Jason Creight awoke in room 512 of the Indigo Plateau Hotel.
And the first thing he did was check the bedside clock.
It read 7:36 in the morning.
"Good, we're not late," he muttered.
Round 4 for the Indigo League Championship was scheduled to begin that day, and he certainly didn't want to miss his battle. Actually, the battles had already started; 7:30 was the first scheduled battle between trainers who had made it to the top eight. The Eevee 8, they called it. Jason felt rather proud of himself for having made it into the Eevee 8. The fact that he'd made it past the Snorlax 16 was cause for joy all in itself.
And the media watched it all.
Jason thought back to the night they'd arrived at the complex. It wasn't a city or town, as such; more like a stopping point, a place to rest, while heading to the stadium. Kelly was still asleep at that time, but fortunately, they allowed smaller Pokemon inside the hotel. So Jason had had Gengar use its powers to help Kelly to the room they'd reserved for the week. Fortunately, the clerk didn't ask any questions about Kelly's unconscious state or Jason's disability; he had simply giventhe keys to Jason and informed him what room they had. Then Jason and Gengar had headed off with Kelly to the elevator, and from there, to their room. Jason had then spent another five minutes giving Gengar a stern lecture about why it shouldn't eat Kelly's dreams.
It was a luxurious room, that was for sure. And it wasn't cheap. Jason had been amused at the price upon hearing it; it was five figures.
"Robbers," he'd said the moment he'd hung up the phone.
Still, he could afford it. And it was one of the best hotel rooms he'd ever been to in his life. The bathroom was blissfully wheelchair- accessible, and the beds were high enough off the ground that Jason didn't need Gengar's help to get on or off his.
*Besides,* he thought, *it saves us from having to sleep on the cold, hard ground.* He didn't envy trainers who'd taken that option, but because the price was so steep, he understood it.
The next morning, he'd left Kelly sleeping in the room to go register. The Nurse Joy at the registration office/Pokemon center was rather curious about him, but she knew the rules as well as he did, and knew there was no rule against disabled competitors. So she'd signed him in after the authentication of his badges and his Pokemon license.
Apparently, there hadn't been a lot of trainers who were expecting one that was wheelchair-bound. Jason had noticed over the past few days that they were giving him strange stares.
Not everyone in the media was expecting a paralyzed trainer, either. Jason didn't particularly want media attention, but it was rather difficult to do since he was permanently in the chair. They ate it up immediately, asking him if he was doing it to establish the rights of disabled trainers and such.
His response?
"I came here because I'm a Pokemon trainer who's earned his place here. And I'm a Pokemon trainer who wants to win. Don't all Pokemon trainers?"
Of course, they took his response to mean "yes," and put it across the front of the local paper.
The day he'd gone out to face his first opponent, he'd gotten a lot of curious looks. He also noticed a larger population of disabled people than usual, a lot of them kids his age or younger. Kids who aspired to be just like him.
"Yetch," he muttered. He didn't want to be an icon. A role model, maybe, but not an icon. "I've gone from rich boy to criminal, to nobody, to Pokemon trainer, to visionary. What next?"
"Maybe saint?"
Jason looked over at the other bed. Kelly was watching him with a glint of amusement in her eyes. "I thought you knew you would get your face plastered on TV sets and newspapers."
"Yeah. My face, not my wheelchair."
Kelly chuckled. "You don't like the media? A lot of those trainers would kill for a chance to be in the kind of high regard you're in."
"I'm sure they would. But I wouldn't. I don't like the media because I'm always afraid they're going to search for my name in some previous archive and find out I was presumed dead. Then they'll get into the incident at the marina, and I really don't want them to go there."
Kelly didn't respond. Instead, she picked up the remote control for the big-screen TV in front of their beds. "Let's check out the current battle."
"--quick change in Pokemon, after deciding Weepinbell is not the best combatant. In its place is Horsea, a Pokemon not easy to find in most areas, but abundant near Cinnabar Island."
"Hmm. Maybe we should've thought to go fishing while we were there," said Kelly.
Jason shrugged. "Makes no difference to me. I've already got one. And a Seadra, too."
"Well, then, *I* should've thought of it."
Jason chuckled as the announcer continued. "A fierce battle, ladies and gentlemen, as Horsea blasts Arcanine with ita water gun attack! And Arcanine returns in full force with a blistering flamethrower attack! Horsea looks ready to go down... no! It's still going! And what's this? A drowning surf attack! Arcanine is down!"
"Good move," Jason muttered. "Weepinbell would've gone down without time to whimper."
"And the final Pokemon for trainer Everson is... Electrode! This is now a battle between two totally different types! Everson now has the advantage! Wait, trainer Davids is changing Pokemon again... Weepinbell returns to the battleground! Now Davids has the advantage, with Weepinbell's immunity to electric attacks! Weepinbell is charging up for its next attack! Electrode tries to take it down before Weepinbell can fire... no! No effect! And Weepinbell uses Solarbeam! Electrode is taken down with one hit! And that's the battle, ladies and gentlemen! Eric Davids will be elevated to the Fearow 4!"
Then the announcer changed to someone with a much deeper, theatrical voice. "Later this morning, we will have our second Eevee 8 battle between trainers Jennifer Carlson and Francis James. Also later this morning, the third Eevee 8 battle, pitting trainers Travis Johnson and Jason Creight. Don't miss the royal rumble of the Indigo League; catch some of the fiercest Pokemon battles you've ever seen live, this morning at 9:30 and 11:30!"
Kelly hit the "mute" button, turned to Jason, and grinned. "Ever thought you'd have your name appear in a voice-over for a movie trailer?"
"Ha ha ha. Let's see another channel."
"Kay." Kelly hit the mute again, then switched to a local news channel. She became amused, and Jason became annoyed, when they saw the video clip that was rolling on the channel she'd chosen.
The clip showed Jason's battle from yesterday; specifically, it was showing Jason, sitting atop the high battlefield platform in his wheelchair.
"Many people who attend the Indigo League championship were surprised to see a trainer in a wheelchair. There were many who were spurred on by the sight of Jason Creight, a native of the Orange Islands, who decided to come to Kanto to see what the world has to offer. Three months ago, he was paralyzed in a freak accident involving a misguided electric attack by one of his Pokemon, confused by a hostile Tentacruel. Jason has been seen as a savior to disabled children who dream of becoming trainers themselves."
The video changed to a young boy who was missing his left leg and was getting around on crutches. "I think if he can be a trainer, so can I."
It changed again to an even younger girl, restricted to a wheelchair, as Jason was, but by deformities rather than paralysis. "I want to be a Pokemon trainer. Watching him helps me think I can be one if I try hard, like he does."
Kelly turned to Jason to see his reaction. To her surprise, he wasn't even watching the newscast anymore. He'd turned away from both the TV and her. He'd buried his face in his pillow, and she could see the minuscule shuddering in his shoulders.
Jason was crying.
She turned back to the TV. Another girl, about Kelly's age, was being interviewed; she was missing both feet and part of her right arm, getting around by artificial, spring-loaded "shoes." When the microphone flipped in her direction, she said, "I never thought I'd see the day when I'd see a disabled Pokemon trainer, much less one who competes. I hope he wins. He's already helped so many people begin to hope that they can take that same dream and turn it into a reality, as he has."
The view switched back to the reporter. "According to these people, Jason is being modest when he says, 'I just came to compete.' But many people, like Jason's next opponent, Travis Johnson, are outraged at his very presence."
The face of Travis Johnson appeared on the TV next; he was being interviewed. "It shouldn't be for people in wheelchairs. It's that simple. Just because he can find loopholes in the rules doesn't mean he deserves to be here. He and his kind should stay away from any and all Pokemon leagues, and I'll show him that when we battle."
Kelly gaped at the newscast. "That lying sack of--"
"Kelly!" Jason barked. He'd turned back to the newscast, and there was no emotion on his face now. "Don't dis him just because he's got an opinion. If he doesn't like people in wheelchairs, that's his opinion and I'll leave it at that. But he's only got two options. The first one is to not show up. That would give the impression that he's all talk. He'll never be able to show his face to that crowd again without shaming himself in their eyes if he takes that path. Also, if he doesn't show, it's an automatic forfeit, and so not only will he lose his crowd, he'll lose any chance he's got of winning the championship."
"And the other one is to fight."
"Right. If he wants to win, that's his only real option. And if he fights, I'll be there to send him packing and show him what a very sorry statement that was."
***
"Welcome, ladies and gentlemen! This is a crucial battle! It will decide who will be the third competitor of the Fearow 4!"
The crowd gave a raucous cheer. Jason and Travis Johnson were on either side of the referee, on one of the huge, arcing turns of the track around the battlefield.
The referee between Travis and Jason turned to both of them and said, "Gentlemen, shake hands."
Jason offered his hand immediately, but Travis refused to offer his.
"Mr. Johnson, if you don't shake his hand as a sign of sportsmanship, you will be automatically expelled from the round," said the referee.
Travis shook Jason's hand reluctantly. When the ref was satisfied, Travis pulled away as if he were about to contract malaria.
"I don't shake hands with losers," he growled.
Jason refused to let the comment faze him. He grinned. "But I do."
Travis glared maliciously.
"Gentlemen, to your platforms," said the ref.
As Jason and Travis turned and went to their respective platforms, the announcer's voice boomed over the loudspeakers once more. "Yes, this promises to be an exciting and intense battle, not only of Pokemon, but of ideals! While Jason Creight is attempting to bring hope to the disabled, Travis Johnson is just as quickly attempting to snuff it out! Which one will win? Only time will tell! Referee, are you ready?"
The referee tossed off a salute.
"Then let the battle begin!"
Jason and Travis chose their leader Pokemon and brought them into the open.
"Trainer Johnson has chosen a Jolteon, while trainer Creight has chosen a Golem! It appears that Creight has the advantage right off the bat!"
Jason could see Travis grimacing in the distance, but he allowed himself no outward reaction. Inwardly, though, he was sensing victory already. *He doesn't have any Pokemon to combat ground types,* he thought. *He was counting on my Gyarados to be my first choice. If he only knew that I don't even have Gyarados in my team! Heh.*
"Golem, earthquake attack!" Jason shouted.
"Jolteon, quick attack!" Travis added.
Jolteon got the first move in with the faster attack, but it didn't budge Golem.
Golem, on the other hand, budged Jolteon massively with an earthquake that rattled the entire stadium.
"Amazing! The type difference has allowed Golem to cause massive damage to Jolteon which it's not even scratched!"
Jason tuned the announcer out and watched Jolteon get back to its feet.
"Jolteon, agility!" Travis shouted.
"Golem, seismic toss!"
Jolteon ran around in circles around Golem, and at first it was confused. Jolteon was moving so quickly that it had turned into a yellow blur.
"Golem, just reach out and grab it!"
It smirked, understanding, and its hand caught Jolteon in the face full force. Jolteon was dazed by the hit long enough for Golem to gather its power for a brutal seismic toss.
Jolteon stayed down.
"Jolteon is unable to battle!" yelled the referee, raising Jason's flag.
Jason looked up at the scoreboard, and saw one of the lights under his picture activate.
Jason Creight 1, Travis Johnson 0.
A deafening roar went up throughout the stands; it was the usual mixed response of cheering and booing.
Jason tuned them out as well, but both the cheering and booing were taking their toll on Travis, it seemed. Perhaps he thought the booing was directed at him, rather than at both of them. Yet he seemed to know that there was plenty of cheering for him.
Travis shook his head, as if to clear the noise out as well as everything else, and chose his next Pokemon.
An Ivysaur.
Jason had been expecting a grass type somewhere in Travis' lineup. He'd had a reliable grass type in his other three battles; why should he give up now?
Jason had been playing smart the entire time; he'd been analyzing his opponents' previous battles, techniques, and attitudes. Travis had not had a single Pokemon faint in his other three battles here. He was so supremely confident in his abilities as a trainer, he'd never thought he'd meet a worthy opponent. He had become way too overconfident after his last battle.
Jason snorted. *Of course, that's what a lot of trainers thought when they came here. Now they're all gone, and I'm stuck with a snob who thought I'd be a pushover!*
"Ivysaur, Solarbeam!"
Golem's new opponent began to gather energy from the blazing sunlight shining down on the stadium.
"Golem, return!" Jason pulled out a Great ball and threw it. "Go, Rapidash!"
His next Pokemon whinnied as Ivysaur continued to gather sunlight. It wasn't quite ready yet, and that gave Jason some time. "Quick, Rapidash, fire blast!"
Rapidash conjured a figure of fire and sent it on its way.
It caught Ivysaur directly on its flower, which promptly caught fire. Ivysaur cried out in pain and tried to beat the flames out with its vine whips as it began to glow; a sign that its light-gathering was complete.
"Rapidash, reflect!"
Rapidash used its limited psychic potential to its extent and brought into existence a mirror-like barrier just as the focused energy blasted out of Ivysaur's back.
The energy bounced straight back and caught Ivysaur in the face.
It didn't get back up.
"Ivysaur is unable to battle!" yelled the ref, and he raised Jason's flag again.
Another light activated on the scoreboard.
Jason Creight 2, Travis Johnson 0.
Travis was looking frantic now, and his fingers fumbled Ivysaur's capture ball for a second. "Ivysaur, return!"
The cheering and booing was really pouring on now, it seemed to Jason. He didn't care. It no longer mattered to him what they thought. It didn't even matter to him what Travis thought anymore.
All that mattered was this battle.
But Travis wasn't throwing his final ball.
"Johnson still hasn't issued his last Pokemon," said the announcer. "Meanwhile, Creight is continuing to dazzle the crowd with his incredible Pokemon! It's been a bit of a one-sided battle, folks; maybe this isn't the fiercest battle of the century, but it's still momentous!"
Travis finally threw his last ball.
It was a Ditto.
Jason grinned. *Now,* that *was a mistake.*
"Rapidash, return! Go, Gengar!"
Gengar floated out to the center of the battlefield where Travis' Ditto was situated.
"Quickly, Ditto, transform!" Travis called.
Gengar turned to Jason, waiting for its first order.
"Let it complete its move, then use psybeam!" Jason ordered.
Gengar smirked and nodded. "Gengar."
In seconds, Ditto had metamorphosed from its putty-like form to a near- exact replica of Gengar.
And Gengar struck.
A multicolored blast of psychic energy put Ditto on the far side of the battlefield, writhing in pain from the attack.
"Ditto, get up!" Travis yelled.
"Gengar, use hypnosis!"
Gengar's eyes glowed red, and Ditto's gaze was captured in Gengar's.
It fell asleep.
"Dream eater!"
Gengar passed its semi-solid body right through Ditto's, and it closed its considerable mouth over Ditto's replicant head.
It chewed.
Then it got off Ditto, grinning.
Jason and Travis held their breaths.
The entire stadium was silent.
Ditto transformed back to its original form.
It was down.
"Ditto is unable to battle! The match goes to Jason Creight!" yelled the ref, raising Jason's flag for the third and final time.
As a deafening blast of noise came from the stands, Jason blew his breath out and grinned a nervous grin. "Gengar, return!"
"This is incredible, ladies and gentlemen! Jason Creight has managed to shut Travis Johnson out without losing a single Pokemon! He will go on to become one of the Fearow 4 for this championship!" the announcer shouted.
The platforms lowered, and Jason and Travis came down to meet the referee.
"Shake hands, gentlemen," said the ref, looking more sternly at Travis this time.
Travis was still hesitant, but offered his hand without a reminder from the ref.
Jason allowed a small smile. "I still shake with losers."
He gripped Travis' hand and shook firmly.
"Look," said Jason, "I hope this taught you something about me, and disabled people. It doesn't matter how I get around. The only thing that matters is whether I do well at what I do. You're a little misguided, but I forgive you for that."
"*I'm* misguided? What about you? What makes you think you have the right to be here?"
"Take a good look around you. Sure, there are people out there who believe in me. And there are people who believe in you. But my supporters are not just disabled children, they include full-fledged, fully mobile adults. Don't you dare stand there and prattle on about 'my kind'; it's not just 'my kind' backing me, but yours as well."
Travis scoffed. "They're weak. So are you."
"Maybe. But I don't have to walk to train my Pokemon. You've lost the match, and you'll lose most of your supporters, too. I'm still in the game, and even if I don't win the championship, I'll be remembered for the hope I brought. You'll be remembered as the one who tried to tear that hope apart. In that case, I'll take being a cripple over being a fascist any day."
With that, Jason wheeled away.
***
Three hours after the match, after Jason finally hacked his way through the media, he headed back to the hotel room.
He found Kelly lying on her bed, watching TV.
He scoffed as he wheeled himself over to his bed. "Let me guess: you watched it all from here."
"No, I was at the stadium. I just happened to get out of it faster than you. Not hard, between mobile legs and no media."
He pushed himself out of his chair and onto the bed. "Whatcha watching?"
"Travis Johnson being interviewed. It's amazing how much he can say, since his vocabulary seems to be so limited."
"I'll bet," Jason muttered.
She turned to him. "You were right about one thing."
"What's that?"
"You sent him packing."
He scoffed. "Too bad he can't see the error of his ways."
"Yeah. But he's got a lot more people against him, now that his views have been made public. Take a look."
They both listened to the newscast.
"--both handicapped and mobile, were outraged upon hearing of Johnson's opinions toward Jason Creight and the concept of physically disabled trainers."
The screen changed from the reporter to various video clips of people, young and old, none of them handicapped, expressing their anger.
A businessman. "By trying to dispel the idea of disabled trainers, Johnson is humiliating himself in the eyes of the public."
A housewife. "I don't think he should be training. What if he were to spread his sick views to other children?"
An elderly woman. "I hope Creight beats the heck out of that troubled boy. You don't have to walk to be good at something."
A lawyer. "The question isn't what's wrong with Travis Johnson. It's what *isn't* wrong with Travis Johnson."
A teenage boy. "I don't know why Johnson hates handicapped people so much, but I hope Creight teaches him a lesson."
The screen switched back to the reporter. "While more and more people are speaking against Johnson's views, more and more people are beginning to rally behind Creight, who defeated Johnson late this morning in the latest round for the Indigo League championship. Creight not only won the match, but turned it into a shutout. Creight had this to say at a press conference after the match."
The screen switched to a video clip of Jason's press conference. "I don't like Johnson's views, and I sure as heck won't ever accept them. But contrary to what he and his dwindling supporters think, I didn't come to Indigo Plateau to make a political statement. I came to battle other trainers. I came to improve my skills. I came to do what so many trainers want to do. Win. And if, while I'm here, I can help show someone what's possible when they believe in themselves, then so much the better."
Kelly hit the mute button, turned to Jason, and saw him grimacing. "What's wrong?"
Jason shook his head. "I think it's really weird to see yourself on TV, saying the words you just said an hour ago. Also sort of embarrassing."
She scoffed, then hit the mute button again.
"--match. Johnson declined our request for an interview. Creight is scheduled to battle Jennifer Carlson tomorrow evening at 7:30. In other news--"
Kelly turned the TV off. "That late, huh?"
"Yeah. I'll be a nervous wreck when I get up there."
She smiled. "You didn't look like a nervous wreck these last four rounds."
"That's because it wasn't this serious before. Everything's changed now. I'm in the Fearow 4, and tomorrow, the Tentacruel 2 will be decided. And the day after that... the champion. It's dawning on me now that I've got a serious chance of winning the championship." He turned to Kelly. "All those people are believing in me. I don't want to let them down by losing now. Suddenly, I'm not sure if I can handle the pressure."
"You seemed to be doing fine even through that cheering and booing."
"I was able to throw it off before by not caring."
"So do it again."
Jason snorted. "Easier said than done."
"Life always is."
Jason shook his head. "Have you eaten?"
"Not since breakfast."
"Well, then, let's go get something to eat."
***
The hotel's restaurant, they discovered, occupied the entirety of the second floor. They were given a table conveniently located close to the bathroom and a cashier.
"You're paying, right?" Kelly asked.
"When haven't I?" Jason responded.
Kelly ordered alfredo and some milk while Jason chose a small order of tortellini in meat sauce with a mug of root beer.
"What, not very hungry?" she asked.
"Truthfully, I'd love to pig out on a family size order of the stuff. But my stomach's not in the mood for a truckload of rich food," he answered, removing his bike gloves. "And I can't pig, either. I am, after all, a beacon for the physically handicapped."
Throughout their meal, which they both agreed was delicious, Kelly and Jason noticed the looks he seemed to be attracting from the other customers. Many of them were repeatedly glancing at him and muttering to their neighbors. The children were especially curious about him. At one point, they heard a little boy ask his father, "Daddy, how'd he get out of the TV?"
Kelly nearly choked on her alfredo giggling upon hearing this. Once she had the pasta down the appropriate tube, Jason said, "Thank God. I thought I was going to have to wheel myself back there and do the Heimlich maneuver."
"You were worried. I'm touched."
"Nah, I just didn't want you to land in some perfectly good alfredo."
She shook her head.
As they were about to leave, one gentleman approached Jason. "Excuse me."
"Can I help you?"
"My name is James Gardner, of Jameson and Associates. May I speak to you for a few moments, Mr. Creight?"
Jason picked up his bike gloves and put them on. "About what?"
"My company wishes to be a sponsor for you."
Jason didn't react outwardly, but inwardly he groaned. *Knew this was gonna happen sooner or later.* "My companion and I are finished here; the time for shady dinner discussions with shady businessmen ended five minutes ago."
Jason knew people were listening in when he heard a couple of them chuckle at this remark, but Gardner paid them no mind. "My company is anything but shady, Mr. Creight. We simply would like to propose a deal."
Jason sighed. "Okay, I'll bite."
Gardner sat down. "My employers have been watching your progress throughout the championship, Mr. Creight, and they are impressed with your shutout record. As I said, they are offering you a sponsorship."
"Why? What use is a sponsorship to me when registration and the competition are free?"
"We'd like you to help advertise our services when you're on the battlefield. In return, we'll pay you handsomely."
"Not interested. My wheelchair isn't for someone to slap a bumper sticker on. And in case you hadn't noticed," and here Jason indicated the restaurant, "I'm doing fine with the winnings I get from battling."
Gardner chuckled and leaned forward. "Mr. Creight--"
"No, Mr. Gardner. The answer is no. I'm not for sale. And I'm not as stupid as you might think. Jameson and Associates is a well-known company. Well-known for prosecution of the wrong party. You help criminals make money by taking it by the fistsful out of the pockets of their victims. You prosecute innocent people for doing nothing wrong, and then you sit back and do a lousy job of trying to put away someone that *should* be put away."
Gardner's smile was long gone. "Mr. Creight--"
"I'm not finished. When Giovanni was accused of being the criminal he is, you were the prosecutors those poor people were counting on. And you screwed up, oh, yeah, you screwed up *big* time. Giovanni won the case, then hired you to prosecute those plaintiffs for some moronic reason. And what happened? Suddenly, you were the best on the block. You won the case this time, and Giovanni yanked even more money out of their bank accounts. Why did you win? Giovanni provided your company with the funding you needed to get off the ground, and you bent over backwards to cater to him."
"Mr. Creight--"
"No, sir, I won't have anything to do with Giovanni or his lackeys. I have lived thus far without owing him any favors, and I will die without owing him any favors. All of you--*all* of you--should be in jail, just like your victims."
Silence reigned in the restaurant. Not even the chefs in the kitchen allowed their hearts to beat.
Gardner was stone-faced.
Kelly was gaping.
Jason paid no heed to any of this. "Now, if you'll excuse us, my friend and I were just leaving."
He pulled away and headed for the cashier, Kelly hot on his wheels.
The entire restaurant broke into raucous applause.
Gardner sat and wondered what he was going to tell Giovanni.
***
"That was harsh."
"Deal with it. I hate Giovanni's organizations just as much as I hate him."
Kelly and Jason entered their room once more. She flopped onto her bed, and he followed suit as best he could.
"I'm tired, Jason."
"You haven't been battling in the championship. Just imagine how I feel."
She snorted. "Yeah. Then you'd better get yourself some sleep. You'll need it."
He didn't respond.
She turned over. "Jason?"
He couldn't hear her.
Jason Creight slept on.
To Be Continued
And the first thing he did was check the bedside clock.
It read 7:36 in the morning.
"Good, we're not late," he muttered.
Round 4 for the Indigo League Championship was scheduled to begin that day, and he certainly didn't want to miss his battle. Actually, the battles had already started; 7:30 was the first scheduled battle between trainers who had made it to the top eight. The Eevee 8, they called it. Jason felt rather proud of himself for having made it into the Eevee 8. The fact that he'd made it past the Snorlax 16 was cause for joy all in itself.
And the media watched it all.
Jason thought back to the night they'd arrived at the complex. It wasn't a city or town, as such; more like a stopping point, a place to rest, while heading to the stadium. Kelly was still asleep at that time, but fortunately, they allowed smaller Pokemon inside the hotel. So Jason had had Gengar use its powers to help Kelly to the room they'd reserved for the week. Fortunately, the clerk didn't ask any questions about Kelly's unconscious state or Jason's disability; he had simply giventhe keys to Jason and informed him what room they had. Then Jason and Gengar had headed off with Kelly to the elevator, and from there, to their room. Jason had then spent another five minutes giving Gengar a stern lecture about why it shouldn't eat Kelly's dreams.
It was a luxurious room, that was for sure. And it wasn't cheap. Jason had been amused at the price upon hearing it; it was five figures.
"Robbers," he'd said the moment he'd hung up the phone.
Still, he could afford it. And it was one of the best hotel rooms he'd ever been to in his life. The bathroom was blissfully wheelchair- accessible, and the beds were high enough off the ground that Jason didn't need Gengar's help to get on or off his.
*Besides,* he thought, *it saves us from having to sleep on the cold, hard ground.* He didn't envy trainers who'd taken that option, but because the price was so steep, he understood it.
The next morning, he'd left Kelly sleeping in the room to go register. The Nurse Joy at the registration office/Pokemon center was rather curious about him, but she knew the rules as well as he did, and knew there was no rule against disabled competitors. So she'd signed him in after the authentication of his badges and his Pokemon license.
Apparently, there hadn't been a lot of trainers who were expecting one that was wheelchair-bound. Jason had noticed over the past few days that they were giving him strange stares.
Not everyone in the media was expecting a paralyzed trainer, either. Jason didn't particularly want media attention, but it was rather difficult to do since he was permanently in the chair. They ate it up immediately, asking him if he was doing it to establish the rights of disabled trainers and such.
His response?
"I came here because I'm a Pokemon trainer who's earned his place here. And I'm a Pokemon trainer who wants to win. Don't all Pokemon trainers?"
Of course, they took his response to mean "yes," and put it across the front of the local paper.
The day he'd gone out to face his first opponent, he'd gotten a lot of curious looks. He also noticed a larger population of disabled people than usual, a lot of them kids his age or younger. Kids who aspired to be just like him.
"Yetch," he muttered. He didn't want to be an icon. A role model, maybe, but not an icon. "I've gone from rich boy to criminal, to nobody, to Pokemon trainer, to visionary. What next?"
"Maybe saint?"
Jason looked over at the other bed. Kelly was watching him with a glint of amusement in her eyes. "I thought you knew you would get your face plastered on TV sets and newspapers."
"Yeah. My face, not my wheelchair."
Kelly chuckled. "You don't like the media? A lot of those trainers would kill for a chance to be in the kind of high regard you're in."
"I'm sure they would. But I wouldn't. I don't like the media because I'm always afraid they're going to search for my name in some previous archive and find out I was presumed dead. Then they'll get into the incident at the marina, and I really don't want them to go there."
Kelly didn't respond. Instead, she picked up the remote control for the big-screen TV in front of their beds. "Let's check out the current battle."
"--quick change in Pokemon, after deciding Weepinbell is not the best combatant. In its place is Horsea, a Pokemon not easy to find in most areas, but abundant near Cinnabar Island."
"Hmm. Maybe we should've thought to go fishing while we were there," said Kelly.
Jason shrugged. "Makes no difference to me. I've already got one. And a Seadra, too."
"Well, then, *I* should've thought of it."
Jason chuckled as the announcer continued. "A fierce battle, ladies and gentlemen, as Horsea blasts Arcanine with ita water gun attack! And Arcanine returns in full force with a blistering flamethrower attack! Horsea looks ready to go down... no! It's still going! And what's this? A drowning surf attack! Arcanine is down!"
"Good move," Jason muttered. "Weepinbell would've gone down without time to whimper."
"And the final Pokemon for trainer Everson is... Electrode! This is now a battle between two totally different types! Everson now has the advantage! Wait, trainer Davids is changing Pokemon again... Weepinbell returns to the battleground! Now Davids has the advantage, with Weepinbell's immunity to electric attacks! Weepinbell is charging up for its next attack! Electrode tries to take it down before Weepinbell can fire... no! No effect! And Weepinbell uses Solarbeam! Electrode is taken down with one hit! And that's the battle, ladies and gentlemen! Eric Davids will be elevated to the Fearow 4!"
Then the announcer changed to someone with a much deeper, theatrical voice. "Later this morning, we will have our second Eevee 8 battle between trainers Jennifer Carlson and Francis James. Also later this morning, the third Eevee 8 battle, pitting trainers Travis Johnson and Jason Creight. Don't miss the royal rumble of the Indigo League; catch some of the fiercest Pokemon battles you've ever seen live, this morning at 9:30 and 11:30!"
Kelly hit the "mute" button, turned to Jason, and grinned. "Ever thought you'd have your name appear in a voice-over for a movie trailer?"
"Ha ha ha. Let's see another channel."
"Kay." Kelly hit the mute again, then switched to a local news channel. She became amused, and Jason became annoyed, when they saw the video clip that was rolling on the channel she'd chosen.
The clip showed Jason's battle from yesterday; specifically, it was showing Jason, sitting atop the high battlefield platform in his wheelchair.
"Many people who attend the Indigo League championship were surprised to see a trainer in a wheelchair. There were many who were spurred on by the sight of Jason Creight, a native of the Orange Islands, who decided to come to Kanto to see what the world has to offer. Three months ago, he was paralyzed in a freak accident involving a misguided electric attack by one of his Pokemon, confused by a hostile Tentacruel. Jason has been seen as a savior to disabled children who dream of becoming trainers themselves."
The video changed to a young boy who was missing his left leg and was getting around on crutches. "I think if he can be a trainer, so can I."
It changed again to an even younger girl, restricted to a wheelchair, as Jason was, but by deformities rather than paralysis. "I want to be a Pokemon trainer. Watching him helps me think I can be one if I try hard, like he does."
Kelly turned to Jason to see his reaction. To her surprise, he wasn't even watching the newscast anymore. He'd turned away from both the TV and her. He'd buried his face in his pillow, and she could see the minuscule shuddering in his shoulders.
Jason was crying.
She turned back to the TV. Another girl, about Kelly's age, was being interviewed; she was missing both feet and part of her right arm, getting around by artificial, spring-loaded "shoes." When the microphone flipped in her direction, she said, "I never thought I'd see the day when I'd see a disabled Pokemon trainer, much less one who competes. I hope he wins. He's already helped so many people begin to hope that they can take that same dream and turn it into a reality, as he has."
The view switched back to the reporter. "According to these people, Jason is being modest when he says, 'I just came to compete.' But many people, like Jason's next opponent, Travis Johnson, are outraged at his very presence."
The face of Travis Johnson appeared on the TV next; he was being interviewed. "It shouldn't be for people in wheelchairs. It's that simple. Just because he can find loopholes in the rules doesn't mean he deserves to be here. He and his kind should stay away from any and all Pokemon leagues, and I'll show him that when we battle."
Kelly gaped at the newscast. "That lying sack of--"
"Kelly!" Jason barked. He'd turned back to the newscast, and there was no emotion on his face now. "Don't dis him just because he's got an opinion. If he doesn't like people in wheelchairs, that's his opinion and I'll leave it at that. But he's only got two options. The first one is to not show up. That would give the impression that he's all talk. He'll never be able to show his face to that crowd again without shaming himself in their eyes if he takes that path. Also, if he doesn't show, it's an automatic forfeit, and so not only will he lose his crowd, he'll lose any chance he's got of winning the championship."
"And the other one is to fight."
"Right. If he wants to win, that's his only real option. And if he fights, I'll be there to send him packing and show him what a very sorry statement that was."
***
"Welcome, ladies and gentlemen! This is a crucial battle! It will decide who will be the third competitor of the Fearow 4!"
The crowd gave a raucous cheer. Jason and Travis Johnson were on either side of the referee, on one of the huge, arcing turns of the track around the battlefield.
The referee between Travis and Jason turned to both of them and said, "Gentlemen, shake hands."
Jason offered his hand immediately, but Travis refused to offer his.
"Mr. Johnson, if you don't shake his hand as a sign of sportsmanship, you will be automatically expelled from the round," said the referee.
Travis shook Jason's hand reluctantly. When the ref was satisfied, Travis pulled away as if he were about to contract malaria.
"I don't shake hands with losers," he growled.
Jason refused to let the comment faze him. He grinned. "But I do."
Travis glared maliciously.
"Gentlemen, to your platforms," said the ref.
As Jason and Travis turned and went to their respective platforms, the announcer's voice boomed over the loudspeakers once more. "Yes, this promises to be an exciting and intense battle, not only of Pokemon, but of ideals! While Jason Creight is attempting to bring hope to the disabled, Travis Johnson is just as quickly attempting to snuff it out! Which one will win? Only time will tell! Referee, are you ready?"
The referee tossed off a salute.
"Then let the battle begin!"
Jason and Travis chose their leader Pokemon and brought them into the open.
"Trainer Johnson has chosen a Jolteon, while trainer Creight has chosen a Golem! It appears that Creight has the advantage right off the bat!"
Jason could see Travis grimacing in the distance, but he allowed himself no outward reaction. Inwardly, though, he was sensing victory already. *He doesn't have any Pokemon to combat ground types,* he thought. *He was counting on my Gyarados to be my first choice. If he only knew that I don't even have Gyarados in my team! Heh.*
"Golem, earthquake attack!" Jason shouted.
"Jolteon, quick attack!" Travis added.
Jolteon got the first move in with the faster attack, but it didn't budge Golem.
Golem, on the other hand, budged Jolteon massively with an earthquake that rattled the entire stadium.
"Amazing! The type difference has allowed Golem to cause massive damage to Jolteon which it's not even scratched!"
Jason tuned the announcer out and watched Jolteon get back to its feet.
"Jolteon, agility!" Travis shouted.
"Golem, seismic toss!"
Jolteon ran around in circles around Golem, and at first it was confused. Jolteon was moving so quickly that it had turned into a yellow blur.
"Golem, just reach out and grab it!"
It smirked, understanding, and its hand caught Jolteon in the face full force. Jolteon was dazed by the hit long enough for Golem to gather its power for a brutal seismic toss.
Jolteon stayed down.
"Jolteon is unable to battle!" yelled the referee, raising Jason's flag.
Jason looked up at the scoreboard, and saw one of the lights under his picture activate.
Jason Creight 1, Travis Johnson 0.
A deafening roar went up throughout the stands; it was the usual mixed response of cheering and booing.
Jason tuned them out as well, but both the cheering and booing were taking their toll on Travis, it seemed. Perhaps he thought the booing was directed at him, rather than at both of them. Yet he seemed to know that there was plenty of cheering for him.
Travis shook his head, as if to clear the noise out as well as everything else, and chose his next Pokemon.
An Ivysaur.
Jason had been expecting a grass type somewhere in Travis' lineup. He'd had a reliable grass type in his other three battles; why should he give up now?
Jason had been playing smart the entire time; he'd been analyzing his opponents' previous battles, techniques, and attitudes. Travis had not had a single Pokemon faint in his other three battles here. He was so supremely confident in his abilities as a trainer, he'd never thought he'd meet a worthy opponent. He had become way too overconfident after his last battle.
Jason snorted. *Of course, that's what a lot of trainers thought when they came here. Now they're all gone, and I'm stuck with a snob who thought I'd be a pushover!*
"Ivysaur, Solarbeam!"
Golem's new opponent began to gather energy from the blazing sunlight shining down on the stadium.
"Golem, return!" Jason pulled out a Great ball and threw it. "Go, Rapidash!"
His next Pokemon whinnied as Ivysaur continued to gather sunlight. It wasn't quite ready yet, and that gave Jason some time. "Quick, Rapidash, fire blast!"
Rapidash conjured a figure of fire and sent it on its way.
It caught Ivysaur directly on its flower, which promptly caught fire. Ivysaur cried out in pain and tried to beat the flames out with its vine whips as it began to glow; a sign that its light-gathering was complete.
"Rapidash, reflect!"
Rapidash used its limited psychic potential to its extent and brought into existence a mirror-like barrier just as the focused energy blasted out of Ivysaur's back.
The energy bounced straight back and caught Ivysaur in the face.
It didn't get back up.
"Ivysaur is unable to battle!" yelled the ref, and he raised Jason's flag again.
Another light activated on the scoreboard.
Jason Creight 2, Travis Johnson 0.
Travis was looking frantic now, and his fingers fumbled Ivysaur's capture ball for a second. "Ivysaur, return!"
The cheering and booing was really pouring on now, it seemed to Jason. He didn't care. It no longer mattered to him what they thought. It didn't even matter to him what Travis thought anymore.
All that mattered was this battle.
But Travis wasn't throwing his final ball.
"Johnson still hasn't issued his last Pokemon," said the announcer. "Meanwhile, Creight is continuing to dazzle the crowd with his incredible Pokemon! It's been a bit of a one-sided battle, folks; maybe this isn't the fiercest battle of the century, but it's still momentous!"
Travis finally threw his last ball.
It was a Ditto.
Jason grinned. *Now,* that *was a mistake.*
"Rapidash, return! Go, Gengar!"
Gengar floated out to the center of the battlefield where Travis' Ditto was situated.
"Quickly, Ditto, transform!" Travis called.
Gengar turned to Jason, waiting for its first order.
"Let it complete its move, then use psybeam!" Jason ordered.
Gengar smirked and nodded. "Gengar."
In seconds, Ditto had metamorphosed from its putty-like form to a near- exact replica of Gengar.
And Gengar struck.
A multicolored blast of psychic energy put Ditto on the far side of the battlefield, writhing in pain from the attack.
"Ditto, get up!" Travis yelled.
"Gengar, use hypnosis!"
Gengar's eyes glowed red, and Ditto's gaze was captured in Gengar's.
It fell asleep.
"Dream eater!"
Gengar passed its semi-solid body right through Ditto's, and it closed its considerable mouth over Ditto's replicant head.
It chewed.
Then it got off Ditto, grinning.
Jason and Travis held their breaths.
The entire stadium was silent.
Ditto transformed back to its original form.
It was down.
"Ditto is unable to battle! The match goes to Jason Creight!" yelled the ref, raising Jason's flag for the third and final time.
As a deafening blast of noise came from the stands, Jason blew his breath out and grinned a nervous grin. "Gengar, return!"
"This is incredible, ladies and gentlemen! Jason Creight has managed to shut Travis Johnson out without losing a single Pokemon! He will go on to become one of the Fearow 4 for this championship!" the announcer shouted.
The platforms lowered, and Jason and Travis came down to meet the referee.
"Shake hands, gentlemen," said the ref, looking more sternly at Travis this time.
Travis was still hesitant, but offered his hand without a reminder from the ref.
Jason allowed a small smile. "I still shake with losers."
He gripped Travis' hand and shook firmly.
"Look," said Jason, "I hope this taught you something about me, and disabled people. It doesn't matter how I get around. The only thing that matters is whether I do well at what I do. You're a little misguided, but I forgive you for that."
"*I'm* misguided? What about you? What makes you think you have the right to be here?"
"Take a good look around you. Sure, there are people out there who believe in me. And there are people who believe in you. But my supporters are not just disabled children, they include full-fledged, fully mobile adults. Don't you dare stand there and prattle on about 'my kind'; it's not just 'my kind' backing me, but yours as well."
Travis scoffed. "They're weak. So are you."
"Maybe. But I don't have to walk to train my Pokemon. You've lost the match, and you'll lose most of your supporters, too. I'm still in the game, and even if I don't win the championship, I'll be remembered for the hope I brought. You'll be remembered as the one who tried to tear that hope apart. In that case, I'll take being a cripple over being a fascist any day."
With that, Jason wheeled away.
***
Three hours after the match, after Jason finally hacked his way through the media, he headed back to the hotel room.
He found Kelly lying on her bed, watching TV.
He scoffed as he wheeled himself over to his bed. "Let me guess: you watched it all from here."
"No, I was at the stadium. I just happened to get out of it faster than you. Not hard, between mobile legs and no media."
He pushed himself out of his chair and onto the bed. "Whatcha watching?"
"Travis Johnson being interviewed. It's amazing how much he can say, since his vocabulary seems to be so limited."
"I'll bet," Jason muttered.
She turned to him. "You were right about one thing."
"What's that?"
"You sent him packing."
He scoffed. "Too bad he can't see the error of his ways."
"Yeah. But he's got a lot more people against him, now that his views have been made public. Take a look."
They both listened to the newscast.
"--both handicapped and mobile, were outraged upon hearing of Johnson's opinions toward Jason Creight and the concept of physically disabled trainers."
The screen changed from the reporter to various video clips of people, young and old, none of them handicapped, expressing their anger.
A businessman. "By trying to dispel the idea of disabled trainers, Johnson is humiliating himself in the eyes of the public."
A housewife. "I don't think he should be training. What if he were to spread his sick views to other children?"
An elderly woman. "I hope Creight beats the heck out of that troubled boy. You don't have to walk to be good at something."
A lawyer. "The question isn't what's wrong with Travis Johnson. It's what *isn't* wrong with Travis Johnson."
A teenage boy. "I don't know why Johnson hates handicapped people so much, but I hope Creight teaches him a lesson."
The screen switched back to the reporter. "While more and more people are speaking against Johnson's views, more and more people are beginning to rally behind Creight, who defeated Johnson late this morning in the latest round for the Indigo League championship. Creight not only won the match, but turned it into a shutout. Creight had this to say at a press conference after the match."
The screen switched to a video clip of Jason's press conference. "I don't like Johnson's views, and I sure as heck won't ever accept them. But contrary to what he and his dwindling supporters think, I didn't come to Indigo Plateau to make a political statement. I came to battle other trainers. I came to improve my skills. I came to do what so many trainers want to do. Win. And if, while I'm here, I can help show someone what's possible when they believe in themselves, then so much the better."
Kelly hit the mute button, turned to Jason, and saw him grimacing. "What's wrong?"
Jason shook his head. "I think it's really weird to see yourself on TV, saying the words you just said an hour ago. Also sort of embarrassing."
She scoffed, then hit the mute button again.
"--match. Johnson declined our request for an interview. Creight is scheduled to battle Jennifer Carlson tomorrow evening at 7:30. In other news--"
Kelly turned the TV off. "That late, huh?"
"Yeah. I'll be a nervous wreck when I get up there."
She smiled. "You didn't look like a nervous wreck these last four rounds."
"That's because it wasn't this serious before. Everything's changed now. I'm in the Fearow 4, and tomorrow, the Tentacruel 2 will be decided. And the day after that... the champion. It's dawning on me now that I've got a serious chance of winning the championship." He turned to Kelly. "All those people are believing in me. I don't want to let them down by losing now. Suddenly, I'm not sure if I can handle the pressure."
"You seemed to be doing fine even through that cheering and booing."
"I was able to throw it off before by not caring."
"So do it again."
Jason snorted. "Easier said than done."
"Life always is."
Jason shook his head. "Have you eaten?"
"Not since breakfast."
"Well, then, let's go get something to eat."
***
The hotel's restaurant, they discovered, occupied the entirety of the second floor. They were given a table conveniently located close to the bathroom and a cashier.
"You're paying, right?" Kelly asked.
"When haven't I?" Jason responded.
Kelly ordered alfredo and some milk while Jason chose a small order of tortellini in meat sauce with a mug of root beer.
"What, not very hungry?" she asked.
"Truthfully, I'd love to pig out on a family size order of the stuff. But my stomach's not in the mood for a truckload of rich food," he answered, removing his bike gloves. "And I can't pig, either. I am, after all, a beacon for the physically handicapped."
Throughout their meal, which they both agreed was delicious, Kelly and Jason noticed the looks he seemed to be attracting from the other customers. Many of them were repeatedly glancing at him and muttering to their neighbors. The children were especially curious about him. At one point, they heard a little boy ask his father, "Daddy, how'd he get out of the TV?"
Kelly nearly choked on her alfredo giggling upon hearing this. Once she had the pasta down the appropriate tube, Jason said, "Thank God. I thought I was going to have to wheel myself back there and do the Heimlich maneuver."
"You were worried. I'm touched."
"Nah, I just didn't want you to land in some perfectly good alfredo."
She shook her head.
As they were about to leave, one gentleman approached Jason. "Excuse me."
"Can I help you?"
"My name is James Gardner, of Jameson and Associates. May I speak to you for a few moments, Mr. Creight?"
Jason picked up his bike gloves and put them on. "About what?"
"My company wishes to be a sponsor for you."
Jason didn't react outwardly, but inwardly he groaned. *Knew this was gonna happen sooner or later.* "My companion and I are finished here; the time for shady dinner discussions with shady businessmen ended five minutes ago."
Jason knew people were listening in when he heard a couple of them chuckle at this remark, but Gardner paid them no mind. "My company is anything but shady, Mr. Creight. We simply would like to propose a deal."
Jason sighed. "Okay, I'll bite."
Gardner sat down. "My employers have been watching your progress throughout the championship, Mr. Creight, and they are impressed with your shutout record. As I said, they are offering you a sponsorship."
"Why? What use is a sponsorship to me when registration and the competition are free?"
"We'd like you to help advertise our services when you're on the battlefield. In return, we'll pay you handsomely."
"Not interested. My wheelchair isn't for someone to slap a bumper sticker on. And in case you hadn't noticed," and here Jason indicated the restaurant, "I'm doing fine with the winnings I get from battling."
Gardner chuckled and leaned forward. "Mr. Creight--"
"No, Mr. Gardner. The answer is no. I'm not for sale. And I'm not as stupid as you might think. Jameson and Associates is a well-known company. Well-known for prosecution of the wrong party. You help criminals make money by taking it by the fistsful out of the pockets of their victims. You prosecute innocent people for doing nothing wrong, and then you sit back and do a lousy job of trying to put away someone that *should* be put away."
Gardner's smile was long gone. "Mr. Creight--"
"I'm not finished. When Giovanni was accused of being the criminal he is, you were the prosecutors those poor people were counting on. And you screwed up, oh, yeah, you screwed up *big* time. Giovanni won the case, then hired you to prosecute those plaintiffs for some moronic reason. And what happened? Suddenly, you were the best on the block. You won the case this time, and Giovanni yanked even more money out of their bank accounts. Why did you win? Giovanni provided your company with the funding you needed to get off the ground, and you bent over backwards to cater to him."
"Mr. Creight--"
"No, sir, I won't have anything to do with Giovanni or his lackeys. I have lived thus far without owing him any favors, and I will die without owing him any favors. All of you--*all* of you--should be in jail, just like your victims."
Silence reigned in the restaurant. Not even the chefs in the kitchen allowed their hearts to beat.
Gardner was stone-faced.
Kelly was gaping.
Jason paid no heed to any of this. "Now, if you'll excuse us, my friend and I were just leaving."
He pulled away and headed for the cashier, Kelly hot on his wheels.
The entire restaurant broke into raucous applause.
Gardner sat and wondered what he was going to tell Giovanni.
***
"That was harsh."
"Deal with it. I hate Giovanni's organizations just as much as I hate him."
Kelly and Jason entered their room once more. She flopped onto her bed, and he followed suit as best he could.
"I'm tired, Jason."
"You haven't been battling in the championship. Just imagine how I feel."
She snorted. "Yeah. Then you'd better get yourself some sleep. You'll need it."
He didn't respond.
She turned over. "Jason?"
He couldn't hear her.
Jason Creight slept on.
To Be Continued
