Hello again to all my readers. I hope you're doing well and staying safe in these rough times. But if you're looking for something to keep you busy, here's the first chapter in a story I've been wanting to write for years now but haven't really got around to it. It has a little bit of action but is definitely more of a romance story. I hope you all like it.
Disclaimer: I do not own Pokemon or anything associated with it whatsoever.
Edit: I changed a few things up in this chapter because I wanted to take things in a little bit of a different direction.
…..
Alex had waited for this moment his entire life.
As the eighteen year old brunet sat on the bench inside the waiting area, he couldn't help but be overly giddy. After all, how many people got to experience an exhibition battle with the Champion. Sure he was a pretty darn good trainer himself, making it a good ways through the Kalos League for a couple years in a row now. But still the fact that he was selected to square off against the strongest trainer in the Kalos region filled him with just as much nervousness as it did excitement. Especially considering he would be the first person to challenge the new Champion.
While he was more than grateful for the opportunity, a part of Alex couldn't help but wish it was Diantha he was about to battle. She might've been an insanely powerful trainer and simultaneously a world-famous movie star, but somehow he felt she would still be more approachable than the new guy. Just something about him gave Alex the creeps. Maybe because of the way he dressed what with that weird mask and all, but probably more so because nobody really knew anything about him.
He had come out of nowhere a few months ago and taken the region by storm, easily sweeping his way to the top of the Kalos League, only then to win it all in the final round using just three of his Pokemon. But that wasn't what made him stand out. There was a Kalos League winner every year. No, he stood out because he actually managed to best both the elite four and the reigning Champion, something no other trainer had done since Diantha claimed the title more than a decade ago.
It was something nobody expected to happen, and if Alex was being honest, a lot of people didn't like that it happened either. Diantha in a sense had been the defacto symbol of the Kalos region for years now. A region filled with limitless beauty but also fantastic power and strength, a near perfect reflection of her own personality and battle style. Up until now it had pretty much been clockwork. The Kalos League Victor would celebrate their win for a week or two then they would face the Elite Four where they would eventually lose before making it to the Champion. And yet, only two months had passed since the guy he was about to face completely obliterated that tradition.
Not only did he beat the Elite Four, he down right nearly embarrassed them. Alex had never seen anything like it as he watched from the stands as this mysterious trainer plowed through Wilkstrom, Malva, Siebold, and Drasna as if they were just ordinary run of the mill opponents. His strength was emphasized even more considering he still only needed the three Pokemon he used during his league matches. Also, not once did he use Mega Evolution while each of the Elite Four had to just to keep the battle competitive. That's when people finally began to worry that Diantha might actually have trouble defending her title, but not a single person in Kalos thought she'd actually lose.
But lose she did, even though she pushed the challenger to his limits before they both sent out their final pokemon. And yet that last round was probably the craziest part of the battle. You could literally see the relief on people's faces as the winner of the Kalos League called out his Watchog to square off against Diantha and her ace, Gardevoir. Watchhogs were by no means bad pokemon, but they definitely weren't known for their battling capabilities, especially considering that it's opponent was a Mega Evolution powerhouse.
An underdog story for the ages, and one that somehow came true even though nobody was rooting for them. A lot of folks still couldn't believe it really happened, and many of them claimed that the challenger cheated, despite Diantha publicly acknowledging that she'd been defeated fair and square and asking the citizens to support and love the new Champion just as they did with her.
But that was easier said than done. As the saying goes, the new Champion was a riddle wrapped in a mystery inside an enigma. Nobody even knew his real name or what he actually looked like, the mask he wore obscuring nearly every distinguishing feature other than his shaggy, sandy blonde hair. He rarely spoke except to give his pokemon battle instructions, refusing every single interview reporters asked from him. Basic head and hand gestures pretty much made up his entire vocabulary.
His persona was intimidating to say the least, strengthened even further by his battling capabilities. And while a Champion is supposed to be intimidating, most of them had another aspect to their personalities that offset it. Diantha's acting career and charming demeanor was a perfect example. But this guy had all the charm of a wet paper bag, and that was difficult for the people of Kalos to accept, even more so than when Aria was dethroned as Kalos Queen last year.
Alex's train of thought was interrupted as a voice echoed through the intercom in the waiting area.
"Would the challenger please take his position at the entrance? The battle will begin momentarily."
Alex quickly hopped off the bench and headed to the stadium entrance on the other side of the room resembling a garage door. Trying to soothe his nerves, Alex jogged in place a little and gave the air a couple quick jabs. An amateur boxer and fighting type specialist, the exercises helped him to stay calm and focused. While he was clearly punching above his weight in this battle, Alex still wanted to impress the audience with his and his Pokemon's fighting spirit. They might go down, but they were gonna go down swinging.
The crackly voice reverberated through the room again.
"The battle will commence in thirty seconds. Please have your pokeballs ready."
Alex took a deep breath. All of the training he and his Pokemon had gone through in their journeys was about to pay off. He would show all of Kalos that he could trade blows with the best of the best. His parents were going to be so proud of him as they watched the match on tv with the rest of his family. But there was one person Alex was hoping to impress more than anybody. Claire Walters, his childhood friend/travel companion and longtime crush, was sitting in the front row waiting to cheer him on. All he had to do was put up a good fight to show how strong he was and then maybe she would finally see him as a man. He was even planning on confessing to her after the battle.
The sound of the door opening jarred Alex from his thoughts. As it did, the roar of the crowd became nearly deafening as the announcer began his introduction.
"Ladies and Gentlemen, welcome to the annual Lumiose City Exhibition Match. I know all of you are itching for a fantastic Pokemon battle, so let's get straight to the action shall we? First, the challenger. Hailing from Shalour City, home to our beloved fighting type gym leader, we have another exceptional fighting type trainer. Making it to the semi-finals in his last two Kalos League appearances, please give it up for Alex Yarbrough."
To hear thousands of people scream in applause for him was a feeling Alex wished he could experience forever. He marveled at the fact that a building could hold so many people, although he knew that Lumiose Stadium was easily the most high tech battle arena in the region. It's too bad it would still be another year or two before the Kalos League would be held here again. But boy the last time it was was definitely one to remember what with the insane battle between that Alain guy and that kid with the transforming Greninja. Not to mention that whole Team Flare incident that nearly destroyed the entire region. Alex still wasn't sure how Malva was able to be reinstated as an Elite Four member after her part in that plan. But apparently she helped stop Lysandre so maybe that was enough to offset her involvement with him.
Basking in the limelight, Alex slowly made his way across the metal bridge toward the battlefield which seemed to hover in the center of the stadium. He tried looking for Claire, but he knew he had a better chance of finding a needle in a haystack since there were so many people. But he did know one thing. She was rooting for him, and he wasn't going to let her down.
Arriving at the chalked box where he would be giving orders to his Pokemon, Alex gave the crowd a few more waves, trying to pump them up for what should be a great battle. The arena set up for them was about as basic as it gets, a simple grass field free of any obstructions or objects that could possibly have an effect on the battle. He guessed it was this way because the League Office wanted a pure, no holes barred match, and Alex was more than happy to oblige.
The announcer allowed Alex a couple more minutes with the fans before turning his attention to the opposite side of the stadium. Unlike with the challenger, he had almost no information about the person he was about to introduce or how he might've preferred it. But this was his job so he decided to sell it as best he could.
This was so much easier with Diantha. He sighed to himself.
"And now the moment you've all been waiting for. Making his first appearance since usurping Diantha herself, we have the trainer whose mysteriousness is only surpassed by the strength of his Pokemon. Debuting in his first exhibition battle, ladies and gentlemen, please welcome your new Kalos Region Champion…" He paused for the perfect amount of suspense. "L!"
Alex watched as his opponent followed the same path he did toward the battlefield, but there were some notable differences. The biggest one being that the stadium had nearly gone silent as the man with the monoletter name calmly walked forward. Alex knew L wasn't exactly a fan favorite, but to think that he, the challenger, received far more applause than the Champion. Guess that spoke volumes as to just how unpopular L actually was with the people of Kalos. But if the crowd's reaction fazed the Champion, it clearly didn't show. Then again, it was pretty hard to observe any reaction behind that mask of his. It reminded Alex of the one the Winter Soldier wore in the second Captain Unova movie. Some kind of carbon fiber mask that hid the lower half of his face along with a pair of dark reflective goggles obscuring his eyes. A black B-6 bomber jacket and a pair of navy blue jeans tucked into high top combat boots finished off the Champion's outfit. Simple, but intimidating nonetheless.
Another notable difference was that L appeared to simply disregard the crowd entirely, keeping his lenses trained on Alex until he eventually reached the edge of his own trainer's box. Although he had faced some tough opponents in the boxing ring, many of them much larger than him, Alex had never felt more terror than he got from the man standing across from him. He couldn't see them, but Alex knew the eyes behind those goggles were calmly analyzing him, sizing him up and seeing if he actually posed a threat.
Thankfully, the announcer managed to redirect the Champion's attention.
"While I know everyone here is eager to see some action, I feel it is necessary to point out that the ex-champion herself has taken time out of her busy schedule to witness her successor in battle. So let's here it for the one and only...Diantha!"
The announcer spun and pointed at the large press box balcony overlooking the battlefield. Sure enough, standing near the edge was none other than Diantha, dressed in her signature white winged outfit, greeting the crowd with a friendly wave and a large smile, a stark contrast when compared to the man who took her place. Another contrast was the near earth-shaking hysterics the crowd erupted into at the mention of their former Champion. Alex didn't know anything about L, but he couldn't help but feel a little sorry for the guy. It was clear that the movie star was still the Champion in many of the fans' minds, even though she might not've been the strongest trainer in Kalos anymore. Rumors that she was going to reclaim her title had been spreading like wildfire, dominating nearly every news station from the moment her Gardevoir went down.
Alex understood what it was like having to fill someone's shoes, his father was considered among many as the best boxer Kalos had ever seen. Being the undisputed heavyweight champion for twenty years straight supported that claim pretty well. That's why Alex decided to dedicate his time to Pokemon battling and only pursued boxing as a hobby. He knew he could never one up his dad in the boxing world, so he chose a different path for himself, one that he'd enjoyed far more than he anticipated. The bonds he'd made with friends and Pokemon throughout his journey made him thankful that he'd picked this life for himself. And his dad was about to witness just how strong he'd become.
The raucous applause had finally died down enough so that the announcer could move on with the match.
"Now, it's time for a Pokemon battle. Mr. Referee, if you would please take it from here?"
Off to the side of the arena, a skinny young man dressed in a striped uniform nodded and adjusted the volume on his mic. He turned to face the two participants. "Alright gentlemen, I'll explain the rules. You will each only be allowed one Pokemon in this match. The battle will continue until one trainer's Pokemon is unable to battle or a forfeit is offered. Since this is an exhibition event, the outcome will have no effect on the Champion's title. Are we clear?"
Alex and L nodded simultaneously.
"Good." He nodded back before gesturing to L. "It is customary for the Champion to send out his Pokemon first."
The Champion replied with another quick bob of the head before pulling a different looking pokeball from his belt. Alex had seen them only a few times before. Its top was matte black and a golden stripe in the shape of a U was engraved into the dark paint. An ultra ball. A pretty rare pokeball used primarily to catch powerful pokemon. But Alex quickly lost interest once the occupant hidden inside was released onto the grass.
"Shelgon, stand by." L instructed the Pokemon, the mask warping his voice by making it sound metallic.
Alex had seen this Pokemon before, but only from a distance as it had been one of the three Pokemon L used to sweep his way to the Champion. The thing looked like some sort of gigantic pupa, with a massive grey shell encasing its inner body and four black stubby legs carrying it. Normally, most people would be more terrified by its evolution, Salamence. But Alex knew better. That shell was practically indestructible, so to say knocking it out was difficult would be the understatement of the century. And this fact was only compounded by the small purple stone embedded into Shelgons armor, right above its face. It was called an eviolite, an extremely rare stone that significantly increased the defenses of unevolved Pokemon. With this, Shelgon was basically a walking tank, and a tank that could dish out just as much as it could take, making Alex fear it far more than any Dragonite, Garchomp, or Haxorus he'd faced beforehand.
But the boxer quickly shook off his fears. He had done his research on this Pokemon. Apparently, it was a Dragon type that was native to the Hoenn region. Despite its staggering defense, Shelgon were notorious for their lack of speed and agility, and that was something he planned to exploit.
Pulling a pokeball of his own from his belt, Alex enlarged it and tossed it onto the battlefield. "Medicham, come on out."
Materializing in a flash of blue light, the meditate Pokemon replied with a repeat of its name, turning back to its trainer and giving him a thumbs up with one of its finger like appendages. Alex returned it with a similar gesture.
"And there you have it folks! Our exhibition battle will be Alex's Medicham vs L's Shelgon. The excitement in the air is palpable!" The stadium announcer exclaimed.
"Oh we're just getting started!" Alex announced loudly, pulling a headband from his back pocket and quickly tying it around his forehead. A large jewel was embedded in its center, one that matched the one on Medicham's head. Alex gave it a light tap. "Medicham, you and I will fight side by side forever! So respond to my heart and MEGA EVOLVE!"
A blinding light quickly enveloped the battlefield as Medicham's body began to transform. The evolution lasted only a couple seconds, but once the light finally died down, it was clear the process had been a success. Medicham's headpiece had become more detailed, resembling a turban while four ribbon-like appendages eminated from its back.
"Look at this. The battle hasn't even started yet and Alex has already used Mega Evolution! This will surely be a battle for the ages!"
Alex chuckled to himself a little. The Champion might've been out of his league at the moment, but he knew for a fact Medicham was going to put up a fight, especially considering how much faster it was compared to Shelgon. They had been together since he was five and had an unbreakable bond. A small part of Alex even began to think he might stand a chance at winning this thing.
"Challenger, are you ready?!" The referee yelled above the cheers of the crowd. Alex gave him a determined thumbs up.
He then turned to L. "Champion, are you ready?!"
Another quick nod from him.
The referee then raised his hand up in the air before bringing it down in one swift motion. "Battle...begin." He shouted.
Alex always believed that a good offense was the best defense, something he'd learned from his dad. That's why he decided to immediately take the first move.
"Alright, Medicham use Zen–"
"Draco Meteor." L interrupted without a speck of emotion in his voice.
Before Alex or Medicham could even react, Shelgon fired an orange ball of energy high above the stadium. It hovered there for a brief moment before enormous boulders radiating the same color rained down on the battlefield. Alex wanted to have Medicham dodge, having practiced that strategy with his dad's Garchomp before the battle, but these meteors were falling easily twice or maybe even three times as fast as the ones he had trained with. He barely had time to watch as they slammed into Medicham one after the other, only a second or two between them. Alex was forced to brace himself as the shockwave nearly knocked him off his feet, the gigantic cloud of dust that followed obscuring his vision.
It was probably a good minute or two before the dust settled enough so that the spectators could see onto the field. Alex coughed and sputtered, trying to clear his lungs. But that wasn't his biggest concern right now. That happened to be the fact that Medicham was lying face up inside a massive crater that took up the entire battlefield. It had reverted back to its original form and the distinguishing swirl marks were now present in its eyes.
The entire stadium fell completely silent. Even the referee wasn't exactly sure what to make of the situation. But after about thirty seconds of staring in awe, he shook his head to regain focus and announced the results.
"Medicham is unable to battle. Which means L is the winner!"
Typically this is where the crowd would thunder in cheers and applause, but everyone was still in shock at the spectacle that had just occurred in front of them. Sure Diantha usually made quick work of her opponents in previous exhibition battles. But to end the battle with a single move against a Mega Evolved Pokemon was something none of them had ever witnessed before. And while one would think the fans would be impressed with such a display of power, what followed was the exact opposite.
A loud chorus of boos began to echo throughout the stadium accompanied by various jeers and slander toward the Champion.
"This was supposed to be an exhibition battle, jerk!"
"I paid good money for these seats and this is what I get?!"
"Diantha would never do something so low!"
On and on they came, along with drink cups, unfinished food, and a myriad of other makeshift projectiles. This and the fact that some of the comments started to border on death threats immediately roused the announcer from his stupor and he attempted to reign in the unruly crowd. "Folks, please refrain from throwing objects onto the field. This is not appropriate behavior."
But the announcer was having little luck as the crowd showed no signs of settling down. In fact, the request only seemed to make them angrier as more stuff was tossed from the stands. Alex was thankful he didn't have to dodge anything as it was all directed at the Champion, who didn't even bother to acknowledge them, despite already being hit by a few cups and a tray of nachos.
The two of them immediately recalled their Pokemon. He might've just been completely embarrassed in front of thousands of people by L, but Alex strangely didn't share the crowd's ire toward him. Instead he felt pity for the Champion, something he thought he'd never experience toward a trainer of that caliber. He thought about asking for a handshake, but the ongoing barrage of litter made him think twice. Besides, L had already started to walk back to the door where he'd entered. Alex watched with amazement as his opponent was pelted with more projectiles as he crossed the metal bridge, but still didn't seem to care about the crowd's behavior.
"Hey kid! You need to get out of here. Head back to your locker room!" The referee snapped at Alex, doing his best to dodge a couple of stray food items himself.
Alex obeyed, scampering back across his side of the bridge, still in disbelief at the reaction he'd observed from the fans. But he momentarily forgot about it as he was greeted with a sharp punch to the shoulder by none other than Claire, who apparently had been waiting for him in the locker room.
"Haha! You got totally owned out there, Yarbrough!" She teased with that trademark smirk of hers.
Normally Alex would counter her teasing with a witty remark of his own, but his thoughts were elsewhere right now despite the blush spreading across his cheeks. For some odd reason, he couldn't shake the image of the Champion being booed from his mind.
Just who the hell was that guy?
…..
It'd been a pretty rough day, but the warm water from the shower helped to clear my head. Giving my hair a few extra scrubs to make sure all of the food gunk was out, I twisted the knob to turn the water off, reaching for the towel on the rack beside the shower. I dried myself off and stepped out onto the cold tile of my bathroom floor, making sure to secure the towel around my waist.
I ignored my reflection in the mirror as I headed for the bedroom where I had laid out a spare change of clothes, a plain grey wifebeater and a pair of blue jeans. I had dropped my jacket and soiled clothes off at the cleaners on the way back from the stadium. They said they would be returned by tomorrow morning. I guess quick service was one of the perks of being the Champion, but honestly I wasn't sure it was worth it in the end.
Part of me regretted challenging the Kalos League, even though I managed to win it all. But it had nothing to do with the Pokemon battles. The only thing I loved more than battling was my Pokemon themselves. No, it was because of people that I was having doubts about becoming Champion. I wasn't an idiot, I knew that beating Diantha meant that the residents of Kalos were going to be cold towards me for a while, but I failed to realize just how much they loved her. In hindsight, I probably should've challenged a different region, but for some reason, I'd always been drawn to Kalos even though I grew up in Unova.
Some decision that turned out to be. I thought to myself.
I had just slipped my shirt on when I heard a couple knocks at the door. This was odd because only a handful of people knew where I lived. The League Office ensured that the Champion's living quarters were kept classified for safety reasons. Which meant whoever was at my door was somebody I probably shouldn't ignore. Grabbing my mask and goggles off the dresser, I slipped them on while hurrying down the stairs into the living room. A few of my Pokemon were still here. Watchog and the others must've been outside. Golurk was busy in the kitchen, something that came as no surprise. Electrode seemed to be taking a nap beside the couch while Falinks had already beat me to the door. I chuckled to myself at the little mini soldiers. They had always been super protective of me.
I glanced through the peephole before letting out a sigh.
"Relax, Alpha. It's just Diantha." I informed the largest among them, the one who issued the commands to the rest of the soldiers. He gave me a cockeyed glance with his eyes but eventually bobbed his head in acceptance, ordering the others to move away from the door.
I unlocked the deadbolt and opened it so that my visitors could enter. Diantha was the first to step inside, but her assistant Kathi Lee wasn't far behind. I wasn't really fond of people in general, but something about Kathi Lee pushed my buttons to the point where I almost considered having Watchog use hypnotize so I didn't have to deal with her. Diantha, on the other hand, was one of the few people I didn't mind, so I forced myself to put up with her assistant.
"Diantha, what're you doing here? Don't you have a movie shoot to get to?" I questioned with genuine confusion.
She smiled at me. "I–"
"You're damn right she has a movie shoot to get to!" Kathi Lee interjected with that grating voice of hers. "So you better be grateful she convinced me to let her stop by. She has better things to do than constantly cleaning up after your mess!"
God, I don't think I ever contemplated murdering someone until I met her. I was about to let her have it too if Diantha hadn't beaten me to the punch.
"That's enough Kathi!" Diantha snapped, the harshness in her tone more than enough to silence her attendant. "Just wait for me in the car. I'll be out in a little bit."
My mask might've hidden my mouth, but given the daggers she was giving me with her eyes, Kathi Lee could clearly see the smirk plastered across my face. Nevertheless, she obeyed her boss' orders and headed back outside, but not before slamming the door hard enough that Electrode was startled from his nap, and that never ended well.
Once he started to glow I knew immediately what was about to happen. Springing into action, I sprinted over to him and started to rub the top of the Ball Pokemon, trying to quickly calm him down.
"Shhhh….It's alright, buddy." I cooed while kneeling down, reassuring him that there wasn't any danger present. He looked up at me in fear but his expression mellowed once he realized I was right. The glow around his body finally began to dissipate and he closed his eyes to get back to his nap.
Diantha watched this exchange with a loving smile on her face. When she first met her successor, she really wasn't sure what to make of him. His raw prowess as a trainer was something she hadn't seen in years, and the enigma of his identity only added to her doubts of whether she should trust him or not. A trainer that powerful was someone that needed to be watched carefully. That's why she used some of her vast connections to do some digging about him after she was defeated. But once she found out about his past and who he really was, all of her doubts were erased. And watching the way he understood and cared for his Pokemon only made her respect him more.
I exhaled a sigh of relief. "Phew. That was close." I gave Electrode a couple pats on his top before standing to my feet.
Diantha walked over to stand beside me. "Sorry about Kathi. I know you two don't really get along."
I rolled my eyes underneath my goggles. "That's an understatement."
Diantha chuckled goodnaturedly. "She can be a bit brash sometimes, but Kathi Lee really is a good person. She just takes her job too seriously sometimes."
"I guess we have that last part in common." I mumbled to myself.
Diantha had caught that little remark but decided to try a different approach to boost my confidence. She glanced down at the sleeping Pokemon resembling an inverted pokeball.
"You know you're the first challenger I've seen use an Electrode in battle." She looked up to see me staring down at it as well. Just like I had a moment ago, she knelt down and began to gently stroke its head. "They don't understand do they? Other trainers?"
I shook my head slightly. "No. Most people think Voltorbs and Electrodes are too difficult to use since they're prone to self-destructing."
I couldn't see her face, but I knew Diantha was smiling again. "But you didn't. Why is that?"
My eyes stayed glued to my Pokemon as I searched for an answer. Finally, I gave her one. "I guess because I saw a little bit of myself inside of him. Electrode wanted to prove that he was strong enough to battle even though no one thought he could be."
Rising to her feet, Diantha headed over to the couch in the middle of the living room and gestured for me to come sit with her. Even though this was technically my house, I obeyed nonetheless, plopping down beside her on the cushion. She smiled as she noticed Falinks carefully watching the two of us from across the room, clearly ready to act if she tried anything funny.
"You know I'm only 35, but I don't think I've ever met another trainer who shares such a deep bond with every single one of his Pokemon, and I've met some powerful trainers."
I chuckled sarcastically at her comment. "You're just saying that to make me feel better about the Exhibition Battle."
She chuckled back. "That was definitely a sight to see." But suddenly, her expression turned serious. "I'm sorry for the way the fans treated you. I never thought the citizens of Kalos would do something like that."
"You have too much faith in people, Diantha." I stated, knowing full well just how horrible humans could be. After all, I carried a reminder around everywhere I went.
She sighed deeply. "Maybe. But I've seen so much good from them." She placed a supportive hand on my shoulder. "I think if they saw this side of you, the side that I'm seeing right now, they might find it a little
easier to accept you."
I shrugged her hand off. "Why didn't you decide to challenge me again? Don't you want your title back. Our first match was basically a tie. I just got lucky." I turned my face away from her, but she grabbed the chin portion of my mask and pulled it back so we made eye contact.
"Let's get one thing straight, Mister. If I thought you 'just got lucky', you wouldn't have been Champion for more than a day. You're still the Champion because you're the stronger trainer and that's all there is to it. Understand?" Diantha definitely could be intimidating when she wanted to be. I nodded in reply. "Good." She stated before releasing her grip.
"Besides…" She continued. "I know you'd probably hold back just so I would win."
While I always gave it my all on the battlefield, she was probably right about that just because as things stood now, the title of Champion was more of a burden than a blessing.
"I know you want to quit, Luke." She said. I recoiled for a brief moment when she used my real name. "I can't tell you how many times I thought about it myself. But whether we like or not, the moniker of Champion is reserved for the strongest trainer in the region, and right now that's you. It's your job to look after Kalos, and I personally think you'll be a far better Champion than I ever was."
I didn't really know what to say. It was nice to hear Diantha had so much faith in me, but to hear her say that she expected me to surpass her legacy was something I had a hard time believing. "That's nice of you, Diantha, but you know enough about me to realize that I'll never be a people's Champion."
"Never say never, Luke." She countered. "You just need a little help that's all. Which is why I want you to stop by my office at noon tomorrow. There's something I want to talk to you about."
For a moment I thought about telling her no, but Diantha had taken a lot of time to help me in the last two months so I guess I owed her one. "Alright. I'll be there." I caved.
That charming smile of hers returned. "Great. But I really do need to get going. Kathi Lee's probably about to blow a gasket."
I humored her. "You know, Golurk did just finish a fresh batch of cupcakes if you want to stay a little longer."
While she obviously knew I was joking, I noticed her eyes immediately light up at the mention of sweets. It was a well-known fact that one of the ex-Champion's weaknesses was sugar. Getting up, I headed over to the massive kitchen where the Automaton Pokemon was putting the finishing touches on his famous chocolate cupcakes.
I held my hand out towards one of them. "You don't mind if Diantha has one do you, Golurk?"
The titanic robot grunted to let me know he was happy to share. I snagged a paper towel off the counter and wrapped it around the bottom of the still warm dessert, being careful not to smear the frosting the Ghost/Ground type had worked so hard to apply. Trotting back over to Diantha who had gotten up herself, I handed it to her as I guess some kind of parting gift.
"Here, I know how much you like stuff like this."
She happily received it, shouting out a thanks to Golurk who was already working on another one before turning back to me. "I see the League finally finished that kitchen upgrade you requested."
"Yeah. Golurk's definitely happy he doesn't have to practice cooking outside anymore. He hated it when it he got rained out." I smiled under my mask as I fondly recalled the time Golurk nearly caused an earthquake cursing out the sky because the rain ruined my birthday cake.
"Good to hear. I'll see you–"
A loud honking interrupted her.
"Oh for heavens sake." She grumbled, marching angrily out the door. "Damn it Kathi Lee! I'm coming!"
After locking the door behind her, I shook my head in amusement. I see why everyone loved Diantha so much, which only made the reality of me being her replacement that much harder to swallow. It was going to take a miracle for Kalos to accept me as their Champion. Little did I know, Diantha was cooking up that very miracle as we speak.
…..
Diantha slid her thumb over the contact and held the phone up to her ear. A few rings later, the person she dialed picked up on the other side of the line.
"Hey, Aria...Yeah I convinced him…You did too?...Great...I'll see you tomorrow."
Hanging up, Diantha couldn't help but feel like a teenager again considering what she had in store for the current Champion. He was about to be on the front of every magazine, newspaper, and tv screen whether he liked it or not.
…..
Hey guys, I hope you liked the first chapter. Please leave all the reviews you can so I make it even better. Until next time.