Pokemon Journeys: Road to the Masters 8
Chapter 1: Rock Bottom
Location: Nimbasa City, Unova Region
Time: 9:04 PM
Nimbasa's amusement park never ceased to amaze him. It was one of the parts of the city that never slept. The carnival lights burned brightly, blinking in bright colors that would threaten to give most an epileptic seizure if they weren't ready. The Rollercoaster was packed, and the Rondez-View Ferris Wheel was loaded with youngsters wanting to see the sights from the highest point in the city. It was filled with couples as well, looking for a more romantic setting to their outing. There were carnival games all over, and prizes big and small could be seen hanging from hooks all around the park. It was one of the happiest places in the world. But to one young man, it was just another location for him to wallow at.
A young man sat near the other end of the park, at some benches that faced out over a large area of Nimbasa. Out ahead was a part of Route 16, which would lead to the Lostlorn Forest and eventually, the Marvelous Bridge. This had become one of his favorite places in Unova. He would just sit here and stare at the trees for hours. Often, he'd be staring at them until the sun had risen, or other times, he would leave before it got too cold. Tonight wasn't one of those nights.
The light breeze ruffled his clothing, his light jacket looked rather opaque in the otherwise bright lights of the park. He was wearing a regular shirt beneath it, along with a simple pair of black jeans and high top sneakers. His travel pack sat beside him, filled with all of the essentials, though he hardly did any traveling these days. He felt as if those days had passed by. His life had spiraled out of control a long time ago, something that he was reminded of often by his father.
Alas, young Oliver Quinn continued on, living day to day, always coming back here to reflect on things. The 20 year old man yearned for those days where he had traveled the world, catching Pokemon and training them to be the best. But after his failure at the Unova League, he decided to quit training all together, settling into a life of just traveling. That had led him to try again in Sinnoh and then in Kalos, before finally putting his hat up. He had once been one of the popular trainers talked about in Unova, a rising star that could hold his own even against former Champion Alder, but now, no one talked about him. He had fallen into obscurity.
That's honestly how Oliver preferred it. He'd rather no one talk about him instead of talking badly about him. After all, his mistake had been a rather rough one. One that had made him into a laughing stock and had practically taken him out of the competitive league altogether. You'd expect someone who had been in the finals in two leagues in a row and then won the tournament would be talked about greatly, but you'd be mistaken.
All Oliver was remembered for was for his blunder, the fact that he stepped into a match with Marshall of the Unova Elite Four, as an attempt to take Champion Iris's title, only for him to arrive with 6 empty Pokeballs. 6.
He had tried to justify it, he had gotten little sleep because of his nerves and had left home without his Team. He had asked Marshall for 5 minutes so he could go to the League Pokemon Center to call Professor Juniper, but if he left, he'd be disqualified and he would have to wait for 3 months before he could challenge them again. Sighing in defeat, he agreed to those terms, thinking nothing would happen, but the damage had been done. Everyone would remember him as the trainer who went to an Elite 4 match with 0 Pokemon. He tried to forget about it, and continued training on, but the utter humiliation he had felt had spread all over Unova. The Press wouldn't stop asking for interviews, paparazzi would follow him everywhere, and someone had tried sneaking into his house while he wasn't there.
All that ended with him exploding on live television, quite literally blowing his top and making an even bigger mess of things. He announced later on his social media accounts that he wouldn't be challenging the Unova Elite 4, or any Elite 4, ever again. He just wanted to forget everything. That ended with him leaving for Hoenn, but everyone recognized him. No matter what he did, everyone would forever remember him as "Blow Up, Ollie, the Trainer who brought 0 Pokemon to a League Match". It had taken years, but the world had finally seemed to forget about his blunder.
To Oliver, everything had ended. His professional trainer career was in shambles, people everywhere stopped taking him seriously, and other trainers hardly wanted to battle him. His old friends had moved on, and no one wanted to speak with him. He was utterly alone, alone with no one but his Pokemon. He felt bad for them most of all. They were hard workers, trained battlers, Champions even, and they had an idiot for their trainer. One mistake had ended their career, and now, he felt like they would never be able to do anything fun with their lives. They were glorified pets at this point. It was one of the many reasons he came to Nimbasa City, to forget. It seemed as if Nimbasa was the only safe haven he ever really had.
Oliver reached for his backpack, pulling out a can of Twisted Tea, cracking it open with his teeth. He took a long gulp from the Arceus-awful brew, downing it without a care in the world. Another reason he loved Nimbasa Amusement Park, there were no posted signs about drinking on the grounds. Adults were allowed to drink whatever they wanted, as long as they weren't completely inebriated. Being able to drink his sorrows while staring at nature helped ease his burdens, if only for a bit. It was something he did quite often.
Normally, he'd sit on this bench, drink his Twisted Tea, ruminate for a few extra minutes, and then he'd go home. But things were a little different today, mostly because someone had sat down beside him. He only noticed them out of the corner of his eye, his focus mostly on the forest ahead of him. He kept nursing the drink in his hand, his eyes locked on his Rotom Phone, sifting through PokeNet pages he hardly cared for. He took another long drink from his can, holding back the urge to sigh.
"You know, drinking that nasty stuff isn't healthy."
Oliver stiffened a bit, almost losing his grip on his phone. It was here that he finally turned to face the person who had sat beside him. The local gym leader, and one of the most famous supermodels in the pokemon world, Elesa.
She was just as gorgeous in person, soft ivory skin that glowed under the multicolored lights. Long raven black hair that cascaded down her back, with two long strands framing her face. Her fashion forward appearance, the blue and yellow tight fitting outfit that accented her curves. The ridiculously large headphones that somehow added their own charm to her look, and finally the oversized puffy yellow jacket that was lighter than it looked.
It had been years since he had actually met her, even spoken to her. Seeing her here next to him was honestly surprising. He glanced back at the can in his hand, feeling rather subconscious about it. He felt like throwing it, but there wasn't a trash receptacle anywhere near him, and he wasn't going to just chuck it into the woods. He merely frowned, glancing away from the model.
"It's been a long time, hasn't it, Oliver?"
"It has," he replied in a somber tone. His voice was slightly trained, almost emotionless as he spoke. "5 years, right?"
"Mhmm… back when you came to my Gym for your Bolt Badge. You were 15 then, and I had just turned 19. It's nice to see what a handsome young man you've grown into." she said with a small smile. He only sighed, taking another drink from his can.
"If you say so."
Elesa pursed her lips a bit, crossing her legs while looking at the young man. "I see you walking past my gym every day. I expected you to stop by and say hello but you never did."
"I didn't think we were that close or anything," he muttered dryly. "I was just a run of the mill trainer. I stayed in Nimbasa for a few days before heading to Driftveil."
"Yes, but you also live in Nimbasa. Did you forget we used to live in the same apartment building before I turned my Gym into a Fashion Studio?" the raven haired woman asked, causing him to frown.
"Oh yeah…"
"Sure, we used to talk all the time. We even hung out here a few times. It's why I like to consider you a friend. You were one of my more memorable challengers. Not a lot of people have what it takes to challenge me with an Eevee after all,"
Oliver briefly remembered that. It was back when he was still a trainer. Though he was from Unova, he had decided to take on a different league. Eevee weren't too common in the Unova Region, and ever since he was young, he wanted to train a team of Eeveelutions. So he had gone to Kanto in order to do that. When he had built his team, he returned to Unova to take the league challenge. It was here where he had battled Elesa.
He still remembered the look of utter confusion when he stepped into the Fashion Studio, a long, multicolored runway heading toward the main battlefield. He could almost imagine the smirk Elesa had on her face when he stepped onto the battlefield, rolling a Pokeball in her hand, ready for a memorable fight. If he cared to admit, his challenge against her was one of the more memorable ones. It was the one where his starter, Persephone, finally evolved into Sylveon.
"That was a fun battle," he said, a soft smile on his face.
"Yes, it was. I still remember it fondly. Though I must ask, why is it that you stopped battling?"
He quirked a brow, drinking a bit more of his tea. "Are you serious? You should know exactly why I stopped battling. I turned into a laughing stock after I challenged Marshall. No matter where I went, I was laughed at. I just wanted to hide under a Probopass for the rest of my life."
The young woman frowned, leaning forward a bit as she rested her face in her hand. "So you make a mistake, that isn't enough to quit."
"I got pissed off at those interviewers, I yelled and cursed them out. And when I spoke with Nancy in order to apologize, I was booed off stage. Not just that, but no matter where I went, I was laughed at. All people remember me as is that kid who went to an official league match without his Pokemon."
Elesa had to admit that blunder was hard to recover from, but it wasn't impossible. People would have laughed it off and forgiven him for it. But as he had described, the subsequent events only cemented him as public enemy number 1. However, time had passed, people had forgotten about it.
"It's been 5 years since that happened, Oliver. People hardly remember those events, and those that do likely moved on. No one makes fun of you when you walk through Nimbasa City anymore, do they?"
"I come to the park at night, Elesa. People hardly pay attention to passersby."
"Fair enough."
Oliver shook the can in his hand, by now he had mostly finished it. All that was left was the last sip, which he usually left because it was the most concentrated bit. It always made him shiver when he drank it. He was feeling slightly buzzed, but it was something he was very used to. His mind wasn't all too gone, he was still coherent enough to speak, which prompted him to face the Gym leader, a firm look on his face.
"Why are you here, Elesa? Did you want to catch up or do you feel sorry for what I've become?"
Her eyes widened at his words, it was almost as if she had been slapped. "Of course not! Like I said before, I consider you a friend."
"Because I was once your neighbor? I hardly consider that enough of a reason to be friends,"
She puffed her cheeks out, a look of annoyance on her face. "Listen here, Mister. I value my friends above anything else, even my own modeling career. I cannot, in good conscience, let you come here to get drunk day after day. You only drank one tonight because I was here. But a few of my apprentices saw you stumbling out of here a couple days ago."
Oliver shuddered a bit, the expression on the woman's face making him shy back. She reminded him of his mother in that instance, someone whom he didn't like pissing off. She poked his chest with her finger, digging her nail into his skin. "You, young man, are a Pokemon Trainer, and a fairly good one. Your Pokemon have likely been suffering, seeing their trainer and their best friend slowly falling into despair. And I can't let you keep doing this to yourself."
"My Pokemon are just fine!"
"Oh yeah? Then maybe I can ask Persephone a few questions?"
Oliver cleared his throat, looking away. "Uh… Persephone isn't with me."
"Then I'll ask Bolt."
"He isn't with me either."
"Luna? Snow White? Starfire? Aquamarine?" she said, listing off Oliver's Pokemon. She only got no's in return. She sighed audibly. "Where are they?"
"With my mom, in Accumula Town. She's visiting my grandmother and I didn't feel like letting her go alone. They listen to her just as if her orders were mine. Southern Unova has a lot of stronger Pokemon now, you know."
"Sounds to me like you pawned them off to your mother because you don't feel like you can take care of them anymore."
At this, Oliver got genuinely angry. It was completely untrue. He loved his team dearly, and there was no way he would ever, ever do that. "How dare you say that, Elesa? I love my Pokemon more than anything. I can take care of them just fine?"
"How do you expect me to believe you when you polished off a tall boy and have three more in your bag?" she questioned, brow quirked. Oliver opened and closed his mouth, in a vain attempt to reply, only for him to sigh. "I know it hurts to hear it, Oliver. But I'm serious. You can't keep doing this to yourself, especially because you don't do it just here. Burgh told me you have an unpaid tab in Castelia, and Roxie is concerned about your drinking habits too."
"Shit, I knew that bar tab would come to bite me. It's also hilarious that Roxie is concerned considering she and I drink together sometimes. Hell, Jo and I make it a contest to see how many Coors we can drink during a single night."
"And you are proud of that?"
"Not really, but there's no way I'm letting Billy Jo beat me in a drinking contest."
Elesa sighed, frowning. "Oh, Oliver… why did you let yourself fall this low?"
"It tends to happen when you turn into the butt of the joke. Everywhere I went, it was just that. You don't understand what that feels like, Elesa."
"You're right, I don't know what it feels like. But I know what failure feels like. I wasn't always this amazingly popular, you know. Back when I was starting out as a model, things were terrible. Dieting was hard, walking was hard, even sleeping right was hard. I had to make drastic changes to my daily life just to get by. It turned me into a cold and distant person. The only one who stuck by me was Skyla."
"The Mistralton Gym Leader?" he asked, earning a nod from the model.
"That's right. We went to trainer school together, so we're pretty much childhood friends. She was trained as both a pilot and a trainer by her grandfather. I didn't take up Pokemon Training until I found an injured Blitzle on my way to Striaton City. I started thinking more about Pokemon, and well… I took up training part time."
"Yeah… I remember reading about you in some old magazines. You fell in love with Electric Type pokemon and started incorporating some of their looks into your fashion designs. The more you trained, the more popular you became, until at the age of 15 you were inducted into the Unova League and given a Gym here in Nimbasa City."
"Right, you are well read."
"Well, It's embarrassing to admit, but you are one of my favorite Gym Leaders," he said with a flush, rubbing his neck. "I think you are one of the most passionate trainers out there, not just in your line of work but with your training. You inspire a lot of people to get up and get out there."
"Which is why I decided to approach you, Oliver. You have what it takes to become a very strong trainer. You have endless potential, but you have been engaging in self destructive behavior. Think about your Pokemon, what would they think if something happened to you during a bender? What about your mother? How does she feel about how you behave?"
Oliver frowned, glancing away from the woman. "We haven't spoken face to face in a while. I'm sure she'd be pissed as hell. I don't want to picture her stepping into my apartment."
The Gym Leader couldn't help but cringe inwardly. Just how far gone had he been these past few months? No… years?
"I don't know what to do anymore, Elesa. A part of me wants to just quit, move somewhere remote like the Sevii Islands and disappear. But another part of me remembers those glory days, when I was traveling around and having fun." The young man replied, a look of nostalgia washing onto his face. "I know my Pokemon need exercise, and they want to battle again. I would love to travel around again, but after what happened, I just don't want to make a fool of myself. It's just too fresh for me."
"Then why don't you do that? There are plenty of leagues out there you haven't challenged. It could prove fruitful. You could even come back to Unova and challenge the Unova League. You still have the right to face the Elite 4 you know."
The young man cringed, shaking his head. "I doubt it. After what happened last time, I doubt I'd walk through Victory Road again."
She had to admit, he brought up a good point. It had been about two years since Oliver had been an active trainer. He didn't battle and his name was rather low on the official league rankings. He'd had to start from the bottom, practically as a rookie. And that's when an all new idea flashed into her mind.
"Of course! Oliver, you want to train your Pokemon and travel around again, right?"
"I mean, I guess…After talking with you and reflecting I realize what an ass I've been to my Pokemon. I have to get back into the game. Not to mention I'll be out of money soon. Everything I earned during my original challenge went to paying for my apartment and my mother's house along with other things. The last thing I need is to sleep beneath Skyarrow Bridge."
"Excellent, then I have a proposition for you. Have you heard of the Pokemon World Coronation Series?"
Oliver tilted his head a bit. "Duh, there isn't a trainer on the planet who doesn't know what the PWCS is. What about it?"
"Well, the new season is beginning in a few days. In fact, Champion Lance from the joint Kanto/Johto League is hosting a title match with the reigning World Champion. Champion Leon from the Galar Region. Their match will be the official start to the next two year season. Pokemon Trainers from all over the world will be competing for a shot to make it to the Masters 8." she explained, reaching into her coat. She pulled out a Rotom Phone, which was bright blue in color, with crimson red outlines matching her style. She typed on her screen, holding it out to him. "See? These are the trainers currently in the Masters 8."
Oliver's eyes widened. Champion Leon and Champion Lance weren't the only ones in the Masters 8, Cynthia from Sinnoh, Steven Stone from Hoenn, Flint of the Sinnoh Elite Four, Marshall from the Unova Elite Four and even Pyramid King Brandon of the Kanto Battle Frontier were there. The more he looked at the list, the more familiar names he saw. Even Champion Iris was in the Series, though she was in the Ultra Class, still at a high number.
"Wow… such a collection of high level trainers, it would be an honor to battle with any one of them."
"It would. I myself am taking part in it, though my rankings are rather poor. I'm still in the Great Class, but with a few more battles I'll be making it into the Ultra Class. Oliver, you are a fantastic trainer, I have full confidence that if you enter the Coronation Series, not only will you be able to reclaim the fame you lost, but you'll also make it far. Who knows? Maybe you'll even make it to the top of the Masters 8."
The young man chuckled, shaking his head. "Me? In the Masters 8? Get real, Elesa, that isn't happening. The last official battle I had was in the Battle Subway, two and a half years ago, and it was a poor battle. I didn't even make it past the Single Battle Trains. You actually think I have what it takes to make it to the top?"
"You won't know until you try. The beauty about the PWCS is that you'll be taking challenges from all over the world. Not just Unova. You'll be able to travel around, while training and seeing the world. That would be really good for you. I think it's the perfect step for you to get back into training."
He took a deep breath, pondering his options. Elesa did bring up a good point, for a while, he had wanted to travel. Perhaps this was the wake up call he needed to realize he was throwing his life away. He hated himself for making his Pokemon just sit around and do nothing. They needed to train, they needed exercise and fresh air, not a messy flat in the middle of Nimbasa City and a Pokemon trainer who always reeked of alcohol.
But he had to wonder, why was Elesa doing this? What was her motive? Was she really worried about him and what he was doing, or was there something else? Sure, she mentioned a couple of Gym leaders who were worried, but was that it? There had to be a reason.
"Why are you doing this?"
"Hm?"
"This… Why are you here right now? Encouraging me to retake my Pokemon Training? It makes no sense. Especially for someone as famous as you." he said, a frown forming on his face. Elesa pursed her lips, looking rather hurt.
"I thought I told you why, Oliver. I consider you a friend, and I don't like seeing my friends drinking themselves to death. You are an adult, and a trainer with Pokemon. It isn't about just you, you know. You have to think about them. It's my duty as a Gym Leader to make sure all trainers are taking care of their Pokemon."
"I suppose that's true, I haven't been the best trainer lately." he admitted, glancing away from the woman. "Still, as fun as the World Coronation Series sounds, I don't have the money to cover travel expenses. I'd be traveling all over the world. I only have 100,000 Pokedollars left. That's hardly enough for supplies and whatever else I'll need."
"True, true. The world is vast and if you are going to be taking on challenges from lots of people, you'll need money to travel." she muttered, a pensive look on her face. She suddenly snapped her fingers, a small smirk on her face. "I got it, I'll just sponsor you."
"Eh?"
"Surprised? Gym Leaders can do that. That's how we get our apprentices after all. Eventually I'll have to retire from being a Gym Leader, so I need someone who will succeed me. I would preferably like them to be Electric type specialists but I'll make an exception for you." she said, rising to her feet, stretching her tired limbs. "Come by the Gym tomorrow morning, 9AM. Not a minute later, and you better bring your Pokemon with you, or I will be very cross with you."
"I… alright."
"Good, it was nice seeing you again, Oliver. But I have a lot of things to take care of now. Remember, 9AM tomorrow, no exceptions!" she cheerfully said. Just as fast as she had arrived, she had left, leaving the confused trainer behind. He raised his can to his lips, cringing a bit when he drank the warm tea.
"Ugh… this is awful." he said with a shudder. He looked at the can in his grasp, frowning. "How the hell did I fall this low? Elesa's right, I gotta quit drinking this shit."
The next few minutes would be spent pouring out its contents down a nearby drain. He would spend the following hours sobering up while cleaning his apartment.
Location: Lumiose City, Kalos Region
Time: 10:09 AM
"Um… Serena, are you going to drink that coffee or are you going to keep stirring it?"
The honey haired girl was pulled out of her musings, glancing across the table at her friend. A young blond haired girl, with a long ponytail falling down the side of her head. She was wearing a sleeveless white shirt with a bright yellow undershirt. She was wearing bright blue shorts and pink flats on her feet, atop her head was a white fedora, with a flower pin attached to the side. She had a look of concern on her face, making the older trainer pull the spoon from her lukewarm coffee.
"I'm sorry, Bonnie. I've had a lot on my mind recently," she said, taking a long drink from her cup. She cringed a bit. It was too sweet, and it didn't help that it was nearly cold. It was something that tended to happen in Lumiose City, especially close to the busy streets. Traffic was bad as always, leading to a lot of loud honks every few seconds.
"I can see that." the younger girl mused, holding back a giggle. She reached for the platter for a Poffin, which she gave to her partner, Dedenne. "Are you thinking about someone important?"
"Not really," she replied sadly. "He's dating someone else,"
Bonnie couldn't help but cringe. Dedenne's happy chirps came to a stop, her half eaten poffin almost falling from its paws. It didn't take a rocket scientist to figure out what she was referring too. "Oh?"
"Yep… a cute girl from Alola. Apparently they met while he was traveling there, started taking care of a Legendary pokemon together and they clicked. I feel like a dumbass for not heading to Alola when he did," Serena said, finishing her overly sweet, disgustingly cold coffee. "You know I would have thought he'd get a clue at the airport."
"Ash Ketchum, get a clue? He's got Pokemon training on his brain most of the time. He's denser than a Golem. Do you actually think he'd put two and two together? If he did, then my brother finding a girl who likes him and his science experiments would be a miracle." the blonde girl said, grabbing a scone from her plate. She slathered it with jam, shoving it in her mouth. "Come on, Serena. You had to be more vocal about it."
"Dammit, you're right. I was an idiot. I should have gone to Alola, but noo… I had to be in Johto when he won that damn vacation to Alola. And! And when I finally won the Johto Grand Festival, the Kalos Circuit had to begin!" she cried, shoving some scones into her mouth. "I mean come on! What kind of timing is that?"
"Crappy timing is what it is," the younger girl said, twirling a strand of hair around her finger. "Maybe this is the world telling you, it isn't gonna work. You were pretty obsessed with him when we traveled around, Serena. And yes, he's sweet, and he's a great trainer, but he clearly wasn't interested if he didn't pick up your advances."
"I suppose you're right. Valerie said the same thing to me when I asked her for advice… My mom said the same thing to me… Sweet Mew, even Aria said the same thing to me. Is it really that bad?"
"Yes."
Serena glared at her, making her giggle. "What? You asked."
The young performer only sighed, leaning back against her seat. It had been several years since she had seen the object of her affections, Ash Ketchum from Pallet Town. She had been in love with him since they had met at Professor Oak's Summer Camp. But try as she might, she never once got through to Ash. She spent an entire year and a half traveling with him, giving him clue after clue, to the point where she outright kissed him before she left. But he didn't say a thing. They talked a lot through video chat, and texted whenever she had a performance. But after a while she started seeing a recurring name come up.
Lillie.
Ash spoke a lot about her. How she reminded him a lot about Serena, how she was a sweetheart and had a fear of Pokemon. He spoke about how brave she was for wanting to face her fears. He talked about her brother Gladion and how cool he was. He mentioned several others, Mallow, Lana, Sophocles, Kiawe, but Lillie was someone that no matter what, he always brought up. So it wasn't a surprise to anyone when after winning the Alola League and becoming a Champion, he announced he was dating Lillie. Him! The densest boy she knew. It was at that moment when she realized she had waited too long.
The two had been dating for a solid year now, and they were only getting closer. Despite them only being 18, it was likely they wouldn't be breaking up any time soon. Serena cursed her luck, and even thought about wishing ill upon Lillie, but realized that this girl was completely innocent. It wasn't Lillie's fault that Ash had fallen for her. And it wasn't Ash's fault he had fallen for her. Serena had her chance, missed it and now she had to deal with the consequences.
And now, she had to move on, as much as it pained her. Her depressed demeanor had translated into her Pokemon Contest performances as well as the Kalos Performance Circuit. It was unbecoming of the Kalos Queen to be depressed all the time. The last photoshoot she had in Coumarine City had been the worst one. There she was, wearing some very cute swimsuits, on a beautiful sunny day, and she couldn't muster a smile for the life of her, not even a fake one. Even Aria had wondered what had hit her as of late.
She wasn't the only one. A lot of Trainer News sites were wondering the same thing. She had to deal with journalists, paparazzi and crazed fans who wanted for her to slip and say something incriminating. Thankfully, Aria had taught her the dos and don'ts of dealing with the press, so she had kept her mouth shut. Or at least she tried to. She had gotten annoyed by a single question and the HNN had run with it.
"Serena, your face is sour again… are you thinking about that HNN thing again?"
"How did you figure that out?"
"It was written on your face."
"Ugh… I hate myself for that interview. They kept twisting my words around, so of course I had a miniature meltdown. I wasn't expecting to trip over that camera cable. And I wasn't planning on my heel breaking, and I also wasn't expecting my top to rip the way it did. It was all just a culmination of everything, and I just exploded." she said, glancing at her empty coffee mug.
"Yeaup… and exploded you did. Put the fear of Arceus into those two hosts. Though did you really have to tell them they were bottom rung Slugma who only lived to profit off the misery of famous celebrities?"
"Of course I didn't, but come on. That's all those two ever did."
"Well true." Bonnie replied, placing her head in her hand. "Still, you lost a lot of popularity points for a few weeks, though that cult following was insane. Wasn't expecting you to get popular for shouting at people on live TV."
She was right. Serena could still remember the headlines. "Kalos Queen Screams at Hosts!" and of course, a classic. "The Kalos Queen's Historic Meltdown: Watch Serena Yvonne becoming unhinged". She didn't even want to recall the videos online, especially the compilations, the meme remixes and who could forget the Song they made from her insults. Her followers weren't even mad, they welcomed that part of the internet with open arms and thought it was endearing. Serena thought it was embarrassing.
"Oh my gosh! Serena Yvonne, is that you?"
Serena jumped a bit when she heard someone calling her name. She swiveled around, seeing a couple approaching her. It was clear the young woman had been the one who had called her. "It is you! This is so cool, I wasn't expecting to run into the Kalos Queen!"
"Um… hi." she said softly, trying to keep her cool. She didn't mind meeting fans but lately people were keen on reminding her of her past. "It's good to meet one of my fans."
"Would you mind signing something for me?" the young lady asked, reaching into her bag for a book. "I'm collecting signatures from famous trainers and getting yours and former Queen Aria has been a dream of mine."
"Oh, that's so sweet of you. I'm sure Serena here wouldn't mind signing something, not at all, right Serena?" Bonnie said, glaring at her friend. The tired trainer nodded, forcing a smile onto her face.
"I would love to. Who am I making this out for?"
"Her name is Hannah." the young man said, sweeping his hair back. Serena accepted the book and pen, seeing the pages which were divided, one for Aria and one for herself. "I have a question for you, Your Majesty."
Serena blanched a bit at the title. The only ones who called her that were tourists or people who spent far too much time on the internet. "Sure, ask away."
"If my gums were on fire, would you piss on them for me?"
Bonnie spat out her juice, startling her napping partner. The pen Serena was using dropped from her hand, clattering to the floor. The shocked look slowly disappeared, being replaced with a look of anger. She snapped Hannah's book closed, slowly climbing to her feet. "Excuse me, Hannah? Is this your boyfriend by any chance?"
"Yes."
"Then I apologize for this," she said, only for a resounding slap to shatter the silence. Serena shook her hand a bit from how much it stung, but she kept the bright smile on her face as she gave Hannah her autograph book back. "Here you go, I hope you enjoy your time here in Kalos."
"R-right." she said, glaring at her boyfriend. "Come on, asshat. You deserve that for being a dumbass,"
Serena watched them go for a few more moments before letting out a furious scream. She sat back down, practically slamming her face onto the table, rattling the dishes still on it. Bonnie sighed, finishing the last of her drink. "You know, if there is ever something that will live on forever, it is definitely that."
"I know, Bonnie. I know! I seriously wasn't expecting it to turn into a damn meme."
"Former Queen Aria wouldn't piss on your gums if your teeth were on fire." the blonde girl said, cringing a bit. "Something about that just doesn't seem right."
"I only said that because that host wouldn't shut his damn mouth up. You saw that interview, all he did was talk bad about Aria. He was extremely disgusting and clearly only admired her for her beauty and her body. It's exactly why I exploded in that manner. I will not have some pompous ass insult my idol and mentor like that."
"Yeah but… did you have to say it like that?"
"It was in the heat of the moment!" the honey haired teenager spat, sighing. She reached into her pastel bag, pulling out her wallet. She placed several PokeDollars on the table top, putting a plate over it. "I'm out of here, this outing has already been soured for me."
Bonnie hastily finished her scones, shoving her sleeping Dedenne into her bag, along with her uneaten poffins. She vaulted over the railing, catching up to Serena who was hastily walking down the road. "Serena stop, we still haven't finished talking!"
"Sorry, Bonnie but I'm not in the mood anymore. Tell your brother I said hi okay?"
"No. We need to talk about Ash, you have to move on. If you keep hanging onto the past you'll never grow. You know this stuff is hindering your career. You are a top coordinator and the Kalos Queen for Arceus-sakes!"
"Shouldn't you be getting ready for your battle against Valerie?" the older girl said, reminding the blonde about her Gym Challenge. "You won't make it to the Lumiose Conference if you don't get a move on."
"I was hoping you'd come to Laverre City with me. It's been such a long time since we've been able to just hang out. You're like my sister, Serena, and I'm worried about you." Bonnie said, taking a hold of her hand. "I'm serious about Ash. You can't keep thinking about him. He's with someone else, I think it's time you move on. I love him too, but he clearly doesn't see you as anything other than a friend,"
"I… I know… and it hurts. It hurts like hell knowing that he's with someone else. But I just can't, Bonnie. I need to at least tell him. But I'm scared of how he'll react, I'm scared he'll just think I'm trying to take him away from that Lillie girl."
"Well if that's what it takes to finally move on, then maybe heading to Kanto might do you good. Sadly I can't come with you, and my brother is far too busy to leave Prism Tower these days." she replied, glancing up at the sky. "That's why I was hoping you'd come with me to Lavarre. Traveling alone isn't fun."
Serena frowned. As much as she wanted to accompany her friend and surrogate sister on her journey, she had a lot of things on her mind. She needed far more time for her to get her thoughts in order. Not to mention there was a new Contest Circuit in Sinnoh that she had been thinking about entering.
"I'm sorry, Bonnie. I've been a pretty crummy friend haven't I? Ever since I got back from Johto, I've kept to myself. I hardly talk to you or Clemont, I'm strictly doing Exhibition Performances and filming small parts for commercials. I just haven't felt like traveling in a while."
"It's fine, I know you are dealing with a lot, so I'm not gonna hold it against you. The Kalos League isn't for another year and a half, and by the rate I'm going, I should have Snowbelle's Gym Badge in a few weeks. I remember all the shortcuts we took as well as all the Pokemon that were used, thanks to Ash's battles." she said, a grin on her face. "Though I've gotta say, the Gym Leaders got way stronger. Even my brother! He wasn't holding out at all."
"I wish I could have been there to see it. Luxray vs Flygon must have been legendary!"
"Oh it was, we trained super hard for it. I told him not to hold out his punches and he didn't. He's thinking about joining the Pokemon World Championships."
"Really?" Serena asked, earning a nod from the blonde girl. "Good for him, I think it would do him a lot of good. Lumiose Gym is well known for being a tough gym, but with him entering the Championships, it'll help put it back on the map. Especially after that fiasco a few years ago."
"That's exactly what he's thinking. He already registered but he hasn't taken it seriously. There's a pretty interesting clause that was implemented for Gym Leaders. All Gym leaders challenged by participants of the regional leagues can also earn their Gym badge. So not only would it be a Gym Battle, but it would also be a Battle for the Championships. It's a good motivator for some."
"I see, does that mean you are entering?" she said, only for Bonnie to grin. She reached behind her back, sliding her Rotom Phone from her pocket, tapping on the PWCS Application. She held her phone out to Serena who saw her current ranking. "What do you think? Not bad for a rookie, huh?"
"She's right, 6,705 is a pretty good spot for a ranking." the performer thought.
"I'm hoping to get into the Great Class soon. Valerie, Olympia and Wulfric are all in the Great Class, so I'm hoping to take on other challengers to bring my rank up before I make it to their Gyms. But since the season hasn't started fully yet, no official challenges can be held at the moment."
"Then why go to Laverre City? Shouldn't you be training for the PWCS?"
"Of course, but I'd rather be in Laverre when the season begins. That way I can challenge all of Lavarre's Gym Trainers and increase my rank. Believe me, Serena, there are lots and I mean lots of trainers competing for the title of World Champion. It's gonna be so much fun!"
"It sure sounds like it," the honey haired girl said, glancing away for a moment. She focused on the passing cars, trailing each one with her eyes. "I wonder… maybe Ash entered this thing too. That means he'd likely have to come to Kalos at some point to accept a challenge, or to issue one. Maybe I can talk to him then."
"Serena? You've been really quiet, is something the matter?"
"No… nothing really. I was just curious about who else had entered…" she said. Bonnie quirked a brow.
"You're thinking about Ash, aren't you? If you want to know, it's likely that he's going to enter. His name isn't in the official rankings yet but the moment he finds out about it, he's going to be all over it." the girl said, suddenly gasping. "You should totally enter!"
"Huh? But I'm not a trainer."
"So? That doesn't mean you can't get some experience. You'd get to travel around the world. Not only would you face other trainers, but you'd also fix your image as the Kalos Queen. And, and! You could enter contests around the world, hone your skills and mentor younger girls who want to be like you! It's perfect!"
What Bonnie was saying was an intriguing thought. If she entered the Pokemon World Championships, she'd be able to travel around and enter contests. She had already collected ribbons from Hoenn and won the Johto Grand Festival. She could easily enter the one in Sinnoh, Kanto, Unova and the newly opened one in the Orange Islands. The little girl who left Vaniville Town 5 years ago would have adored that idea.
"There's also the added chance of running into Ash. If he does enter, I can easily challenge him and force a meeting between us. Rather than going to Kanto and risk him not being at home. It works out for me. I can travel the world, hone my skills and speak with Ash. Alright, I'll do it!"
"Finished with your mental Gymnastics?"
"It's a good idea, Bonnie. I think I've been far too complacent with myself, I've been hanging around Lumiose City for too long. It's time to give it my all, stomp out my dumb mistakes and hone my skills. And if I can talk to Ash too, all the better!"
"Awesome! That also means we can travel together! I don't mind postponing my gym battles if it means hanging out with you again!" Bonnie cheerfully said, hugging Serena who couldn't help but smile. "It'll be so much fun!"
"You should prioritize your Gym battles though. I know the Kalos League is important too."
"Well yeah, but if I get into the Great Rank, I can battle the remaining Gym Leaders here not just for the badge but to raise my rank too. It'll be perfect training for the Lumiose City Conference!" she replied happily. "But you won't be able to do anything without Registering first. Give me your phone."
Serena reached inside her purse for her Rotom Phone. Much like many other trainers, she had been roped into getting one. It was far more convenient than most other devices. It held her Trainer ID, Performer Profile, Contest Pass, a full record of all her wins and losses as well as the Pokedex. Professor Sycamore had updated the Kalos Pokedex with all the newly discovered data, so it was the most complete version that existed. It made things much more convenient for everyone.
Bonnie took the bright orange Phone into her hand, entering the girl's very obvious password on the screen. She opened a tab for the Pokemon World Championship Series website, her smile growing as she did. "Here we go, all I have to do is click this link, download the app and we should be able to register you."
"I just realized something, Bonnie."
"What's that?"
"If we're both going to be a part of this, we'll be traveling around a lot."
"Right."
"Where would we get the money to do that? I haven't entered any performances in a long time, and all the money I earned from the Hoenn and Johto Circuits is practically gone." Serena said, causing Bonnie to look away from her phone. "We won't be able to travel around so easily if we can't afford the fares."
At the sudden realization, Bonnie said the only thing that came to mind in that very instance. "Shit."
Suddenly, Serena wasn't so confident in this whole thing, but there was no way she was going to back out now. Even if she had to hitchhike, she'd enter this thing.
Location: Nimbasa City Pokemon Gym, Nimbasa City, Unova Region
Time: 9:00 AM
Oliver yawned loudly as he made his way through Nimbasa Amusement Park. It had been a long, long time since he had been here during the day. It was almost a sin for him to be up this early. His day started at 1 in the afternoon, and consisted of him lazing about his apartment while watching old reruns of My Little Pony while eating Pizza bites. He'd be up earlier, but since his Pokemon were with his mother and well taken care of, he used it as an excuse to sleep in. But as of last night, he had called his mom and had gotten all of his Pokemon back. All 9 Pokeballs were in his pockets, though the youngest of his team was riding on his shoulder, a trait she had adopted from stories he had told her during their travels.
"What ungodly hour is this? I swear, if it wasn't because Elesa asked me, I wouldn't even bother. What the hell am I thinking? The Pokemon World Championships? There is no way a Schmuck like me would make it far in that thing. I'm just a washed out trainer." he thought to himself.
"Vee?"
He was jolted out of his thoughts for a moment, glancing to his right at his pokemon, a young Eevee he named Cinnamon. She had a concerned look on her face, clearly wondering what was wrong with her trainer. He only smiled, giving her a pat on the head.
"I'm fine, girl. Nothing you need to concern yourself over."
"Vee vee, eevee vee." she said, pointing ahead with her paw. He followed it, noticing he was standing in front of Elesa's Gym. His frown only grew.
"You want to know why we are here?"
"Vee." she said with a nod. He only sighed.
"Well… someone might have convinced me to start training again. You know all of you are getting a little flabby, and we can't have that happening."
"Vee," she growled, clearly annoyed at being called flabby. She poked his face with her paw, while tugging on his ear with her teeth.
"Alright, alright. I'm the one who's getting flabby, sheesh. Can't you take a joke, Cinnamon?" he snapped, only for her to look away from him. He rolled his eyes, walking toward the gym entrance. He pulled the door open, stepping into the building. He felt the rush of cold air almost instantly.
The gym hadn't changed at all since he had last stepped inside. The long cat walk that extended toward the battlefield was still in place. The large stage lights, which were normally multicolored and spinning Pokeball themed lights around, were off, though the solid white lights were on to illuminate the gym. The seats, which would normally be filled, were currently empty. Likely due to the fact that operation hours for the Gym started at 10 AM. Regardless, he walked, keeping his cool as he walked toward the field.
It was there that Elesa stood, talking to one of the Gym Trainers, one of the models in her entourage, and likely an apprentice to inherit the gym. The moment he stepped onto the field, the woman cut her conversation short, taking back the clipboard Elesa was holding and excusing herself. Elesa turned to face him, her smile grew when she saw he wasn't alone.
"Good morning, Oliver. I trust you slept well?"
"Not really," he admitted, rubbing his temple. "I got a killer hangover. I got to bed late because I was cleaning my apartment."
The smile on Elesa's face shifted, turning into a frown. "Just how far gone is he? Poor thing. That blunder really weighed on his conscience."
"So… the Pokemon World Championships?"
"Ah, right, right. That's what I called you here about. Follow me for a moment," she said, gesturing for the young man to follow along.
He stuffed his hands in his pockets, heading past the battlefield. It was a part of the gym where the models would wait, in order to present their latest fashion, a part of the gym that wasn't accessible to the public. He took notice of all the pictures that hung from the walls. Pictures of Elesa with several models and fashion designers, as well as important trainers, and even Former Champion Alder.
"So, I managed to pull a few strings with Champion Iris, and she's allowing me to take you on as an apprentice. That way, the Nimbasa City gym can sponsor your Championship Series run. Unlike the Gym Challenge, where trainers sustain themselves from challenging gym leaders and trainers on the road, this one is completely different."
"How so?"
"Well for one, you'll be representing Nimbasa Gym, as well as acting as one of my apprentices. I myself am participating as a Gym Leader, so I'm sure we'll end up battling at some point. Once you make it to the Great Class that is. Regardless, since my gym will be sponsoring you, you'll get everything you need. Including this."
She reached into her pocket for a plastic card, handing it to the young man. He looked it over, noticing it was a Travel ID. It had all of his trainer information written on it, and was emblazoned with the Bolt Badge. He looked back at her, a look of curiosity on his face.
"What's this for?"
"A Unova League sanctioned Travel ID. With this, you'll be able to travel for free, so you can use that money for your trainer needs and your Pokemon's well being." she replied, a grin on her face. "How do you think I can make it to fashion shows all around the world? I haven't paid for travel fares in years."
"Well if I knew being an apprentice would get me free travel fare, I would have joined a gym a long time ago."
"Yeah, that's not how it works. The only reason you get one is because I'm your sponsor and the league is taking care of it. However, you have to keep your end of the bargain, meaning you have to take challengers during the Championship Season. Even if you don't make it to the Masters 8, so long as you keep battling, this card will stay active." she said.
The pair finally reached what looked like an office, if the namecard on the front of the door was anything to go by. She stepped inside, shrugging her coat off, placing it on the nearby rack. From the nearby shelf, her Emolga flew down, landing on her shoulder with a happy cry.
"Emo!"
"Hello, darling. I hope I wasn't too long."
"Emo mo." she replied, with a shake of her head. The woman headed toward the desk, where a few more things had been placed. She turned back to Oliver, holding something out to him.
"This is a gift from the Unova League. Do you know what Dynamaxing is?"
"Yes, it's a phenomenon that occurs in the Galar Region. I've seen a few trainers using it during the Gym matches. It's something that can only be used in Galar though."
"It is, but it can prove beneficial. Not only that but it's a rather stylish band if I do say so myself." she said, slipping it on over his right wrist. He looked it over, noticing the PWCS crest emblazoned on the top, while the bottom had another, Pokeball themed emblem. The outline of the Bolt Badge was also visible in certain areas of the band, but only if you looked close.
"Hmm… I'm sure I'll get some use out of it. Any Pokemon can Dynamax so it could prove useful," he said. Cinnamon sniffed at it, taking interest in the band.
"Now then, here comes my gift.
She stepped into another room for a moment, emerging seconds later with a bag. He looked at it with intrigue, only for her to pull it open, revealing a brand new jacket. It was a track jacket, the outer edges were white in color, while most of it was bright yellow. There were Pokeball patches on the right sleeve, while the left had three big patches. The first one being a stylized Pokemon League Logo, the words "Unova League" were written beneath the Pokeball.
The second patch was a film reel, with the words "PokeStar Studios" being visible. The final patch was, of course, the name of Elesa's fashion studio, being "Nimbasa Sensations" in stylized multicolored letters, with a Ferris Wheel in the background. The outline of the Bolt badge was visible on the left breast, with "Nimbasa Gym" written beneath it. It was a rather stylish jacket, if he cared to admit. Elesa gave it a quick shake before handing it to the trainer.
"It was rather late, but I managed to sketch out a design and get it made just in time for you to try it out. Don't worry, I eyeballed your measurements, it should fit like a glove." she said, smiling. He glanced at Cinnamon, shrugging his shoulders. He held his arm down, allowing his Pokemon to jump down to the floor.
It didn't take him long to put on the garment. He had to admit, it fit perfectly. It wasn't too snug, and was lined with Mareep Wool. He zipped it up, pulling it down a bit, glad that it fell down past his waist. He glanced down at Cinnamon, giving her a firm look.
"So, what do you think?"
"Vee vee!" she happily cried.
"She likes it, and I do too. I wasn't sure if yellow was your color but I think it goes great with your skin tone. As you can see, I'm not your only sponsor. The Unova League and PokeStar Studios decided to sponsor you as well. A lot of people really wanted to see you get back up there. The moment I called Caitlyn and told her, she was able to get people to sponsor you." Elesa said, glancing at the far wall. "Hell, Caitlyn herself wanted to sponsor you, wanting to use her influence to try and build a Battle Frontier here, but Iris wasn't too keen on that."
"Still… It's nice to see there are some people out there who want to see me battle again. I don't want to let them down but… it has been a long time since I've actually had a battle. I'm not sure how the team will fare."
"They'll fare just fine. Just because their trainer stopped pushing them to battle doesn't mean they'll forget what they know. It'll take a lot of time and practice in order to get back to where you were, but I have full confidence you'll succeed. You are representing the Unova League, PokeStar Studios and the Nimbasa Gym, don't forget that, alright?" Elesa said, giving him a firm look.
"I won't, Elesa. You've done enough for me already, gave me a good kick in the ass and got me out of my funk. I did a lot of thinking last night and realized I was pissing my life away. I love Pokemon Training, it's the reason why I started traveling. Letting one mistake change my life was well… a mistake. One that I hope to fix. I'll give it my all, you can count on that."
"Good! I know you'll get far during the Championship series. It won't be long until the current season ends and the next one begins. I'd take this time to get some training in. You'll be getting a lot of challenges. You don't have to take them all, but remember, you need to have a minimum of 5 a month for the sponsors to be happy."
Oliver remained silent, though on the inside, he was worried. "At least 5 battles a month? Sheesh, a little demanding for a rookie, don't you think?"
"Now then, one final gift from me. The jacket was a gift from a sponsor, but this is a gift from a friend," she said, moving toward her desk. She reached inside one of the drawers, pulling out a wooden box. She stepped around the desk, holding it out to the young man. "Go on, open it."
He gave her an odd look, but did as he was told. He flicked the case open, his eyes widening in shock. Inside was a Keystone. The beautiful glowing stone was glittering with energy, the black, DNA strand clearly visible on the inside. Next to it was a slightly larger stone, bright green in color with silver and pink markings on the inside. He looked back at her, the stunned look still on his face.
"You're giving me a Keystone… and a Mega Stone?"
"Yep, like I said many times before, I consider you a friend. We used to chat a lot before I moved out of that apartment building. We used to meet up outside of the Gym too, I figured you couldn't remember because of your inebriated state."
"I only had one Twisted Tea."
"Yes, on park grounds. I looked in your bag, Oliver, beside the three full cans there were four empty ones. I have no idea how you managed to hold a conversation without slurring your speech." Elesa replied, shaking her head. "Forget it, I trust that is behind you. I want you to become a better you. That is why I want you to have this."
"I dunno… I only train Eeveelutions, and last time I checked, none of them have a Mega Evolution."
"That's because this one was recently discovered. Some explorers found a deposit of a special stone deep within Mount Coronet in the Sinnoh Region. Scientists didn't know what it was. That is until Professor Rowan sent it over to Professor Sycamore in Kalos. He's been studying it for months and discovered one Pokemon had a reaction to it. An Evolution of Eevee."
He looked down at the stone, noticing the colors again. He looked back at the woman, already having an answer in his mind. "Leafeon?"
"Correct. This is a piece of Leafeonite. One of only 9 pieces, Glaceonite was also discovered but sadly that one is still being studied so I couldn't get my hands on it. I believe Sage will be able to increase his attack power significantly." Elesa said, placing the box in his hands. "It's time for you to become the trainer you were meant to be, Oliver Quinn. I believe in you."
The young man looked back at the stones, seeing his reflection on them. Cinnamon jumped onto his shoulder, staring at them as well, a look of wonder on her face. He closed the box, looking back at Elesa, a genuine smile on his face. "I promise, Elesa, I won't let you down. I'll make it to the top. The Masters 8 won't know what hit them."
"That's what I like to hear! I'd love to hang out a bit more, but it's almost ten and I've got a line of trainers who want their Bolt Badges. Perhaps we can meet up tonight in the Amusement Park?"
"Sure. When is Lance and Leon's match happening again?" he asked. Elesa grabbed her phone from her desk, tapping the PWCS app.
"Hm… says here that it's scheduled for Tuesday. That's three days from now, it'll be an important battle. After all, that match will not only end the season but begin the new one. I'd like to see who the Monarch will be for this season."
"As if Leon is gonna give his title away, Lance can try but he doesn't hold a candle to Leon."
"Oh? Them's fighting words, Oliver. How much would you like to bet?" she asked, a bright grin on her face.
"As much as I would love to make a bet, I need my money. How about a quick Pokemon battle instead? I need to get the team warmed up." he asked. Elesa looked at the clock, seeing she had 15 minutes before the Gym officially opened. She gave the young man a nod.
"Alright then, 1 on 1. I want to see if you still got it."
The pair headed toward the battlefield, chatting amicably. Oliver hated to admit it, but he was actually excited to be a trainer again. It had been a long time since he had felt this giddy about something. Perhaps this was what he needed to finally move on from what happened. Little did he know, he was about to begin one of the grandest adventures of his life, one that would span all the regions of the world, as he tried to make it to the very top.
A/N: Ah shit, here we go again...
I swear whenever I start a Pokemon story I never finish it. It's that series that I hold near and dear to my heart but when it comes to fanfiction it just dies. Thanksfully, this is something that I've been working on for a few months on and off so I have a solid grasp on the story. I've improved a lot since Aloha Alola so I trust I can at least make newer Pokemon stories better. That story was written during a bad time in my life and I didn't take criticism well and thought it was my best writing but looking back at it, while decent and some of it holds up, it's kinda cringe too. I've been inspired a lot by Pokemon Journeys, the idea of traveling around the Pokemon World is just super neat. So yeah that's what I'll be working with.
So as you've noticed, I am using Serena in this story, but since this is based in the anime verse, it'll be anime Serena. My headcanon for XY and XYZ is that Ash, Clemont and Serena are 14 years old while Bonnie was 9 and a half. Four years or so have passed since that time, where two of those years were spent traveling in Kalos, and Ash spent two in Alola where he became the Champion. That would make both Ash and Serena 18 or so and Bonnie would be 13 and a half, though she herself tells everyone she's 14 because why not? Oliver is 20 years of age. Oliver, Serena and two others who will be introduced in the next chapter. All their teams have been decided as well and yes, Serena will be catching 3 more Pokemon as the story goes on. I will also be adding the Teams to the ends of each chapter to keep track of who has what Pokemon, it'll be easier to refer too. I'll be bringing in other characters that the anime didn't as well as Gym Leaders and other trainers which would have been cool to see as well.
Updates will be sporadic as life has been hectic for me. I spent the last few weeks trying to work on a Genshin story that didn't amount to anything so it's been a damn waste of time. Regardless, I do hope you enjoy this, and if you don't that's fine too. Hope you all have a good weekend. It feels great to be posting again. See you all soon.