Chapter 9

The day after Ash and Lillie reveal their identities as the Elite Four and Champion of the Sevestar Region, Chloe and Serena have been overwhelmed with the news as they realize Ash's army is bigger than it seems, but they are also promised to keep their secrets, much to their delight.

Gladion is now walking at the dorms as he spots Kiawe training with his Marowak. Gladion asks, "You."

Kiawe turns around and asks, "Gladion? What do you want?"

"Have you seen my sister?" Gladion asks. "I haven't seen her since this morning."

"Lillie, huh? I heard that she is with Calem as they are having some Pokemon Battle Training." Kiawe says.

"What? Battle Training?" Gladion is now very worried as he rushes to the gym.

At the same time, Calem, Serena, and Lillie are using the gym as Lillie has 6 Pokemon by her side, there are her Ninetales: Snowy, a Lapras, a Glalie, an Eiscue, a Cryogonal, and a Kyurem. All six of them are sparring with Calem's Talonflame, Scizor, Lycanroc, Dracovish, Sirfetch'd, and Volcanion.

"You're Pokemon aren't that bad, I think we should call it a day." Ash says as he recalls Volcanion, while Lillie is recalling Kyurem. "But I have to admit, your strength is amazing, no wonder you are the Number 2."

Lillie gives a small pout and says, "That's because you are the Number 1. I'm still trying to find a day to beat you!"

Serena says, "Calm down, you two. But Calem's right. Lillie, you have become stronger...maybe you should be the leader instead of me."

Lillie shakes her head and says, "Serena, you have the charms to make people follow you, you are a better leader than I."

"Lillie!" Just then, the three of them see Gladion and Kiawe rush into the gym, and Gladion notices a lot of Pokemon surrounding them and he asks, "You...what are you doing with my sister?"

Calem asks, "What are you talking about? I am training with Lillie."

Calem recalls his Pokemon, leaving the five Ice Type Pokemon on the field. Kiawe asks, "Hey Calem, you didn't own those Pokemon?"

"Well..." Before Calem can reply, Lillie says, "They are my Pokemon. Gladion, I am not the weak me like before."

Gladion is stunned at the cold air both his sister and her Pokemon are emitting, he asks, "All five Pokemon you owned are Ice Type...are you aiming for an Ice Type specialist?"

"I am not aiming." Lillie says as she looks at Calem, who nods at her. "I AM an Ice Type specialist."

"Ice Type huh?" Kiawe says, "It is a good thing that you find a type that you like, but as you know, I am a Fire Type specialist, which means I can easily counter them."

Calem says, "Why don't you have a battle? That way, Lillie can show her brother how strong she has become under my training."

"Wait, you trained Lillie? Without my permission?" Gladion raises an eyebrow, but Lillie glares at Gladion and says, "Why do I need your permission to do what I want?"

Serena says, "If that's the case, I'll be the referee."

Kiawe is going for his Marowak, as for Lillie she says, "Marowak...it is a Ghost Type...then I'll go with Glalie."

Glalie floats towards the field as the battle begins. Kiawe has Marowak goes for Shadow Bone, as the Pokemon strikes the bone at Glalie.

"Glalie, use Protect! Before it leaves, strike it with Crunch!" Glalie forms a barrier to stop the bone, and the Pokemon use the chance to bite at the Pokemon hard.

"No way..." Kiawe says, "What speed..."

Serena says, "Glalie is a Pokemon with the average base stats, which are all 80...but to think it has that kind of speed ... it must have a lot of training...but with that speed...what about its Attack and Defense stats?"

Gladion is also looking at the battle with a shocked face, which is something that Calem wants to see.

Kiawe says, "Then how about this, use Flame Wheel!"

The Fire-type attack manages to land at Glalie, but Glalie just shakes off like it is nothing.

"What? How is that possible?"

Lillie says, "If you think this is my strength, then you are wrong." Lillie says as she takes out something from her jacket, and the glittering badge catches Gladion's eye.

The something Lillie takes out is a Key Stone, and she presses it and smirks, "Mega Evolve!"

Glalie starts to change its form as the blizzard hits the field, even though there are only five of them on the field.

Kiawe says, "Mega Evolution? You have been capable of doing that already?"

Lillie says, "I have been reaching the greater heights ever since I lost to my brother back in the Alola League. And I'll show you! Use Headbutt!"

Glalie charges and strikes Marowak hard as it knocks into the wall. Kiawe yells, "No way! Headbutt is a Normal Type Move! How did it..."

Gladion says with a sweatdrop, "Refrigerate...it is an ability to change all Normal Moves into Ice Type Moves...but still, Marowak is a Fire Type...but to be able to do that much damage from an Ice Type Move..."

Calem says, "Lillie might be able to surpass your level."

"Marowak! Use Bone Rush!" Kiawe says in a panic.

"Use Double Team!" Lillie says as Glalie splits into several copies, and the Marowak just manages to knock out all the copies instead of the real deal.

"What?" Kiawe gasps in shock.

Lillie yells, "Now finish it with Hyper Beam!"

Glalie shoots out a giant beam at Marowak, causing it to fall down to the ground faint.

Serena says, "Marowak is unable to battle. Glalie wins, which means the match goes to Lillie."

Kiawe says, "How...my Fire Type moves don't seem to do that much damage..."

Lillie smiles, "We all want to become strong to prove that we are better than the East, that is how we think. But to me, I want to become strong so that I won't rely on others to protect me like I am a bird in a cage."

"Lillie..." Gladion says, then he gives a soft smile. "You really have become stronger than before."

"Brother..." Lillie says with a smile.

"It seems that I sure have been very overprotective towards you." Gladion says. "I'm sorry about that."

Lillie is surprised as Gladion would apologize to her because of this reason. Gladion says, "Ever since I saw Calem lost his title towards that Ash Ketchum...my mind has been clouded by hatred towards the East...I have been having dreams that you would be hurt by those East...that's why..."

"You don't need to worry about that anymore." Lillie says, "If that really happens, they'll have to survive from the cold first."

Kiawe is now shivering as he isn't wearing any clothes, he says, "I think I'll head outside..."

After he leaves, Lillie recalls Glalie as she also tries to put her Key Stone away, but Gladion grabs Lillie's jacket and says, "Lillie? Wait a second."

"Brother? What's the matter?" Lillie asks.

"Isn't that...the Elite Four Badge? Only those who are a member of the Elite Four will wear that...where did you get it?"

Calem and Serena widen their eyes, knowing that they might be in trouble if Gladion knows the whole truth, but Lillie assures them not to worry and she says, "You ask me where I got it? I got it from the Pokemon League Association."

"Why would they give you a badge...don't tell me you are..."

"An Elite Four member? I really don't want to do this, but in truth." Shows Calem a determined look as he gulps a little. "I am the Ice Type Elite Four Member of this Sevestar Region."

"What?" Gladion says, "The Sevestar League is the strongest League in existence, with each member using five to six Pokemon determined by the Warrior Task...Not to mention that the Elite Four and the Champion are the top 5 strongest trainers in the whole world. The Number Five is known as the Cunning Professor of Darkness, the Number Four is the Ferocious Dragon Tamer, the Number 3 is the Gladiator of the Movements, the Number 2 is the Frozen Ice Empress...and the number 1, the Mysterious Champion...don't tell me..."

"The Frozen Ice Empress, it is true that I was called that a lot of times." Lillie sighs.

Gladion widens his eyes at his sister, as she is the second strongest person in the whole world. Calem sighs and he thinks, "Damn it...Lillie just reveals her identity...but I can't reveal myself just yet. Sorry, Lillie."

"An Elite Four member, huh? Lillie? I never knew you were that kind of level. No wonder I couldn't beat your Pokemon back in the training."

"Calem?" Serena looks at him with surprise, but Lillie gets the message and she smiles, "You taught me the basics, but I managed to improve on my own. That's why I can become where I am now."

"But there is one thing known about the Sevestar Leaders...they were under an organization known as RPA. It is a group that neglects the bad bond between West and East...Lillie? Did you hate the East? How did you..."

"Who said I hate the East?" Lillie asks with a cool voice. "You hate the East doesn't mean I hate the East. In fact, I find the East interesting."

"Interesting you say..." Gladion frowns a little and says, "It's true that before the first Alolan League, our family is just like the Professors, we stayed neutral if handling decisions between East and West. But didn't you hate the fact that Ash Ketchum just took Calem's title like it was nothing?"

Calem coughs and says, "You realize that I'm here, right?"

Lillie says, "If Ash Ketchum manages to get the title from Calem, that means he is stronger than Calem, right?"

"Ouch..." Calem mutters as Serena is giving him a weird expression.

"Instead of using the power to fuel the hatred, I use the power to fuel my strength to become stronger. The Mysterious Champion noticed that strength inside me, which is why he took me into the organization known as the RPA." Lillie says.

"I see..." Gladion says, "You can do whatever you like, but that is not going to stop me from getting revenge for Calem."

"Well...you don't have to do that to me..." Calem sweatdrops, but Gladion says, "No, I won't stop until I beat Ash Ketchum. It is not just for revenge, but also for myself."

Serena says, "He sure is determined...but that's why he is the Number 5..."

"I agree." Calem says.

After leaving the gym, Lillie says, "Sorry, Calem...I just show my identity to my brother like that..."

"It's fine...at least you didn't reveal my identity, that's enough." Calem sighs. "However, you can't reveal your identity to the others like what you did, or else you might be in grave danger."

"I won't." Lillie says as they leave. But unknown to them, a figure is watching them behind the trees, and he is no other than the Number 1 of the East, Tobias Ketchum.

"Frozen Ice Empress, huh? And the Mysterious Champion..." Tobias mutters. "I know you hated me, but now it is not the time. Calem, no, Ash Ketchum...all I did, it is for the greater good..."

Here is a new chapter, and in this chapter, I made Lillie reveal her identity to Gladion, hoping to shake Gladion's mind from the hatred of the East. I hope you like it and the next chapter will be the Tournament.