Disclaimer: As stated before I don't own pokémon or the people in my story.

Steve woke up on the day of the tournament feeling happy yet scared. He knew he had a chance in the tournament, if he used his pokémon wisely, but the nightmare had frightened him a bit. After he woke up and ate breakfast he was out the door and waiting outside the arena, ready to sign up. He started to notice people looking at him and making small comments about him and his pokémon.

(I guess they heard about me) he thought.

All of a sudden people started screaming and trying to see who had arrived. When everyone gasped, Steve knew it had to be Joseph.

(This guy is my major competition, I guess I'll have to worry about him.)

Joseph walked over to Steve and looked straight at him, "You're Steve? Welcome to the tournament. I hear you're a good trainer. Some even say you are better than me. We shall soon see who is better. Steve, don't expect me to go lightly on you. See you in the ring."

As he walked away Steve just felt himself seething from the guy's lack of friendliness. (What's crawled up his ass? This is the champion that everyone looks up to and adores? This bastard?)

He slowly walked up and signed up for the tournament.

A man walked over to Steve before the tournament had officially started and asked him some questions about his pokémon. Steve wasn't really listening and just talked and answered his questions without to much thought. However, one statement caught in his mind. "I told you that you would meet me someday."

"The first match will be between Joseph and Mario."

"That's my match." Said the stranger. "I'll see you after the tournament, Steve."

(Who is this guy, I've never seen him before. At least, I can't remember seeing him. When did he tell me I would meet him?)

As the tournament started the match began. Mario had chosen to start with a bellsprout and Joseph started with a charizard. As soon as the bell sounded the bellsprout attacked the charizard and beat it with a tackle.

"What the fuck! How did that just happen?" cried Joseph.

"Your pokémon aren't very strong if they can't beat a bellsprout. Who are you again?" Mario answered his cry.

"Bastard! I'll teach you for that! Go Aerodactyl!"

As the rock pokémon came flying out of the pokéball he swept straight for the bellsprout. As it drew near the bellsprout used growth and grew larger at a great rate. In mere seconds it towered over the aerodactyl and shot a leaf at it, causing it to fall to the ground.

(Whoa, this guys good. How did he just take out two of Joseph's pokémon with such a shrimp?)

Joseph couldn't believe the luck and decided to forfeit right then. "How can you be the pokémon champion when a bellsprout can defeat you? You give up after two pokémon fail you? I can't believe you." The man cackled as the pokémon champion walked away, beaten and trodden over.

A news caster walked over to the man instantly, "What's your name, sir?"

"I'm not Mario. That was merely the name I used to get into the tournament. My actual name is Zack. I have watched you people strain your pokémon for too long. After watching you use them for battle I see no reason for you to exist. Therefore I will now destroy human kind so pokémon can live happy lives without human intervention. I am calling all you trainers who have the balls, to come and fight me in the mountains northwest of here. Good luck. Steve, I will expect you there. You far surpass the champion's abilities. Fight me and if anyone can beat me, I will spare your lives. Good-bye." As he spoke he started floating, and before long he had flown away.

(Scary, this guy is very odd. I really don't want to fight him but what chance do I have?)

As he was leaving many other trainers hopped in their cars and started driving on the road out towards the mountains. Obviously, many were trying to get there first. As they sped off Steve was wondering if all that had happened was just a dream. (Who could this guy be? He seemed to know me and now he challenged me to a pokémon battle in the mountains. This all seems like a… a…) As he walked down the road he realized who that man was. (He's the one from my dream. He wants to kill us all but if anyone can beat him we will be spared. He thinks I'm his greatest competition. That's why he talked to me in my dreams. He needs to beat me to feel like his greatest enemy is out of the way. I must beat him, now.)

After he arrived home, his mom looked at him as he gathered his stuff. Wondering what the hurry was she decided to at least wait until he finished packing.

"Where are you going, Steve?" she asked quietly.

"To the mountains mom. I have to go to save the world. An odd man appeared at the tournament today and called out the strongest pokémon trainers to fight him. He called me out separately, so I have to go mom. The lives of this village are on the line. Please don't try and stop me this time."

He slowly walked to the door and left. His mom was overwhelmed with grief and was incredibly scared for her son's life.

(If there's a god in heaven, please watch my son for me. I don't know what would happen to me if he died out there.)