Hello, I know I've kept you readers patient for two weeks, and I've had some time to type up some of the chapters. Though if it wasn't for my computer crashing, I would've had this one posted already. I don't own Pokemon so enjoy!
Chapter 46: All Fired Up
"Wow, I can't believe I'm here already." Angelina stood atop a grassy hill staring in amazement at a colossal stadium in the center of a small town.
It took Angelina two hours to finally arrive at Indigo Plateau and she arranged to meet Jeremy at the Pokemon League since he had to attend other responsibilities while she trained last month. She made her way to the registration building and noticed hundreds of people were lining the streets for the torch of Moltres's flame to be carried through the town. She smiled in pride and could not wait for the opening ceremonies as she entered the sliding glass doors of a large green dome building. The room was slightly crowded by trainers of all ages mingling or showing off their Pokemon and there were many circular desks with computers and someone to help trainers.
"Hey, it's about time you got here." said a voice from behind her. Angelina turned around and smiled at the sight of her best friend, Jeremy.
"I'm glad you are too!" Angelina said, watching her Pichu jump onto Jeremy's shoulder and kiss his cheek. "Did you register for the tournament yet?"
"Not yet, thought I'd wait for you." Jeremy said, which made Angelina smile and they walked up to a young woman with light brown hair and periwinkle eyes wearing a light blue and turquoise uniform behind a circular desk.
"Welcome to the Pokemon League Village." the receptionist greeted. "Is this your first time at the Pokemon League?"
"Yes ma'am. I'd like to register, please." Angelina replied.
"Very well, I need your Pokemon Identification Card to check you in."
"Of course," Angelina said, taking out her Pokedex from her douffle bag and handed it over to the woman.
"Thank you," the woman stuck the Pokedex into a slot of her computer, then typed very fast and loaded information. "Ok Miss Murakami, you're all set." she handed the device to Angelina and then reached behind the counter and pulled out a key and a book. "This is the key to your house and a guide book for the Pokemon League. Please return here tomorrow to find out who and where you are battling."
There are four different and unique types of fields she had to pass through: water, ice, grass, and rock. The main stadium was not only where the opening and closing ceremonies were held, but also where the top sixteen battled. She knew that would be a great accomplishment made by her Pokemon, and with over 200 contestants, she was gonna prove to be the best of the best.
"Angelina!" another voice pulled the female trainer out of her thoughts. She saw her step-cousin Marcus Trainum walking towards her with a friendly smile. He was accompanied by his girlfriend April and Aunt Vicky.
"Oh honey, I'm so happy you got here safely." Aunt Vicky ran forward, despite her pregnant stomach, and hugged her step-niece. "Are you battling tomorrow?"
"I wouldn't be here if I wasn't," Angelina replied.
"Where's your cabin?" April asked.
"Uhm," Angelina looked at the key in her hand, "House #3 of Copper Lane," she read and looked over at Jeremy. "We should be rooming together since you registered after me."
"Yeah, that's right." Jeremy said. "We're also aloud to have three guests stay with us!" he nodded towards their relatives.
"Why don't we head over to your house then?" Aunt Vicky suggested with a smile.
"You three can check it out," Angelina handed her aunt the house key. "I'll be over after I walk around the league village. Jeremy says there's tons of activities for the trainers to do during the days off from the battles."
"All right, behave yourselves." Aunt Vicky waved, then walked out of the building with April and Marcus.
Angelina and Jeremy were not too far behind to explore the famous Pokemon League Village. They walked by souvenier shops that lined the sidewalks, fancy restaurants and small diners were around every corner, and there were even some trainers battling one another. After browsing through a couple stores and enjoying an evening stroll, they heard voices bickering and recognized Ash glaring at Gary, who was sitting at a table accompanied by his cheerleaders.
"I don't need luck to win! I'm a great Pokemon trainer!" Ash yelled.
"Hmm! Unless you've studied with other Pokemon trainers, your chances aren't so great!" Gary taunted with a smirk.
"Says who?!" Ash demanded.
"Every trainer says you have to study the competition to win the Pokemon League." Gary informed.
"Grrr!" Ash growled.
"Let's go, girls! If I stay here much longer, I might catch loseritis and miss the competition. See ya!" Gary walks away laughing.
"Gary, Gary! He's the tops! Till he wins, he never stops!" the cheerleaders chanted and followed right behind.
"Think he's better than everyone." Angelina muttered, clenching and unclenching her fists in the same anger as her brother. She wanted to help Ash, but he had to deal with his own problems on his own, with or without help from others. She sighed and looked to Jeremy in slight exhaustion, "Let's go to the house, I need my rest for tomorrow."
"Good idea." Jeremy agreed.
They walked down the street and arrived at part of the village that consisted of three story, classy log cabins. They were temporary homes shared by six trainers during the League Tournament. Jeremy opened the door via sliding the card key through the slot and walked inside with Angelina. They were completely amazed by how immaculate and sophisticated the house had looked with a luxurious, crystal chandelier and high ceiling, a brown leather sofa and plasma screen television in the living room, and an elegant dinning room table sitting next to the kitchen that held stainless steel appliances. There were also five bedrooms in the house, each with its own bathroom. Jeremy and Angelina were able to have separate rooms, knowing that Marcus and April were sharing one room and Aunt Vicky had the other, leaving the last room empty for another guest.
The very next day after a good nights' sleep and a well-balanced breakfast, Jeremy and Angelina made their way down to the stadium for the opening ceremony. They were put into a group of trainers and standing in one of the many twisting corridors that would lead onto the battlefield.
"Nervous?" Jeremy asked.
"A little." Angelina said, also feeling very giddy as she rocked her Pichu with antsy excitement. "This is my first time competing in the Indigo League."
"It's the same with you brother." Jeremy added. They noticed Ash looked a little nervous and his Pikachu had the same expression.
"Well look who's here! Its Angel-cake and her little boy-toy, Jerry!" A snide voice interrupted the older trainers. They were approached by Gary without his cheerleaders for once.
"You sound so surprised." Angelina said, the tone in her voice was uncaring.
"Well of course, it makes things interesting," Gary smirked in a snobbish manner while Angelina rolled her eyes. "There's more important competition to concentrate on. I'm not afraid of Ashy-boy, but either of you two are worth having a good battle over."
Both trainers jaws dropped in shock, they didn't know whether to be flattered or angered. Angelina just shook her head and sighed, "You're right Gary, and I wish you the best of luck." she smiled and extended her hand outward to the brunette, which he blinked in surprise and then grinned, taking her hand and giving a shake.
It was now time to enter the stadium for the opening ceremony of the Pokemon League Competition. They started to march forward, spotlights were blinding them and the terrain below their feet changed from hard tile to packed dirt.
"This is where the top Pokémon Trainers and their Pokémon come to prove their skill, their strength, and their spirit. These hopeful competitors will battle one another as they strive always for excellence and victory, the victory they will need to enter the ranks of Pokémon Master." the announcer said. "And here they are! The competitors are proudly entering the stadium, each having proving their worthiness by winning a minimum of eight Gym Badges!"
Angelina was amazed by her surroundings; thousands of people filled the bleachers that had to be about three stories high, the battle field was alot bigger than what she had see on television, and at the opposite end of the field was a large stage set up with a podium and a few chairs.
"And now the trainer bearing the flame of Moltres has entered the stadium for the official lightning of the central torch that will burn throughout the competition!"
"I can't see!" Angelina tried to peer through the many trainers that were taller than her. She didn't know what was going on.
"Up there, look!" Jeremy said. He pointed towards the large staircase where the Torch Bearer, a girl wearing a Greek outfit, had just arrived at a platform with a large circular dish that looked like a huge satellite.
"This is a surprise! It looks like two roman figures representing the league are about to accept the flame!" the announcer told the crowd.
"That doesn't sound right." Jeremy said.
"Hey, what's Ash doing?" Angelina recognized the young trainer and Pikachu running up the steps confronting the two figures that had just thrown off their costumes. "Oh no, it's Team Rocket!"
"What the hell?!" Jeremy yelled, a giant robotic grasshopper appeared and took hold of the central torch onto its back.
Everyone ran out of its way to avoid being crushed by the robot.
"Let the games begin!" James exclaims with an evil laugh.
"I have to help!" Angelina tried to struggle from Jeremy's hold. "Let me go!"
"Stay here! Your relatives would never trust me if something happened to you!" Jeremy said.
"But I-" Angelina was lost for words, but understood and watched Ash try to stop Team Rocket's robot-grasshopper with Bulbasaur's Razor Leaf, which the torch's flame burnt the leaves away and grew even stronger. She whimpers and starts to struggle when Ash and his Pokemon were cornered and Team Rocket closed in on him. "Get outta there! Run!"
"I'm not running away, not from here! I came here to compete in the Pokemon League, and now you're trying to wreck this competition and everything it stands for!" Ash yelled, refusing to leave. "Well I'm not gonna let you do it, not if I can help it. Take your best shot, Team Rocket!"
"ASH, NOOOOOO!" Angelina screamed along with other voices from the crowd as the trainers and his Pokemon were engulfed by the flames, but strangely they were untouched instead of being burned alive. The flames suddenly came to life and formed into a large bird. "No way, d'you see that?!"
"It's Moltres!" Jeremy said, just as surprised as the others around them were.
The legendary Pokemon dives at the robotic-grasshopper, blowing it up and sending Team Rocket into the sky and out of sight. The torch bowl lands exactly at the top of the stadium, and Moltres swoops in and reignites the central torch.
Jeremy was no longer holding back Angelina, they were relieved and ran towards Ash.
"Are you okay?" Angelina asked.
"I'll be fine," Ash replied, he seemed relieved also.
"That was really brave of you standing up to Team Rocket." Jeremy said.
"Gea, thanks." Ash smiled.
"Ladies and gentlemen, the opening ceremonies will now continue!" the announcer exclaimed, once all the trainers were back into their lines on the stadium field. "And now here's President Goodshow to greet our competitors!"
Angelina stood on tip-toe and saw an elderly man standing on stage that reminded her of Santa Claus. He had a bushy mustache above his lip. He wore a red, zip-up sweatshirt and blue gym shorts, and a blue, baseball cap worn backwards on top of his long, white hair.
"Welcome one and all!" Goodshow began happily. "This stadium is a very special place, a place where those who truly love Pokemon come to compete. Here the glow from the flame of Moltres burns brightly to light up our hearts and our spirits. Battle valiantly, and keep that fire alive in your heart and in your spirit!" he finished, people in the audience and in the crowds of trainers cheered loudly as fireworks were set off in the afternoon sky.
"I can't believe we're actually here!" Angelina said, really moved by Goodshow's speech.
"Yeah I know." Jeremy agreed, then nudged his friend lightly and winked. "Don't think I'm going easy on ya."
"I wouldn't want you to." Angelina said, holding out her hand. "Good luck."
Jeremy smiled, shaking her hand. "Thanks, you too."
As all the trainers exit the stadium to find out information on their matches, will our heroes discover they're out of their league? Who knows, but they've gotta be in it to win it.
§To Be Continued§
*Ash, Gary, Angelina, and Jeremy arrive at Indigo Plateau for the Pokemon League.
*According to the episode "A Friend In Deed", there is no stove (and prob no kitchen) in the apartment that Ash rents, but in this story, there is a kitchen in the one that Angelina rents.
*Ash and everyone else see the legenday bird, Moltres.
*The torch carrying ceremony is a reference to the Olympic Torch Ceremony.
*Angelina and Jeremy's relatives arrive to watch them compete in the tournament.
*The mecha that Team Rocket uses looks similar to a Metapod.
Thanks for reading; next chapter should be up soon! All reviews are welcomed!