I sat down on Cheren's bed. He was standing in front of the tv, messing with the antennae.
"Try changing the channel!" He suggested. I picked up the remote.
"Which one?"
"It's coming on seventy." I clicked seven and zero. The tv screen went from static to some kind of fairground.
"Yes!" Cheren hurried to the bed. He sat down, watching intently.
A female reporter was onscreen, talking about the upcoming challenge against the champion.
Alder appeared in the background, chewing on a sandwich.
Cheren's face lit up. Alder noticed the camera and ran over. His grinning face filled the screen.
"Hello, Unova!" He yelled. Cheren and I cheered.
His mother complained downstairs.
Cheren turned the volume down.
"Today very well may be my last day as your great champion."
"What do you think of your challenger?" The reporter asked.
"I think she's a wonderful woman; I cant wait to do battle!" He laughed and rushed offscreen. The reporter continued her dialogue.
"You think she's going to beat him?" I asked. I looked over at Cheren. He was staring intently at the screen.
"I want to," he mumbled. "I have to beat him."
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I stood outside of the stadium. Staring blankly at the sky. The streets were crowded with people making their way inside. Kenya nudged me.
"Hey, you still there?" I fidgeted with Bianca's hat.
"Yeah." She crossed her arms.
"You think the competitors get a special entrance?" She gazed at the doors, flooded with people. I shook my head.
"We should hurry." We forced our way through the crowd.
Kenya nearly got into a fistfight trying to get through the door.
Inside, we found the front desk and got in line. Elesa was at the desk, talking. It was a few minutes before we reached the front.
Kenya went first. Signing and being led off. I was next. Each trainer signed in and wrote down the three pokemon they'd be using.
Pignite, Tranquil, and Musharna. I finished writing and was led off by Elesa's assistant.
He led me to a waiting room. There were several other people there. The walls were lined with chairs.
There were several large flatscreen televisions along the walls. The room was alive with chatter.
"Andrew!" Bianca was there. She crossed the room, hugging me.
"I'm here too," Kenya commented. I spotted Cheren sitting down and approached him. Bianca sat down next to Cheren. Kenya and I sat next to her.
"How long have you two been here?" I asked.
"About an hour," Cheren said. Kenya groaned.
We made idle talk as more people arrived. Nathan showed up, waving at me. Gym leaders were showing up as well.
Cheren seemed to watch Clay closely as he found a seat near the door.
Elesa was the last person to show up. She strode across the room and flashily sat down. A few minutes later, the televisions came on at once. Alder's face was on the screens.
"Hello, Nimbasa city," he said. He paused, glancing down at his lap. "Um. The first match is Cheren and Cilan."
He looked up, seeming satisfied. Cheren got up.
Cilan stood up on the other side of the room. I hadn't noticed him arrive.
A man appeared at the door, and the two of them left. Alder shifted uncomfortably on the screens. The scene changed. They displayed different views of a battlefield.
A few moments later Cheren and Cilan appeared, taking their places on the field.
"The battle will be starting." Alder's voice was nearly monotone.
Cheren sent out three pokemon. Dewott, Zebstika, and Archeops. Cilan sent out three pokemon of his own. Simisage, Lilligant, and a Sawsbuck.
"Please begin."
"Zebstrika, thunder!" A bolt of lightning struck Lilligant, knocking it back. Archeops rushed forward, getting a running start and taking off.
Dewott hung back.
"Simisage, go for Dewott!" Cilan ordered. "Sawsbuck, sunny day!" Cilan glanced at Lilligant; it was in a daze. Simisage crossed the battlefield; its advance was cut off by Zebstrika. Archeops dropped, snatching up Lilligant and hurling it at Sawsbuck.
"Keep up the attack!" Cheren said. Zebstrika trampled Simisage. Archeops circled in the air, repeatedly attacking Lilligant.
Cheren was hardly giving orders. He must have been training them to act in certain ways. Cilan was panicking.
"Sawsbuck, use—"
"Dewott!" Dewott crossed the battlefield in moments, striking Sawsbuck with its shell. Sawsbuck collapsed.
At the same time, Archeops dropped on top of Lilligant, crushing it against the ground.
Zebstrika engulfed in flames, running Simisage over again. All three of Cilan's pokemon were knocked out. He seemed to shrink as he returned them. Cheren returned his pokemon and left the battlefield. He returned to the waiting room moments later. Cilan did not. Elesa and a trainer named Thomas were the next battle.
"You were amazing out there," Bianca said. Cheren managed a wry smile. He glanced at me.
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Elesa stepped out into the hallway. It led out onto the battlefield. Her two assistants were waiting for her there.
"Is something wrong?" Elesa asked. The younger assistant, Astril, averted his eyes. Kayle stepped forward.
"We wanted to encourage you," Kayle said. Elesa sighed.
The two of them had been with her since she'd taken over the gym. Kayle had traveled around with Elesa for a few months as she challenged the pokemon league.
A smile formed on Elesa's face.
"To be honest, I'm a bit nervous about all this."
"The battle?" Astril asked. Kayle scoffed and brushed the hair out of her face.
"That Thomas boy has challenged the gym several times," Kayle said. "He doesn't stand a chance."
"The tournament," Elesa stepped forward. "It was a tradition for Nimbasa for years until I took over." She took both of her assistant's hands. "I want this to go well. You two have done more than I could ever ask for."
Kayle smiled. Astril blushed.
"Thank you, both of you." Elesa stepped past her assistants and out onto the battlefield.
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Elesa's battle didn't last long.
She won. Elesa returned her pokemon and waved at the audience. She returned to the waiting room a few minutes later.
Alder announced the next match. Bianca and Kenta. Bianca got up, stretching.
I recognized the name of her opponent. I spotted him as he rose from his seat.
It was Bianca's father.