This is my take on the champion battle, I like to think that music does play but just for the crowd to hear and not huge speakers on the field to drown out trainers' voices XD Got some big stuff coming up!
The battle with the champion takes place in a separate field with smaller seating available for lots of money. Aaron manages to get tickets at a spectacular discount for their group aside from Jax, Serena and Clair, who get free passes thanks to Lance. Cameras slide around on wire around the edge of the seats while the announcers cabin sits elevated on the right side of the field. It's a heavily televised battle, broadcast all over the regions on TV and radio.
When Elijah enters, Serena watches him carefully, trying to gauge his personality from how he behaves. His dark hair is smooth cut around the sides, left longer on top and a bit curly. He's tall and a bit lanky as he marches to the center of the field. When the camera zooms in, she spies gray eyes staring at Lance with fire in them. He seems nice enough when he smiles at Lance. She decides he may actually listen to her, just to soothe her already excited nerves before the battle starts.
It all happens so fast.
Lance and Elijah exchange formal greetings while the announcer gets the crowd pumped up within minutes. The battle unfolds before their eyes with sparks, dirt and dust flying while the camera's zip around trying to catch the best shots for those watching at home. The screams of the crowd roar in Serena's ears as if there were three times as many people. Her voice grows hoarse as she cheers Lance's pokemon on, watching as they fall or defeat an opponent.
One by one, each side loses a pokemon until it's down to Ryu and Elijah's fierce looking Gyarados. The crowd sits at the edge of their seats as battle music hums in the background and the trainer's call out commands and the pokemon take the entire field to fight. There are times the three on the bench duck or cower as though they're about to be hit from stray attacks with how intense it gets.
With one frozen wing, Ryu hits the ground and then the wall when Elijah calls for a hydro pump to follow Ice Beam. With no chance to recover, Ryu is down for the count in just a split second. Serena's face falls watching Lance realize he's out of pokemon and he lost against Elijah. The crowd falls silent for a second before exploding into cheers for their long time champion and his pokemon.
Head bent, Lance returns his pokemon to his ball and takes a moment to breathe. The three watch him with sadness in their eyes until he lifts his head with a smile. They cheer for him as the Champion walks up and shakes his hand. Above them, the announcer makes his closing statements for the crowd present and at home before the feed cuts and everyone takes their time leaving.
Aaron brings down the herd to the side of the field, all of them look forlorn at Lance's loss especially his parents. Serena and Clair greet his parents with subdued grins, offering compliments to help them feel better about his loss. They embrace both girls and beam at their son still on the field.
At the center of the field, a reporter has gotten the chance to run up and speak to both competitors. The group deigns to stay on the sidelines to give Lance his time in the limelight. Given the distance, no one can see what they're saying, but it must be good as Elijah pats Lance's shoulder and the young man beams back at him.
Once the reporter leaves, Lance takes a moment to speak with Elijah again. The older man's face turns serious with just a hint of a smile. He nods his head a few times, says 'okay' and that's that. Before he leaves, however, he gestures for the group to approach to get pictures with all of them for the league magazine.
The teens rush to their best friend, piling on him all at once without a chance to try and catch them all.
"Dude! You looked bad ass up there!" Jax smacks his back as they pull away to give Lance space to breathe.
"I'll say," Serena agrees, her eyes dart to Clair and she nudges the blue haired girl.
"You did well," she coughs with her arms crossed.
Lance chuckles at them. "Thanks, it was a tough battle."
While their group squeals, the adults take the more professional approach introducing themselves and shaking Elijah's hand, complimenting his strategy and thanking him for the battle. When they move to congratulate Lance, the young trainers move over to take their turn meeting the Champion.
Serena takes this moment to make a good first impression with a smile and a firm handshake. Elijah returns it with polite eagerness just as a league photographer comes up and directs Lance's family for pictures. She deflates when he gets pulled away, but stays close by to watch the photographers work. Twiddling her thumbs, she refuses to leave as the photos finish up and the staff gathers the group up to escort them out.
"Now that that's over," Elijah turns to the large group with a charming smile. "Serena? Lance? Will you join me for a moment?"
Their parents raise their eyebrows at their kids before nodding for them to go along with the champion. League officials escort the families to a separate waiting area to avoid fans, and the press while Elijah's guards flank his side. Lance puts his arm out for Serena and she gratefully accepts it. The ground of the field is destroyed, marking what a tough match they had as they trek across the terrain to the Champion's Quarters.
They stop in a luxurious room with a large TV on the front wall now playing back the battle with expert commentators discussing both battle strategies. Serena let's go of Lance's arm and glances around the room. There's a sofa facing the TV, a mini fridge in back as well as a bar. She assumes this is where the Elites sit to watch the battle in comfort rather than be on camera the whole time.
"That was an amazing battle," Elijah compliments Lance as he and Serena follow him through the corridor. "You are a strong trainer, I'd love to have you fill in as an Elite Four member."
"What do you mean? You already have four trainers," Lance points out and sits at the older man's gesture.
"Water? Coffee? Tea?" he moves to the back counter where all offered drinks await selection. Lance asks for water, Serena asks for tea and the two watch him take his time in preparing each cup. He's silent until he turns around with a tray in hand. "Blaise is looking to retire. I'd like to have that spot filled as soon as possible."
Serena whips her head to Lance as they accept their drinks. Her heart rate picks up at their luck. He may have lost the battle, but he's still wanted in the league as an official member. Of any of the people from home, Serena is not surprised it's Lance who gets to have this opportunity.
He meets her eyes, his own glee and excitement evident in his shining gaze. "I would love to, sir!"
"Please, call me Elijah," the champion grins at him. "After all, that battle proves we're equals. Win or lose."
"Okay, Elijah," Lance tries not to blush too hard as he takes a sip of his water. "What do I have to do?"
"We'll get the paperwork set up and go through the process from scratch to give everyone time to adjust to things," he beams at the young man and turns to Serena. "And how can I help you, Serena?"
"There are things I want to help change around Kanto and Johto," she states with her shoulders back and a smile on her face.
For a second, his eyes widen and his jaw drops before he's bursting into laughter. She steels herself against the sting of his laughter, not daring to look away from him to let him know how serious she is. She can't back down at every push back.
"I'm sorry, I'm not laughing at you," he wipes a tear from his eye before clasping his hands together to beam at her. "I've been drawing up plans for months trying to get people to come together. This is all too coincidental for me to ignore. However, I can't just bring you in as a council member," Serena falters in her rising hope, but Elijah continues in a rush, "But! You can be my assistant until we get you situated in the League and go from there."
"Really?" Serena's eyes light up and her back straightens.
Elijah grins at the two of them. "You two might be all I've needed to make some great changes around here."
The two share excited glances, making him laugh again before delving into more details about how he's been trying to get some changes going but has no time to put together the presentations and proposals since the league is so far behind on paperwork and not uniform in it's makeup. Serena is quick to offer suggestions and ask questions to understand the detail behind the work he has to do and Elijah is happy to answer them. The three finish their drinks in no time and Elijah promises to speak with them again when everything is finished.
"Elijah?" Serena catches the champion before he leaves to prepare for the night.
"Yes?" he turns to her with kind eyes.
"For tonight, all the gym leaders will be there," she starts and fiddles with her scarf. "I'm wondering if Gio-Giovanni will be there?"
For a second, she swears she sees his face darken at the mention of her uncle before he pulls out a tablet. "I can check for you. Is there any particular reason you want him there?"
"No, I don't want him there."
His shoulders relax at that as he pulls up the list of people present. "On here it says he's not attending this event. He doesn't attend much unless he has to."
"Okay," she relaxes with a deep exhale. "Thank you for checking."
"Of course!"
He bids them farewell and has his two guards escort them to the lobby where they rejoin their families. There they're greeted by another league worker formally inviting them to a banquet for the notable trainers in the Conference, the leaders from both regions, and other members of the 'higher status' in society.
Clair, her parents, Jax, Kaida and Rowan, opt to head to rooms in the league offered for them to rest and get ready for the banquet. Wesley and Aaron scurry off to their office leaving Lance to be ushered off to a different part of the building for a briefing on his application to be an Elite Four member.
Unsure of where to go or what to do, Serena decides to head to her father's office. While she knows Elijah didn't lie to her about Giovanni attending, she wants to have some added safety measures. Tonight is supposed to be worry-free for her and Lance, she's not going to waste it looking over her shoulder.
The league building is massive with two floors and a sprawling basement. The G-men offices are on the left side towards the back end of the building and take up most of the basement. The director and the deputy director have official offices blocked off by the rest of the agents' cubicles and offices.
Serena stands at the front desk of the G-men entrance and gives her info to the receptionist. She's buzzed through and escorted to her father's office where he and Wesley discuss Lance's battle with vigor. A smile spreads across her face as Wesley gets to the part where Ryu had been just seconds away from getting the advantage on Elijah's Gyarados.
"Honey!" Aaron greets his daughter with a grin. "Soon you'll be coming here for lunches with your dad."
"Dad," Serena smiles at him. She really hopes she'll get to do something amazing with her time here. Everything will not go her way, but she can at least try. "As long as there's good food involved."
He clutches his chest as if struck. Wes laughs at his antics. "Can't a father get a visit from his daughter?"
"Of course," she laughs and shakes her head. "About tonight, what's the schedule?"
He sobers up fast. "Banquet starts at 8 tonight," he pauses to check his watch. "We have a few hours before then. It goes until 11, it's a big pat on the back for staff here and a welcome to newcomers in the league. Then Blackthorn has another party planned for you and Lance."
"Me too?" she points to herself in disbelief. "Why?"
"Honey, you made it to top 16 and you're going to be the Champion's Assistant!" Aaron spreads his arms wide. "It's a big deal!"
She can hear the title in the way he says it, 'Champion's Assistant', she likes the sound of it. "That's true, but I'm here for business." Both men glance at each other with raised eyebrows, each crossing their arms and leaning against Wesley's desk. "Elijah told me Giovanni won't be at the banquet tonight, but can there be some extra guards, just in case?"
The men share a glance filled with a jumble of emotions. Aaron is the first to nod and he pulls out a notepad as Wesley lists names for him to write. They're a little familiar, agents her father has often talked about in positive ways.
"We'll get a small team set up to watch over you tonight, hun," Aaron assures her once the list is complete and Wes moves to make some calls. "Don't worry about anything else, okay?"
"Okay."
Her mind buzzes with all things Johto and Kanto for the rest of the day. Aaron and Wes finish up whatever project they were working on and close up their office. They head to the suites and she gets ready with Clair for the banquet at the League.
She picks something simple, a navy blue dress with pink flowers splayed across the front. No scarf needed as the back rests near the base of her neck. She leaves her hair out of its usual braid, her dark tresses falling down to her mid-back. Her mother puts Clair's blue hair up into an elegant bun with few hairs left out to frame her face. Also simple, Clair's dress is black with a scoop neckline where a simple necklace of gold in the shape of a Dragonair rests on her chest.
"You girls look amazing," Rowan smiles just as Clair's mother comes into the room and beams at both of them.
"I agree, I'm proud of both of you," she gives each a kiss on the forehead. "No boys tonight."
"That'll be easy," Clair snorts. Serena joins in with her own laugh.
League officials wait at the door for the group, ready to escort them to the party and back to their rooms for the night. Serena glances around but her father and Wesley are missing as they stand in the lobby. She's about to ask when her mother explains that the two got a call for work and had to leave. Kaida assures her Lance is aware his father is away and will be able to forgive him for this one night.
She drops it with a nod and glances around the empty lobby once filled to the brim with spectators, trainers and officials. "This place is a ghost town."
"For now," Clair nudges her as music pours from the stadium.
At the end of the tunnel, the officials pause and open the doors for them. Kaida and Rowan head out first followed by Clair's parents, then Clair and Serena themselves. Serena gasps at the sight before her. The field has been covered with a massive wooden floor laid over every inch of dirt. On the left side of the field, against the stands is a bar opposite of the DJ, on the other end, playing chill music. Against the far stands, sits a projection of thanks for those who made the Indigo and Champion's Conferences possible as well as some amazing shots from each battle. The ceiling is uncovered to show off the beautiful night sky.
All the gym leaders, notable trainers and general members of the league have already started conversing. Relaxing classical music plays in the background as Clair and Serena cross the wooden floor looking for Lance.
As soon as their shoes hit the floor some eyes turn their way. Serena flinches under their gazes, but follows Clair's lifted chin as they walk by without returning the looks. Clair spots her cousin fast across the floor talking with his mother in hushed tones while Rowan stands nearby conversing with Clair's father. Serena looks at Lance dressed in dark red dress shoes, coal colored slacks and a dark red button up with a coal tie. Over his shoulders sits a dark red cape flowing behind him to the floor. With so much red on his hair stands out just enough to make someone look and admire... much like Serena does as they walk up.
His mother pats his shoulder and moves to speak with the others of their party. Before the two get there another figure takes her place. Soon enough, he's grinning at a worker in the league, her black hair pulled back into a neat bun on top of her head. She's dressed in black slacks, a white dress shirt with a bowtie. Her green eyes sparkle as she laughs at something he says, her arm reaching out to his forearm.
Anger spikes in Serena before she squishes it down and forces herself to look away.
"Lance!" Clair greets him with a fake warm smile. It doesn't even come close to the ice in her eyes. "Looking good, Cousin. Congratulations."
He turns to greet Clair and the words die on his lips as he spots Serena looking lovely. His arm drops away from the girl he's speaking with. What's her name? He suddenly can't remember. All he sees is Serena in a perfect navy blue dress to make her soft skin glow, with pink flowers giving her cheeks some rosy color in her face. Her muscled legs travel down and end in some plain blue flats for comfort. Dark chocolate waves frame her face and fall in waves, giving her a gentle and beautiful aura.
"I'll see you later?" the girl, Clara possibly, pats Lance's shoulder before disappearing into the crowd.
"Ye-yea, sure," he stutters after her. He sighs as Clair wraps an arm around his shoulder. "Hi Clair, you're looking beautiful."
"Aww, did we ruin your night?" she chuckles. She loves interrupting his adventures to relish in his frustration.
"Not for long," he replies with a sly smile, showing his teeth at her. He turns to Serena with a gentle smile. "You're looking beautiful, too."
She fights a blush and smiles. "Thanks. Red is definitely your color."
"I'm glad, coloring my hair would cost so much," he laughs as Elijah walks up with his little girl on his hip and his boys beside him. "Hi, Elijah."
"Hey," the champion grins at them. His daughter stares at Lance in wonder, her gray eyes taking in his cape with a grin. "This is Ava, the boy in green is Bryce and the other is Carter." The three coo their greetings to Ava and wave at the boys who hide behind their father. "They're a little shy."
"No worries," Lance shrugs and laughs when Ava reaches out to him. "Well, hello."
Serena watches him accept the young girl from Elijah. A smile grows on the little girl's face as he wraps them both up in his cape and spins her around. Her giggles relax her brothers who take Clair by her hands and drag her off to look at something cool they found.
"That didn't take long," Elijah whistles standing next to Serena as Lance weaves around the floor with Ava. "They're naturals."
Serena grins at him. "Yeah, that's essentially how I became friends with them. They're so go with the flow with new people."
"Those are good qualities," he comments before giving her a sidelong glance. "And what about you?"
"Hmm?" she frowns.
"What're your qualities?" he gestures to the two again.
Serena turns to stare as Clair admires a rock Bryce puts in her hands and a stick Carter shows her. "I'm the peace-keeper for them. They get so caught up with arguing with each other they forget the problem at hand."
"Straight to the point, I like it," he smiles. "I think you'll make a great assistant. The Association and I have so many ideas, but there's no one to drive the projects forward. I'm hoping you and I will get them going."
She turns to him, a small smile growing on her face. "Me too. Thanks for listening to me."
"Of course! When us old people leave it's going to be your region, if you have ideas to improve it I'll do everything in my power to help you," he winks and glances at his kids again. "I want them to have a good life here too."
They stand in companionable silence as more people enter, hors d'oeuvres and drinks sit atop trays held by staff, and the music continues to create a gentle lull for conversations going on. Serena meets Elijah's wife, Stephanie, who seems more comfortable with talk than with quiet.
She grins as he becomes a more gentle man with his wife around. Elijah is quick to offer her drinks or something to eat, but Stephanie is more concentrated on their kids running around with Clair or Ava seemingly falling in love with Lance.
"They're going to ask for Clair everyday after this," she muses, clinking glasses with Serena after Elijah stalks off to sneak some food from the table being set up for them. "You and Lance too. Hope you guys like kids around."
Serena chuckles. "I'm sure we'll get used to it."
She likes Stephanie. Her hazel eyes are bright against her brown hair and freckled face. She dons a dark green, strapless top dress that stops at her knees. Her cream colored heels click on the floor as she twists and turns to make sure her kids are safe. Pearl earrings sparkle from underneath the wisps of hair left out of her bun, joining in with the sparkle of a matching necklace draped along her collarbone. She looks dressed for a night on the red carpet rather than a banquet for trainers. Serena wonders if it's because she's the champion's wife she has to dress so elegantly.
"Serena, I have a favor," she turns to the younger girl suddenly. In her hand, the champagne she picked up bubbles with her movement. Serena's water seems less fancy as it sloshes a bit in her glass in comparison. She nods for Stephanie to continue. "My husband is dedicated to his job, I don't know if he's told you yet but, eventually, he wants to retire. But in order to do that, he wants to make some big changes around here."
"Yeah, he's explained as much so far," Serena nods. She had no idea about the retirement part, but it's only expected after being undefeated for so long. He's got to be bored with the position by now.
"Promise me that you'll do your best to make Kanto and Johto better than it is now," she states. "So many people have come to him asking to help him and none of them have been able to stay true to their word. The way he talked about you... I believe there's a chance, but you have to stick with it even if it gets rough."
Serena stares at Stephanie and smiles. "Of course, I've been through enough already. It's prepared me for times like this."
"I'll always be a resource for you, for whatever you need," she presses further, though her lips have started to turn upwards. "I'm trusting you."
"That's a sensible choice."
The rest of the night goes by without a hitch. Elijah gives Lance his recognition and nominates him as a pending Elite Four member, and announces Serena as his assistant. They're welcomed into the League with smiling faces and many, many handshakes. Serena takes it seriously, making note of each face she sees and their position within the league. Many of the gym leaders say hi and it's when the party is almost over when she realizes Blaine is nowhere to be seen.
"Hey, have you seen Lance?" Serena finds Clair near the punch table with a cup in hand.
"He's gone off with that girl," she shrugs. "He'll meet us at the celebration tomorrow."
Serena feels something cold fall into the pit of her stomach. "Oh.. I was going to ask if he saw Blaine here at all?"
"That old gym leader that made you go to the hospital in Cinnabar?" Clair frowns at her. "Why do you want to see him?"
"He didn't make me do anything," Serena huffs. "I just wanted to know if he showed up."
"I didn't see anything. You can ask him tomorrow."
It'll be too late then, I wanted to talk to him today, Serena bites her lip to avoid arguing. She doesn't want to seem crazy in front of her future co-workers.
Aaron and Wesley turn up at the end of the night. They look ragged and stressed, but it melts away as their spouses approach. Clair and Serena sneak a few more cupcakes from the dessert table before joining their parents to get teleported home. The league offers shows them to the Abra on the side of the field and asks them to picture home.
Their world spins and then pauses as Blackthorn fills their view. Wesley and Kaida disappear down the street after some short farewells, neither seem unfazed by their son's disappearance and Serena doesn't care to mention anything.
"Let's take a walk," Aaron smiles at his girls, offering his arms for them.
Serena smiles and loops her arm through her father's, Rowan chuckles at his antics but does the same. The moon is high in the sky, full and bright, shining their way home. Their steps are slow, it's a cool spring evening, one of her favorite seasons in Blackthorn. It's a stark contrast to the hot temperatures in Cianwood, so she welcomes the cool breezes through her hair.
"So, you're going to be Elijah's assistant," her father prompts as they near their neighborhood. Serena snorts at the need to repeat it every so often, but he continues on anyway. "I'm proud of you, Serena. You've risen through a lot of obstacles and have come out on top each time. Now that you're part of the league I want you to be careful when it comes to my brother. You two are equals now and he will treat you as such."
"Technically-"
"No, Serena," he interrupts her with a sharp look. "You're seventeen, a child to him, you may work for the champion but that's what makes you his equal. He took you as a toddler, now that you're older..."
Rowan squeezes his arm tight. "She'll be closer to you, my love. It won't happen again."
Aaron's darkened expression softens and he leans over to kiss both their temples. "You're much stronger than you need to be. Don't be afraid to come to me for anything while you're at the league, okay? I love you both."
"And we love you."
With that, he brings her into the house where Rowan heads to the kitchen and pulls out a small cake and a small box. Serena's birthday was a month ago, and they missed having her home because she was training in Cianwood. Her mother urges her to change into pajamas and, in the dead of night, they have a mini birthday party. She blows out the candles without wishing for something and opens her gift to find a new laptop inside.
"Since you're going to be attending meetings and taking care of business between the regions, we figured you should have something to help you along the way," Rowan beams as Serena examines her sleek laptop.
"Wow, thank you guys!" she hugs it to her chest.
Her parents take a slice of cake, her father opting for a large chunk, while she passes with a nod to the pile of muffins on the counter. She spies it's chocolate with a fudgy icing, and grins at the thought of having it for breakfast the next morning. Her parents sit at the island and Serena recounts the night, who she met and who wasn't present (Blaine and Giovanni). Her father urges her not to get too eager about everything just because she'll be in the league.
"Take it one thing at a time," he polishes off his cake. He sets his plate and fork in the sink. "The answers aren't going to come rushing in at once."
"I know," she sighs. A yawn stops her from arguing further and she decides to drop it in favor of sleeping. "I'm going to bed."
The two kiss her goodnight and watch as she scurries off in the direction of her room with smiles on their faces.
In the darkness of her room, Serena takes out her journal and recounts the day up to this moment. The moon peeks through her currents illuminating her journal with a blue light to contrast the golden light of her lamp. Her stomach feels content, her scars are cool against her shirt and her mind is quiet. She relishes the feeling as she shuts off her lights, gets comfortable and drifts off with thoughts of the hard days ahead at the back of her mind.
