out the same door.
"I'll see you around kiddo. Don't let Lee get you down. He's always been sour whenever someone does anything that could challenge his so-called supremacy," Aelius said. "I'm headin' out. See ya later kiddo."
And with that, Aelius also headed out the door.
"Hey, for what it's worth, I thought you could do it from that day on the road." Tyson grinned. "Not just anyone can take care of a honedge. I'll see you when we're done with this challenger."
Tyson left too, waving as he did.
"Best get to your spot, too," Zane said, patting Finn on the shoulder. "Fezzick, Sparks, and I will be watching, waiting for the right moment. If – or more probable when – things go wrong, we'll be ready."
"Alright." Finn took a deep breath, then started off through the door. The winding hallways were hard to navigate, but he knew where he was going.
He arrived in the champion's arena, looking at it from the side he had faced down just the previous day. The room was already repaired, probably by some sort of automated process. It would be exorbitantly expensive to have a team repair the arena after every battle. Especially since champion-level pokémon could deal such an incredible amount of damage to the surrounding area.
Since it would be a while before Darrell reached him, Finn took the opportunity to familiarize himself with the control panel on the champion's side of the arena. It had a hexagonal receptacle on top to hold the champion's pokémon – not that Finn would use it, as he was wearing his pokéball belt – with a retractable slot In the middle for a seventh pokéball. There were controls for the door, for the hovering platforms, and for the protective barriers in addition to several basic functions like lights and air conditioning. Finn was half tempted to fiddle with it, but he figured it would be a better idea to just leave it be. His father had said that all Finn needed to do was be ready.
The plan was straightforward. If Darrell made it to Finn, then all Finn needed to do was make sure to follow all of the rules and regulations for engaging a challenger. When Darrell inevitably broke the rules, Finn would need to protect himself to the best of his ability until his father arrived. If Darrell was knocked out before that point, Finn would take a visit to Anthony, who was staying in the challenger lodgings. Finn's father would accompany him, so that when Darrell tried something the president of the League would be present. This was a situation where the plan was to rely on Darrell's hatred to make him do something rash. Despite his seeming absence in matters related to Team Plasma, it was clear that Zane had given this particular plan a lot of thought.
Finn had zero doubts that Darrell would fall right for it.
The silence was disturbed much sooner than Finn had been expecting. The door to the champion's arena began to make mechanical clicking noises as the lock disengaged, and a few moments later the doors slid open. A tall, wide-shouldered silhouette stood in the center, and the figure casting it stepped forwards. Clad in a conventional black t-shirt and a pair of pants made from a synthetic material was a familiar foe. Firey orange eyes with an inner glow glared into the arena.
"Alright Tanner, I've beat the elite four. Now it-,"
Darrell stopped, his eyes widening. His jaw dropped as his expression went slack. Total shock was clear on the young man's face, the fire in his eyes dying as his energy left him.
"Welcome, challenger." It took a great deal of effort to keep his voice and expression neutral, to avoid being smug about it. "Unfortunately, Champion Tanner is not the champion anymore. You'll be fighting me instead."
"How." Darrell blinked rapidly. His vocabulary failed him. "How did you. How."
"I got here first and won," Finn answered curtly.
Darrell's hands balled into fists, his eyes lighting up with internal fire again. "You…"
"Yes. Me." Finn glared at Darrell, putting one hand on his pokéball belt. "I am the champion."
"This." Darrell swallowed angrily, stepping forwards. "This is bullshit. You. Why always you."
"Because, as it just so happens, we've had intersecting goals for a long time." Finn tightened his grip on Athena's pokéball. "We both wanted to become champion. I wanted to help people. You wanted to join Team Plasma and become powerful. Pretty at odds, wouldn't you say?"
"You keep trampling on everything I've ever wanted." Darrell stomped towards Finn. "Fuck you. Fuck you. I'm going to fucking kill you for this, you pompous dick."
The metal under Darrell's shoes began to glow faintly as the room got warmer. Flames dripped from Darrell's fingers. With a side-arm swing, Darrell hurled a fireball at Finn.
Finn quickly turned, causing the fireball to hit the back of his shoulder instead of the front. The jacket dampened the flames, but the second fireball had to be blocked by a hastily erected king's shield that Finn did almost purely by reflex.
When the shield disappeared, Finn released Athena. She immediately unsheathed, placing herself in Finn's hands for battle. He readied himself, shield in front for defense.
As it turned out, he didn't need to worry too much about it. As Darrell rushed forwards, a glassy pink wall separated him from Finn. Darrell slammed his fists on the barrier a couple of times, and the force of the blows was enough to cause them to crack. Finn quickly released Crai as well, and the gardevoir's assistance stabilized the psychic wall.
"Darrell Leifeld, I assume you know that it is illegal to assault the champion, especially with threats of murder."
Finn glanced over his shoulder to see his father enter the room. His posture was slightly different from normal, and he was wearing the mask. Presumably he was also wearing the persona of Champion Tanner. Behind him was Fezzick, whose eyes were glowing. At his other shoulder was Sparks, who had his hands raised and ready for combat.
On the other side of the barrier, Darrell seemed to have realized what he had done. His eyes widened, the fires on his hands dying out and the room returning to its normal temperature. He took a couple of steps back. "Ch-champion Tanner."
"Not champion anymore, young man. That title goes to Finnegan here." Zane pat Finn on the shoulder, a silent affirmation that he had done well. "Now I know that the laws have changed fairly recently, making it much harder to make a case with just a witness. But I think you've forgotten that most official League battles have some kind of recording. Your assault will not be ignored."
"You don't, you don't understand, I-," Darrell tried to say, only for Zane to cut him off.
"What's not to understand?" Zane tilted his head. "I heard and saw everything. Getting to the championship first is far from an excuse for attempted murder."
"But he-,"
"As a punishment, I – as president of the League – am suspending your trainer card until further notice. This means that you cannot challenge the League in any official capacity, you are not permitted to use pokémon centers, and you cannot stay in the lodgings here at Headquarters." Zane took a few steps closer, and Finn could feel his father's aura flare. "I do not permit someone attempting to kill any members of the League. Am I clear?"
"I-,"
"Am. I. Clear."
Darrell swallowed. "Yes…"
"Now it may be possible to re-earn your license," Zane said, waving one hand as the pressure of his aura let up. "But seeing as the League is going to be going through… let's say difficult times, that's going to be delayed for several months before you will have a chance. Understood?"
Darrell's head drooped. "Yes, sir."
"Good. Now get out of my League."
Darrell opened his mouth as if to speak again, then turned and ran back through the door he had entered through. The doors to the champion's arena slammed shut with a deafening boom.
Only then did the psychics let the pink barrier fall, and Zane took off his mask to wipe his brow.
"I… never did like the part where I had to crush some poor kid's dreams," Zane confessed. "Even if he did deserve it." The former champion shuddered. "When he hit that barrier, Fezzick flinched. That's a lot of power. I'm not entirely sure Fezzick could have held him back alone, so it's good you let Craitarot out. Thanks for lending a hand, by the way." That last was directed at the gardevoir.
"Glad to help. Darrell's been a pain in the ass for a long time." Crai shrugged.
"Still…" Zane's lips drew into a thin line. He shook his head. "What was that you did, Finn? It looked like a king's shield…?"
"Yeah, uh." Finn sheathed Athena in her shield, allowing her to float freely. He bent his left arm at a ninety degree angle and focused, creating the hexagonal panels that formed a king's shield. "It's something I figured out how to do the last time Darrell tried to murder me. I've been practicing all of my powers, and they just get easier."
"Huh…" Zane rubbed his chin, glancing at Sparks. "What do you see?"
"A very powerful, if somewhat amateur auric manipulation," The lucario answered, mimicking his trainer's pose.
"Finn, I may not be a trained aura guardian, but I do know a few tricks. Things aren't going to be getting any safer, either," Zane said. A grin grew on his face. "Let's find out just how far you can push those abilities."
O-O-O
The figure in the steel throne looked down from above, light reflecting off of his technological eyepiece.
"Well?" The man on the throne said, his voice gravelly.
"Lord Ghetsis." Darrell kneeled, bowing his head. "I… I got to the champion, as planned. The hacked badges worked. But, um…"
"Speak up." Ghetsis leaned forwards.
"I… Finn got there first," Darrell said, bile rising in his throat.
"Hmm." Ghetsis leaned back again, grabbing the head of his cane. "And? If you beat him, you would not be here right now, so I assume you lost."
"I…" Darrell swallowed. "I didn't even battle him."
"Tell me what happened."
"I got past the elite four. It was mostly easy, but the ice specialist had a weather-based strategy I wasn't expecting and the electric specialist had some kind of wire-based pokémon I've never seen before. Once I got to the champion, though…" Darrell had to swallow again, his mouth going dry. "I'm sorry Lord Ghetsis. I lost my temper. I tried to kill him. I was kicked out and my license was suspended."
"Idiot." Ghetsis' voice held no anger, as though he had expected this outcome. "No matter. This changes very little."
Ghetsis rose to his feet, his dark cloak flowing around him. He raised his silver cane and slammed it into the stone of the room, causing a loud metal clang to ring out. Three figures appeared around Darrell, appearing as though from the shadows themselves. Their stark white hair and pale skin the only things visible in the dimly lit room. Darrell swallowed again at the appearance of the shadow triad.
"Your suggestion of subverting the League was never the main plan, boy. But it did give us a bit more information. Leave a report with Renard, detailing everything you learned. Then report to Cyril for… further instruction," Ghetsis said. "You may rise."
"Yes, Lord Ghetsis." Darrell nodded, happy to have been let off this easily. He stood up and turned to leave.
"Leave all of your pokémon but your magmortar in storage. You will not need them." Ghetsis paused as Darrell turned back to receive his orders. "Despite your inadequacy in this endeavor, you have proven to be the most successful combat unit so far. Keep it up."
Elated at the praise, Darrell nodded. "Yes Lord Ghetsis."
Then Darrell resumed his exit.
"Now then. You three are tasked with an espionage mission unlike any before. We have some special guests arriving in Toreta soon, and we have pitifully lacking information on most of them. Learn what you can and report back to me."
The three shadows spoke in eerie unison.
"Yes, Lord Ghetsis."
And that was all Darrell heard as the door slid shut behind him.
A/N:
And at last an explanation of Finn's strange powers. I hope it made sense, because I'm not explaining it in nearly as much detail ever again.
We learn why Darrell was needed at the raids on the various gyms: to complete his badge collection and allow him to challenge the League.
You know, I completely forgot the shadow triad existed until I returned to writing this story? That's why I had a mention of them last chapter and an actual appearance here.