Yay! So now we're at the Indigo Conference. I took a lot of inspiration from the anime, so the winner will be the one allowed to take on the Elite Four and Champion. The champion is rando man I made up, so don't read too much into him. But that's the next chapter.
This goes over the course of April, I didn't want to prolong this event, but I hope you enjoy the chapter!
April 1st - It Begins!
Eeeee! After months of training, I have never felt so ready for a battle tournament. I spent two weeks making my way down to the coastline. Johto is such a beautiful region, so rich in historical sites, farmland, hills and forests. I almost didn't make it to Cianwood for training, I was tempted to get lost in the forests and never return.
I managed to catch a Mareep, they're so cute, I couldn't resist. Lance and Clair kept making fun of me when I showed him to them. But whatever, I love him. I named him Drift because he's so aloof I find him wandering around a lot if I'm not careful with him. He was quick to train and evolve into an Ampharos, despite his ability to 'drift' off, he can hold his own against Ty and his attacks.
Today is the first day of the tournament and Silver Town is BUSY. Over 250 trainers from around the regions are coming here to participate in the Plateau conference. And I feel like they're already here considering the lines to get into the lodges, food and registration at the pokemon center. I got here early to avoid a big rush of people but I was in the middle of it, whoops.
Anyways, the past six months were heaven for me. I was on my own, not worried about meeting any deadlines and doing what I want. I saw so many sights, took a lot of pictures and slept under the stars (with Ty keeping me warm). Met a lot of new people, and learned so much from them too.
I can't wait to use these skills in the tourney this month! This first week is going to be lax with celebrations and festivals all around Silver Town. Each day will bring different foods and events as trainers make their way here. Next week the battles start until the end of the month when the winner takes on the champion!
Speaking of which, I have yet to see Lance... It's been at least a month since we last spoke, we've been sending postcards and emails back and forth sporadically. We didn't meet up at all during the six months, I feel conflicted about it but I'm not going to dwell on that.
It's going to be my time to shine!
Mid-way through the week, Lance arrives much to Serena's excitement. The two decide to board in a room together, for old time's sake, and prepare for the week ahead. Mornings are for training themselves, Serena goes on her runs while Lance stays behind and hits the gym. Around lunch the two set out into town to explore the day's menu and events before heading out of town to train. Training is light and just a practice of speed, and special attacks at each other or inanimate objects.
The day before the opening ceremony leaves everyone tense. All the trainers are quiet as they peruse the stalls or get their meals. Pokemon are on edge simply because their trainers see everyone around them as a potential opponent. Locals try their best to keep the spirits high by offering special discounts and fun games as the hours countdown.
Serena notices Lance starting to withdraw from her and pulls him aside from conversing with another trainer. "Stop it."
"What?" he frowns back.
"You aren't talking to me because you don't want my feelings to get hurt 'when' you beat me," she rolls her eyes at him. "Lance, we're best friends, a battle isn't going to change that."
He tenses his shoulders, a sure sign that he's going to fight, and then deflates. She smiles as he runs a hand through his hair. "We've never battled each other before, I just don't... It's not that I think you're weak. I mean, I know it's going to be a tough battle!"
She laughs and swats his shoulder. "I get it. We'll be best friends no matter what, okay?"
"Okay."
OoOoOoO
"Welcome one and all!" Charles Goodshow's voice booms within the stadium as trainer's pile in and the crowd above cheers.
Serena shields her eyes as she enters the stage alongside the other trainers, like Miltank being herded around a field. The cries of the crowd grow louder as she steps onto the harsh ground of the battlefield and into full view of the several cameras sliding around on wires. At the head of the stadium, behind the crowd, sits a large stone bowl with a roaring fire inside.
The opening ceremony started early this morning with the running of the Flame of Moltres by torch runners starting at the Pokemon League building several miles away from this stadium. Charles Goodshow orchestrates everything down to the final battle between Champion and challenger if it were to get to that point. Serena makes note to remember his name and try to speak with him if they make it into the league.
Lance finds his way over to her, touching her shoulder and offering a warm smile. He had snuck off with another girl this morning just before trainers were called to the stadium. She offers him a neutral smile, opting to turn back towards the older man on the main screen.
"This year's group of trainers look tough and ready, I think it'll be a great time," Goodshow continues with a wave of his arm to the field below. The crowd claps and there are roars from several groups. "With the flame lit and trainers present, I see no reason to postpone any further. Let the 2004 Indigo Plateau Conference begin!"
This time the trainers join in with the cheers, several turning to hug a friend before filing out of the stadium and into the main lobby area. Several TV screens mounted on pillars scramble through the trainers, matching them by chance and putting them on a random field. Serena watches herself get matched with a random trainer on the Water field. Lance gets placed on the Rock field.
Each battle builds Serena's resolve as she rises and passes through her first day of competition without battling Lance. He makes it as well, and soon it's the last day of the preliminary rounds and the two are moving forward into the final rounds.
The morning of April 13th, Serena's parents, Clair with her parents and Lance's parents arrive to stay for the rest of the week. They had visited on the second day of the competition but could not find a place to stay until now. With most trainers gone and just 16 left to continue, they found a hotel room and will accompany either Serena or Lance for their battles.
To come up with their opponents, the league set out pools of Magikarp with names attached to them. Each trainer fishes them out and finds the trainer on the sheet. With each pull of a Magikarp out of the water, Serena holds her breath wondering if it's this time she will battle Lance. It isn't until midway through that Lance pulls her name from the pond, their eyes locked from across the way.
He looks shocked as their families try not to cheer against the other. The crowd gets ushered out onto the field, leaving the trainers to head to their arenas.
"This is it," Serena says to him as they wait outside her entryway.
"Good luck," he holds up his hand for her to take.
She gives him a gentle squeeze. "Hey, remember, you're going to be the champion. So you better beat me."
"That's right, we have a lot of work to do," he laughs before heading to his side of the stadium.
"You ready, hun?" Rowan greets her daughter as she and Aaron approach with Clair behind them.
"I think so," she flexes her fingers. "I'm not here for the tournament though, I don't want to be the best or the champion."
"Still, beat Lance," Clair shakes her head. "It'll be great."
Serena laughs and hugs her best friend. "I'll try my hardest."
OoOoO
"We're getting down to the end here, folks! Each trainer has one pokemon left!"
Serena grimaces as the cheers from the crowd grows to a deafening level as Lance calls out his last pokemon, the one she dreaded would be here, his Aerodactyl. How he got his hands on an ancient pokemon, she has yet to find out. She watches the dual type spread his wings and let out a screech from his massive jaws. The razor points are enough to make her swallow with nerves.
"Let's go Ty!" she calls with false confidence.
Aerodactyl knows some powerful moves and is much larger than her fire type, this could be the end...
Don't think, just do! She urges herself as Lance calls out the first attack, Ancient Power.
As the pokemon's body glows white, Serena commands Ty to dodge by digging underground. The silver ball of energy flies down the field, narrowly missing Ty's foot and blasting past Serena to hit the wall behind her. Sound dies down as the ball flies past and she feels energy swirl past her as it explodes against the wall.
She falls to her knees and covers her head as debris flies from the impact spot. "Watch it!"
"Sorry!" Lance calls from the opposite side.
Before she can respond, Ty bursts from the ground where Aerodactyl, named Varia, has landed to look for him. She cheers and calls for another attack. "Thunderpunch."
Ty hits the ground on two feet, twists and slams his glowing fist under Varia's jaw. Despite being a rock type, the electricity has enough power behind it to send him flying in the air. The crowd cheers for Serena as Varia pauses for a second and begins to plummet.
Lance grins. "Wing attack!"
Back to life with a jolt, Varia opens his wings to their full extent and twists away above the ground to slam right into Ty. The fire type rolls back, bursting through a large boulder on the ground before rolling to his feet once more.
"Flamethrower!" Serena yells watching as Varia swoops and climbs over the field away from Ty. "Get him to the ground."
Lance stays quiet as streaks of hot fire cut through the air, directing Varia away from her side of the field and closer to his. Clair and her parents cheer for Serena from the side, clapping their hands and cupping their mouths to be heard over the crowd. On the other side, Wesley and Kaida keep calm and watch their son with pride as he debates his next move silently. Rowan and Aaron are a mix, cheering when she's quiet and silent when she's shouting commands. The announcer gets the crowd pumped again as Varia gets pulled into a plume of flames from Ty.
The attack is powerful, engulfing the flying type and forcing him out of the sky. Dust and dirt fly from the impact, keeping everyone on edge as it dissipates to reveal burns on the dual types body. Serena pumps a fist, if he's burned then she could actually have a chance.
If it's dumb luck and you win, you have to be champion or your ideas won't work, her voice whispers in her head and she suddenly feels a pit open up in her stomach. Her eyes gaze along the crowd as she considers this crucial moment. All those eyes on you, you have to be a great battler to keep that place so your ideas will actually stay and work.
"Serena! Focus!" Clair breaks through her head.
She jolts from her thoughts to find Varia swooping across the field, skimming just above the ground and heading straight for Ty. "Flame Wheel!"
The two pokemon meet in the middle, Ty a powerful wheel of flames and Varia a hulking figure flying in at incredible speed. Their collision causes a rush of air to puff out from them, blowing Serena and Lance a few steps back and causing the others to shield their eyes. Serena bites her lip as she shields herself from the dust whizzing past her, her heart pounds in her chest at the outcome.
"This is a tough one, everyone!" the announcer states as both Ty and Varia lie on the ground struggling to get up.
Could you be the one to bring it all together? To battle anyone who steps into your path? Protect your title and stay here until then?
Her teeth grind harder on her lip drawing a bit of blood as she watches Ty struggle to stand. She has to do her best, even if it means going onto the next round.
What if you lose in the next round?
"Varia, use Hyper Beam!" Lance's voice rips the thought from her head as the pokemon charges up energy in his gaping maw.
Serena sees the moment and feels as though she's moving through jelly to talk to Ty. Her fear grips her as she knows she's speaking too late and the guilt forces her to call out anyway. "Flamethrower quick!"
The beam of energy cracks the ground beneath it as it travels the few feet across the field into Typhlosion. The fire type doesn't have time to protect himself as he's pushed back through several boulders, past Serena and into the wall. Serena screams as the beam of light goes past her close enough to touch. Energy comes off it in waves before it dies out and lets Ty hit the ground. She watches her pokemon struggle to stand before collapsing on the ground in a puff of dirt.
"Typhlosion is unable to battle, Lance and Aerodactyl win!"
Serena doesn't hear the announcement, she rushes over to Ty as he struggles to stand. Her hands grasp his arm and help him onto his side with a groan. She smiles softly at him, rubbing his face and chest. He offers her a small nod, his eyes cracking open just a hint before falling unconscious.
"You did amazing," she returns him to his ball and crosses the field.
Everyone cheers as Lance waves back at them while the announcer talks about where he came from and how shocking it is to see such a fight from two Johto natives. At the center of the field, Lance focuses on Serena, holding out his hand with a smile. She feels a weight lift from her shoulders, allowing herself to feel the joy at seeing Lance move on to the next round. She flings her arms around him and squeezes tight.
"You did it!" she laughs as he wraps his arms around her and spins her around. "You better win."
"That was an amazing battle," he sets her down, his hands on her hips. "Of course I'm going to win now."
The announcer makes the final statements and the two stalk off the field with family in tow. Clair grasps Serena's hand, offering condolences that are not needed, while her parents gush about how strong of a trainer she's become and how proud they are of her. She reassures Clair the loss is not that heartbreaking and thanks her parents as they come up to the front desk where Nurse Joy waits.
"Good job out there," Joy beams at Serena as the trainer places her pokeballs on a tray.
"Thank you!" Serena grins while filling out the form to have her pokemon dropped off at her room later tonight. She turns back to her parents and Clair. "So, dinner?"
"Honey, could you at least pretend to be disappointed you lost?" Rowan raises a brow.
Aaron laughs. "Love, she doesn't want to be a champion. She got as far as she wanted to go. Top 16 is pretty good for someone who doesn't want to be number one."
Rowan grins at her daughter. "That's my girl."
"Hey!" Wesley calls out as they emerge from Lance's side of the field. He comes around the corner and lifts Serena in a tight hug. "That was amazing, I for sure thought you had him beat."
"Dad, come on," Lance groans. "Can't you be on my side for once?"
"No," Wesley replies with a grin. He sets Serena down and ruffles her hair. "Keeping him on his toes and keeping him humble. Good job."
"Thank you," she laughs.
"You were amazing, dear," Kaida stands next to her husband. Her brown eyes shine as she spreads her arms for a hug. Her red hair falls to her waist, twisted into their usual braids to keep out of her face. Serena accepts her hug and the older woman gives her a squeeze. "We knew it would be you to remind him to think fast."
"Okay, okay, okay," Lance returns from talking with Joy. "I get it. I told her she did amazing, right, Rena?"
"He did."
"See?" he spreads his arms. "I'm humble."
Clair snorts. "Yeah, that's why you have to remind us everyday."
The group bursts with laughter while Lance glares at his cousin. Serena steps between them, wrapping her arms around their shoulders and pulling them close. Just like old times, she feels like a kid again as the three lean their heads against the other and take a moment for themselves.
"Where are we going to eat dinner?"
XxXxXxX
"Are you ready?" Serena approaches from the popcorn stand with Clair behind her.
Lance stands in front of the door leading to his side of the arena and clenches his fists. "As ready as I'll ever be."
"Lance!"
All three turn to see a tall figure running their way. Lance's face turns from confusion to excitement as the figure approaches and sees it's Jax. The two embrace, Jax towering over Lance while the latter is able to lift him up. Clair and Serena share a surprised look at the newcomer.
"It's been a while, dude," Jax grins. "I got caught up in the Whirl Islands. But, hey, I promised I'd be here before the end."
"Yeah, you did," Lance pats his shoulder. "Just in time too."
"Were you guys training together?" Serena tilts her head.
"Serena?" Jax stares at her. His eyes trace her from head to toe before grinning. "You look completely different! Good to see you!" He pulls her into a gentle embrace, his sweet smell enveloping her as he gives a soft squeeze. "Lance and I met up a few times in the past few months, he heard I have some intense training programs for dragon types so he wanted some of it."
"Oh?" Clair raises a brow and offers her hand instead of embracing the young man.
"Hi Clair," Jax is more sober in greeting her, taking her hand and giving it a firm shake. "Yeah, we should do the program sometime. I hear you're in the lead to be the next gym leader and, honestly, it's about time we got someone new."
"First things first," Lance holds up a finger. "I'm going to be winning this battle."
Serena puts a hand on Clair's shoulder to stop her from arguing with him for stopping the conversation and nods in agreement. "Yes, you're going to win and then you're going to take on the Elite Four."
The four grin at each other just as the intercom above announces Lance's name and invites him to go up on stage. Clair and Jax bound down the tunnel ahead of the other two, both talking about the programs and how long they take. Serena keeps pace with Lance knowing he's walking slow to prolong the calm before the storm and also savor the moment. She debates if she's ruining the moment when Lance grabs her wrist before the end.
"Listen," he starts. He turns her towards him, his hand gentle around her wrist keeps her tethered to the spot despite her mind screaming for her to create distance. "I'm going to win and we're going to change the two regions for the better, right?"
"Of course," she grins. "You're also going to win because it's what you've wanted for the longest time. You'll do great."
He glances down at his hand on her, his eyes searching for something she can't see, before returning his gaze to hers. He pulls away and smiles. "Thanks for being here."
"Of course, your my best friend," she replies. "Now get out there and kick some ass."
His reply comes in a chuckle as she heads over to the bench on the side of the field where Clair and Jax continue talking. Behind them in the stands above, sits their parents, he asked that Serena and Clair sit at the bench to cheer him on and Jax if he was going to make it.
The opening announcements are made and, right before the battle starts, Lance glances over at Serena to see her watching him with a glint of pride in her eyes. Their eyes meet in a fleeting moment of silence, she grins and nods at him. He smiles at her message, the way her eyes follow his and how her smile is just wide enough to show her teeth through a small split in her lips.
I believe in you, go get him!
OoOoO
"This will be a close one folks! Can Dragonite come back from a hit like that? Cole's Arcanine is tough!"
Serena's teeth grind as Ryu struggles to stand in the hole created when Arcanine used Body Slam after Extreme Speed to run up a large boulder and leap into the air. Ryu didn't react fast enough to dodge and the weight of the dog-like Pokemon's attack brought him plummeting from above the field. The crowd had grown silence in the aftermath of the hit, the sound of the earth cracking and opening up.
At the announcer's words, the crowd jolts back to life, filling the stadium with their shouts and cheers. It restarts Serena's focus, getting her to stretch her jaw, while Jax and Clair brood next to her.
"Keep hitting him! Use Body Slam again!" Cole shouts from across the field.
"Hit back with Slam, Ryu!" Lance retorts, his fists clenched at his sides as Arcanine sprints across the field.
Ryu rears up his body at his trainer's voice. His wings spread out as he leans forward and he propels his body with a swift kick off the ground. Some dirt flies from the effort. Everyone watches as the two pokemon collide near the middle of the field. It's a test of physical strength as body meets body... and Ryu wins.
The fire type flies back, tumbling through the air and slamming into a boulder. Lance takes this chance to call for Slam once more. The follow through goes sideways when Cole calls for Protect, leading Ryu to hurt himself when he collides with the glowing blue bubble around Arcanine.
Clair swears under her breath as Ryu returns to the otherside of the field and the pokemon enter a stare down. In the middle, Jax remains silent with his arms crossed, gazing across the field right at Ryu. Serena watches him, wondering what's on his mind only to turn back when Cole shouts for Extreme Speed.
"Here we go again! Look as Arcanine disappears, his speed is amazing!" the announcer booms in the speakers as flashes of the fire type cross the field as he zig zags towards the dragon type.
"Thunder!" Lance shouts.
Ryu's antennas produce sparks as the air starts to thicken and a few dark clouds circle above the stadium. Arcanine crosses the field, his body mere feet away from Ryu when he leaps forward. As his body slams into Ryu's, lightning crashes down from above, engulfing the two pokemon in a flash of light.
Everyone covers their eyes with their hands. A gasp rips through the crowd followed by murmurs and demands to see who won or if it was a tie. Clair reaches across Jax to grasp Serena's hand as the light dissipates, the air returns to normal and the dust and dirt settle to show Arcanine sprawled on the ground and Ryu standing tall.
"There we have it, folks!" the announcer screams into the mic. "We have our new Conference Winner, Lance Wataru of Blackthorn City!"
The stadium erupts into cheers, the spectators all stand and clap as confetti spirals out of the cannons along the top of the stadium and spotlights focus on Lance. He stands there staring at Ryu with wide eyes and an open mouth. Cole returns his Arcanine and jogs across the field to congratulate Lance, pulling him out of his stupor long enough to get a handshake and a thanks before Serena and Clair rush to Lance.
"You did it!" Serena is the first to reach him, she throws her arms around his neck much like the day he won against her. "You won the Conference!"
He wraps an arm around her and then one around Clair as she takes his right side only to fall when Jax decides to jump in for fun. The four hit the ground with grunts as the crowd continues to scream above them. They're laughing and babbling until officials march onto the field.
Then it's all a blur to them as they're walked to the side of the field, Clair and Jax have to go to the stands as all trainers get called down to the field. The crowd continues cheering as every trainer that stayed walks out on the field and lines up according to when they were eliminated. Serena leaves Lance at the head with Cole and Maxine, the runner up and third place trainers, to stand with the other fifteen.
The closing ceremony is brief with Goodshow handing out badges for the competitors and awarding Lance with his gold trophy. The cheers are deafening as he holds it up in the air, his free arm spread wide to drink in all the attention. Goodshow invites the crowd to stay as the lights dim and the early evening sky lights up with a beautiful array of fireworks.
During the show, trainers make their way towards their families in the stands while some spectators leave to get a headstart on traffic. Serena's eyes stay glued to the sky when she feels a hand fills hers. Whispers and gasps around her tell her it's Lance standing beside her grasping her hand.
"You did it," she turns to him and freezes. Caught off guard by his eyes reflecting the dazzling lights of fireworks, it's breathtaking. "I knew you would."
"With you and Clair beside me, I could," he replies leaning forward to speak in her ear as the explosions are magnified in the stadium. She shivers as his lips brush against her ear, she ignores the stares from around them as he tugs her away from her spot. "Let's go find the others."
She nods and trails after him, his hand still in hers as he leads her to the side of the field. The fireworks wind down and Moltres' Flame gets extinguished to finalize the competition until the next year. Lance finds his parents, his hand pulling away to embrace them as they rush up and gush about his battle.
"This will go well in the dining room," Wesley grasps the trophy between his hands. It looks smaller in his grasp than it did in Lance's. It's base is a nice cherry wood finish with a gold plaque inscribed with the year and title of 'Conference Winner' on the front. The rest of the trophy itself is a golden pokeball sitting on an elegant gold stand with two wings behind it. "I'm so proud of you son."
"Thanks, Dad," Lance beams at his father while hugging his mother. "This is just the first step."
"Yes, but we should still celebrate," Kaida fixes her son's hair. "We need to get pictures first."
The group gathers and, after a head count, they squeeze through the crowd to a more secluded part of the stadium: the trainer's lobby. Lance and his parents are met with the press and some league workers pulling them towards a makeshift platform next to a backdrop for pictures. There are flurries of questions spouted at Lance as he tries to gain his bearings, he's distracted by the shock and offers some words to describe his emotions while Clair and Jax boo him from the side for fun.
After the interviews, he and his parents pose for pictures taken by the magazine and newspaper reporters, and then by league staff to have sent home for them to keep. Everyone buzzes with excitement, the halls are filled with tears of joy and sorrow at missing the big win this year.
Serena watches as trainers file past, some gazing at Lance with admiration, lust or hate. She can't help but be glad she didn't win, all eyes on her, waiting for her to mess up so they can step in? No thanks.
That night, dinner is on Aaron and Rowan. It's full of stories, laughter and good times as the group settles into each other's presence and the night is recounted from all sorts of points of views.
At the end of the night, Serena and Clair's parents head home with Jax deciding to stay until Lance's battle with the champion. They'll be moved to the Pokemon League building where the Elite Four and Champion arena's reside for the Champion Conference. But with that still a few days away, Serena is not surprised to find the room empty of Jax and Lance.
So, she spends the night talking with Clair about her plans and how she believes they have a chance. With just one battle, she feels so much is already changing. As she lays in bed with Clair beside her fast asleep she recalls how long it took for them to get here. The Champion's Conference is the first step and that's just dealing with pokemon, she's going to have to work with humans to get things moving in a new direction. Her visions are big and, hopefully, the world will be ready for them.
