Chapter 1: The Flashback of a champion

He passed the glass double doors and headed for the reception's desk, behind it he saw someone familiar, "Hey, Sarah." He smiled.

"Hey." She smiled back. He and Sarah became friends shortly after her family moved to their town, four years ago; it seems ages away now. She was about Ryan's age. Her rich golden hair was tied behind her in a ponytail, and she was wearing red shirt with a black inscription 'If u don't like me, STFU'. Ryan laughed "a really bold statement there, Sarah!"

"Really?" she looked at her shirt, "should I make the text lighter?"

"Huh?" realization hit him, as he did a pun accidentally, he chuckled for some moments; "Hey did you see Junior's sprint?"

"Yeah, he's awfully excited."

"He kind of reminded me of myself six years ago."

"I didn't know you were a Pokemon trainer, Ryan." He sighed.

"I never thought I'd have to tell you."

"Why?"

"Well, do you want to hear it?"

"Sure, spill the beans."

"Well..." he sighed, "seven years ago, I opened the TV, to see region officials discussing plans for a new Pokemon League at the capital, Metropolis, the discussion, properly held at the Pokemon Forum, was a room with blue walls and a glass dome, the seating plans were circular, and comprised of four ascending rows, the chairs were from wood, at the top row, government officials and the Official Pokemon Association (OPA) members sat, for the descending row, Pokemon Gym leaders and masters sat, for the descending row, high ranking Pokemon trainers and coordinators sat, and for the final row, guest visitors and some onlookers sat; and in the middle of the room sat the Chancellor Paul Denning. The talks went to and fro, I don't remember what happened exactly, I slept at some point, then after a few hours I heard footsteps, my mom woke me up.

A regional official I didn't recognize said "the verdict is final, train transportation will be used to move trainers and citizens to the different cities in Lidow, due to the majority of the votes by 51 percent" an uproar occurred at the Forum, but as the official said, the verdict was final, nevertheless, the champion of the Pokemon League for a second time in a row said something in the line of 'it sucks' and left...I closed the TV hoping the OPA would disagree but, the shell shocker was that the OPA completely agreed with the verdict! It was a 90 percent agreement with the vote, not even the Pokedex got that much of a majority even though it's that helpful! People started questioning, and they said even lady luck doesn't have that much luck! The OPA disagrees always, and unless the regional votes got 100 percent and didn't affect the overall rules of the Pokemon League, they were bound to pass the OPA, if it did, it would be a fifty-fifty chance, it wasn't uncommon to have decimals to pronounce the winner, and yet the complete opposite happened to the votes, they say it only took fifty minutes for the votes to pass, I thought it was long until I realized the OPA members need a 30-35 minutes to meet!

Well, they did start the building of the region wide, mass train transportation. They ended the work next year, by the start of the new Pokemon League; I revolted against the trains, and decided to walk my way to Metropolis's Arena. I remember I had a Pikachu, Alakazam, Squirtle, Meganium, Pidgeot, and Blaziken. Most of the Gym leaders were on strike, so I found no hard competition, as I walked miles and miles in Lidow, I found little to no competition, the small amount of experienced Gym Leaders were the only challenge, When I got to Metropolis's Arena, it was too much sparkles, so little show, both in audience and Pokemon battles, I won 6-0." He sighed.

"That's supposed to be a bad thing?" she asked puzzled.

"I was expecting a showdown, it turned out to be a letdown!" he exclaimed.

"Well," he continued "the year after, they added a trailer on the trains, comprising of an arena and a small Pokemon Center; it didn't help things much, I had an incredible feel of déjà vu, but this time, no challenging gym leaders...I still retained my title 6-0; no one over eleven participated, and Pokemon magazines started noticing, they said 'Lidow Pokemon League...did it turn to a kiddy league?', 'Did the OPA screw over the Lidow Pokemon League?', and my favorite 'Former champ speaks out: The current League can be described in two words 'it sucks'.' In the Lidow Chronicles, which is a magazine owned by the government, I did say what I was told: 'it's not my fault no one over eleven joined.' But I did feel it's a kiddy's league, and I had no intention of being a champion to a kiddy's League. When I got home I spoke to professor John, I didn't want to leave Pokemon, but I didn't want to be a Pokemon trainer, either. Professor John recommended me to join his Young Pokemon Scientists class; I agreed. The following year, the new Pokemon champ said that he wants a match with me, I said okay, he then came to Psy Ville and I beat him 6-0, exactly as I expected.

My pictures were published at the chronicles but that didn't satisfy me, as I just beat the champion of the kiddy's league." He breathed deeply, "Later that week my family hosted a getaway party for my Pokemon, I let my friends go, because I was their trainer no more." He breathed deeply.

"It really bothered you when you had to leave them didn't it?" she asked.

"Yes, but it was the best for all of us; to separate."

"Not all trainers from Lidow did as you did, right?"

"No, some of them joined the league at the region of Aathar, some went to Orre, or Hoenn, while some went as far as the Johto and Kanto leagues; but, not me, I decided to stay here."

"But, wouldn't you die of boredom and regret?"

"I thought I'd die of those...but then I met you" she smiled, her features lightened, if he's okay, then no need to worry she thought, but his head was tilted downwards, eyes were hollow, as if sucked in some other dimension, and his hands were in his pockets, she knew him for four years, his body language is telling he doesn't want to be disturbed; so she kept her mouth shut...a weird silence ensued, this silence pervaded going through the town outside, to the Black Capers, changing trains ready to march to the unsuspecting town with no good intentions.