Chapter 51:

The Elite Four

Location: The Pokémon League

This was it. The time to test my worth to become the Champion of the Unova region. I couldn't help but feel a bit nervous but having the strong team that I did with me prevented me from feeling very nervous. The scary thing? After I beat Alder, I would still have to battle N.

"It's time," I said, as I walked through the two golden pillars.


I went inside, and a gate clicked shut behind me. In this room was a giant statue of some unknown figure. It looked like no Pokémon; my guess was it was the first Champion. There were also four paths that led to other rooms. They would be where the Elite Four resided. My first foe would be the north east path.


In this room was a large structure of gold. Of course, I couldn't reach it because there was no path.

"How am I supposed to reach that?" I thought.

"Just step forward," a voice echoed. (For goodness' sake, were the Elite Four rooms trying to kill me to?!)

I decided to trust this voice. I stepped onto what was seemingly nothing, and I was lifted up. Slowly, I ascended to the top of the structure. My feet landed on solid ground to find what looked like two large curtains in a circle. The curtains opened, and a woman in a pink dress with long blonde hair was in her bed. She walked out very slowly.

"You woke me up," she said. "Why? Wait, yes. I sense that you are the Trainer who is trying to stop Team Plasma. Okay, I will battle you. But don't make me fall back asleep, okay? My name is Caitlin, and I will blow your mind. Can you blow mine?"


Hilbert Vs. Elite Four Caitlin

"Okay Excadrill, you're first!" I shouted.

Caitlin lifted her Pokéball with her mind, then threw it. "Reuniclus, go." Out came a yellow Pokémon encased in green goo with two arms.


Reuniclus (ランクルス)

085

Psychic Type

Multiplying Pokémon

3'03" (1 m)

44.3 lbs (20.1 kg)

These remarkably intelligent Pokémon fight by controlling arms that can grip with rock-crushing power.

Solosis -Lv 32- Duosion -Lv 41- Reuniclus


"Excadrill, start with Swords Dance!" Excadrill moved around its claws, raising its Attack.

"Focus Blast." Reuniclus made a ball of energy appear in front of it. Then, it was fired at Excadrill. Thankfully it missed.

"That was close," I said. I was in a dilemma. If I switch out to avoid a potential Focus Blast, Excadrill would lose its Attack boost. If I stay out, then Excadrill would be in danger. I just decided to play with it. "Earthquake!" I yelled. Excadrill made the ground shake. Reuniclus was almost knocked out.

"Focus Blast." Reuniclus fired another Focus Blast. This was a hit though, and a strong one. Being Super Effective and a powerful move coming from a Pokémon with high Sp. Attack, Excadrill was down in one.

"Chandelure, finish it off!" I yelled as my Ghost Type came out. "Shadow Ball!" Chandelure fired a black ball at Reuniclus, finishing it off.

"Hm. Maybe this battle will be interesting after all. Go Musharna." The pink sleeping Pokémon came out.

"Use another Shadow Ball!" I yelled. Chandelure fired it at Msharna for about half damage.

"Shadow Ball." To my horror, Musharna came back with a Shadow Ball of its own. It lowered Chandelure's Special Defense to.

"That's enough," I told Chandelure. I called it back and sent out Scrafty. It took a Shadow Ball, which wasn't very effective. "Crunch Scrafty!" Scrafty bit down on Musharna. It was almost finished.

"Reflect." Musharna made a wall of light in front of itself. It would half the power of Physical moves.

"One more Crunch!" I yelled, as Scrafty dealt the final blow.

"Sigilyph, go." The weird as heck Pokémon was sent out. Knowing the Reflect was up and that Scrafty was at a Type disadvantage, I switched.

"Samurott, go!" I shouted.

"Air Slash." Sigilyph swiped the air and the slash hit Samurott.

"Come back with Surf!" Samurott surfed of a large wave that hit Sigilyph.

"Psychic." Sigilyph lifted up Samurott, then threw it on the floor. It could take one more hit.

"Surf again Samurott!" Samurott made another wave crash into Sigilyph. Didn't quite finish it.

"Psychic again." Sigilyph threw Samurott down telepathically once more time. It was finished.

"Okay Gothitelle, go!" I shouted. You know what they say, great "minds" think alike! Get it? Because they're Psychic- oh forget it.

"Shadow Ball." Well, that was nice. Sigilyph fired a shadow blob at Gothitelle. It was a direct hit.

"Thunderbolt!" I yelled, as Gothitelle fired a bolt of lightning at Sigilyph. It was down.

"Well, this was worth waking up for. Gothitelle, go!" Caitlin shouted, sending out her own Gothitelle.

I withdrew mine for Druddigon. "Final one," I said. "Let's give it all we got!"

"Calm Mind!" Gothitelle breathed slowly, raising its Sp. Attack.

"Night Slash!" I told Druddigon. It slashed Gothitelle, but anymore potential damage was thwarted by the Reflect, which thankfully was on its last turn.

"Psychic!" Gothitelle blasted Druddigon with Psychic energy. Thankfully Druddigon hung on just enough for the Reflect to disappear.

"Night Slash!" Druddigon swiped Gothitelle, leaving it clinging.

"Use Shadow Ball!" Gothitelle fired a Shadow Ball at Druddigon, dealing the final blow.

"Chandelure, go!" I shouted. "Shadow Ball!" Chandelure fired its own Shadow Ball at Gothitelle. It was finished.

"Thanks for waking me up. I sensed that you were strong, but that was overwhelming."


"Great job everyone!" I said, as I healed them back up.

"You're not out of the woods yet," Caitlin said. "There are three more Trainers to go before you face Champion Alder. Now, I will go back to sleep." After she said this, she went back to her bed and the curtains were redrawn. There was a warp point that turned on, so I took it.


I went back to the main room. Caitlin's door was now gated off. It was exhausting having the thought that yes; I needed to do it three more times, then there is the big one waiting for me. But there was no use wondering. I went to the south east room.


In the next room was a metal platform on a track that swirled upwards. I stepped on and some railings appeared. The platform went up with a clicker-clacker sound, like a very old train. When it reached the top, I was in some sort of wrestling ring. The lights turned on to reveal a familiar face.

"Marshall?!" I asked. Yes. It was the same Marshall that had trained me back at Pinwheel Forest. "That's why you were strong!"

Marshall nodded. "Well of course. I was trained by Alder himself. I wiped you out beforehand, but that was when you had just one Badge. Now you have all of them and have taken down Caitlin. Congratulations." He made a pose. "But let's put your training to the test!"


Hilbert Vs. Elite Four Marshall

"Throh, I choose you!" said Alder, sending out the red wrestler.

"Come out Scrafty!" With Scrafty at a disadvantage, I decided I might as well use it first. "High Jump Kick!" Scrafty lunged at Throh, kicking it in the face. Throh had high HP, so it took about half the damage.

"Use Storm Throw!" Throh took Scrafty by the heel. Then, it threw it onto the ground. It was a Critical Hit, but Scrafty hung on. "I'll have you know that Storm Throw is always a Critical Hit."

"High Jump Kick again!" By some miracle, this one hit to. Throh was finished.

"You have trained well. Meinshao, go!" Marshall sent out a slick-purple Fighting Type with long yellow-tipped whiskers and slender hands.


Mienshao (コジョンド)

126

Fighting Type

Martial Arts Pokémon

4'07" (1.4 m)

78.3 lbs (35.5 kg)

It wields the fur on its arms like a whip. Its arm attacks come with such rapidity that they cannot even be seen.

Mienfoo -Lv 50- Mienshao


"Use Retaliate!" Mienshao, remembering its fallen friend, punched Scrafty. It was down.

"Scrafty!" I yelled. "Hey. You were at a disadvantage and took something down. That deserves to be commended. Return. Okay Gothitelle, go!"

Psychic was much better matched against Marshall. But being a member of the Elite Four, Marshall was prepared. "U-Turn!" Mienshao jumped into Gothitelle, then returned to Marshall. "Go Sawk!" he yelled, as the blue Fighting Type came out.

"Psychic Gothitelle!" Gothitelle lifted up Sawk with its mind, then slammed it down. It did a lot of damage.

"Stone Edge!" Sawk made multiple small stone, then fired them at Gothitelle. It was a Critical Hit.

"You can do it Gothitelle, Future Sight!" Gothitelle foresaw an attack.

"Brick Break Sawk!" Sawk chopped Gothitelle, finishing it.

"Excadrill, go!" I yelled. "Use Earthquake!" Excadrill made the ground shake, and Sawk was done for.

"Conkeldurr, go!" shouted Marshall.

"Earthquake!" I said again. Conkeldurr used its stones to keep its balance.

"Hammer Arm!" Conkeldurr came over to Excadrill and slammed down on it. It was a Critical Hit and down in one.

"Come back Excadrill. Go Samurott!" I shouted.

"Another Hammer Arm!" Conkeldurr hammered down on Samurott. It didn't do as much on Samurott. But what was about to do a lot was the Future Sight. It hit Conkeldurr and finished it off.

"Clever, you have trained well. Mienshao, let's finish this!" Mienshao returned to the fray.

"Good job Samurott," I said. "Chandelure, let's do this!" As Chandelure came out, it was hit with a Rock Slide. "Shadow Ball!" Chandelure fired a Shadow Ball as Mienshao.

"Another Rock Slide!" Mienshao made more rocks tumble from above, but this one missed.

"One more!" Chandelure fired a final Shadow Ball. Mienshao was defeated.

"Yes. Once upon a time I defeated you without breaking a sweat. But by preparing, you have beaten me. Tides won't change if you don't do anything about it."


The warp pad opened.

"Thank you," I said.

"That's alright. You are halfway there. Don't take Alder lightly; he wouldn't be Champion if he didn't train me up to be where I am now."


Back in the room, and now half the rooms were gated off. "If I keep it up, then Alder and N won't stand a chance!" I said as I walked up the northwest path.


In this room was a sort of escalator mixed with a fancy red carpet. I was in what looked like a gothic house from yesteryear. I stepped on the escalator. As I went up, torches suddenly lit. When I got to the top of the ballroom-like surface, I was greeted by a man wearing entirely black. He had black, spiky hair and he had a playing card with him, with the pattern turned to him.

"Tell me," he asked. "What's on this card?"

"The eight of diamonds?" I asked.

Grimsley flipped over the card. It was actually the ace of spades. "You're not going to get far in a casino are you. My name is Grimsley, and I have worked hard gambling my way up to the riches I am at now. Of course, the money I bet was the Trainer money from my victories. You know, battles are really just games of chance in the end. Allow me to demonstrate!"


Hilbert Vs. Elite Four Grimsley

"Scrafty, go!" Grimsley shouted, sending out his own Scrafty.

"Gothitelle, go!" I replied. I was not in a good position. "Thunderbolt!" Gothitelle fired lightning at Scrafty. Not only was it a direct hit, but Scrafty was paralysed!

"See? You gambled that paralysis!"

It couldn't move that turn either! "Thunderbolt again!" I shouted as another chunk of health was taken away from Scrafty.

"Use Crunch!" Scrafty managed to get in a Crunch attack in. Gothitelle's Defense was lowered.

"Thunderbolt one more time!" Gothitelle used one more Thunderbolt on Scrafty. It hit and knocked it out.

"Liepard, come out!" Grimsley said, as Liepard entered. "Now let's use a move that is guaranteed to do something. Fake Out!" Liepard clapped in front of Gothitelle's face, making it flinch. "Next, Night Slash!" Liepard slashed at Gothitelle. It was a Critical Hit, fainting Gothitelle.

"It's just luck!" I said. "Scrafty, go!" Out came my Fighting Type.

"Attract!" Liepard fired hearts at Scrafty. It became infatuated and couldn't move that turn. "Now Aerial Ace!" Liepard dove into Scrafty for Super Effective damage.

"High Jump Kick!" Scrafty broke through the infatuation and kicked Liepard for Super Effective damage. It was finished.

"Good girl Liepard," Grimsley said. "Well, you are a lucky one. Not only did you break through an Attract, but a High Jump Kick actually hit. Okay Krookodile, go!" Out came the large-red Ground Type. "Earthquake!" Krookodile made the ground shake, to the point where Scrafty was barely hanging on.

"High Jump Kick!" Scraty went in for the blow, but it missed. Scrafty kept going and landed on the floor. It was out.

"Guess you've lucked out!" Grimsley said. Stressfully, I called back Scrafty.

"Go Samurott!" I shouted.

"Earthquake!" Krookodile caused another tremor, but Samurott hung on.

"Revenge!" Samurott came back and punched Krookodile. "That wasn't luck, that was strategy!"

"Earthquake once more!" Krookodile caused another Earthquake that took out Samurott.

"Druddigon, go!" I yelled.

"Dragon Claw Krookodile!" Krookodile swiped Druddigon with its claw that was glowing blue. It was Super Effective, but it took Rough Skin damage.

"Revenge!" Druddigon punched Krookodile back for one last attack. Krookodile fell down, finished.

"It seems luck is in your favour today. Bisharp, go!" Grimsley sent out a red and black Pokémon with sharp metal claws and a large spike on its head.


Bisharp (キリキザン)

131

Dark/Steel Type

Sword Blade Pokémon

5'03" (1.6 m)

154.3 lbs (70 kg)

It leads a group of Pawniard. It battles to become the boss, but will be driven from the group if it loses.

Pawniard -Lv 52- Bisharp


"Night Slash!" Bisharp slashed at Druddigon. It wasn't a Crit thankfully.

"Okay Druddigon, Revenge!" Druddigon punched Bisharp back. Not only was it at a great Type advantage, not only did it attack after Druddigon was hurt, but it was a Critical Hit! The chances were with me! Bisharp fainted!

"See? Whilst there is certainly strategy when it comes to battles, you have to take chances to. It's part of the fun, but also quite serious." Grimsley held up a card. He turned it round to reveal the eight of diamonds. "You were right the second time. Now go. You have one final member to take down before Alder."


Only one path was left: the southwest. The final obstacle before the Champion. I breathed, as if I was using Calm Mind. "I can do this," I said. "I am the hero of the Unova region."

"I can't do this," I said as I walked into the room.


I felt like I was in a haunted house. And no, I'm not talking about those ticketed attractions that appear at Halloween. I'm talking actually really creepy like it was actually haunted.

There were some small wisps floating in a circle. I trusted my gut and walked into the centre. I started floating up to the top. At the top was a small platform with books scattered all over the place. Waiting for me was a woman in a purple dress with round glasses with wide glasses.

"My goodness," I said. "It's the famous Shauntal!" I took out her book, 'The Goblet of Fire Types.' "This is the one I'm on! I read it during the downtime on my journey!"

Shauntal happily signed it. "Eyes brimming with a dark flame, this man rejected everything other than himself in order to bring about singular justice. That's an excerpt for a novel I'm writing. I was inspired by a challenger who was just here, but I am now at writer's block. Maybe this battle will give me an idea."


Hilbert Vs. Shauntal

"Cofagrigus, let's start this story!" Shauntal said as the golden Pokémon took the stage.

"Okay Chandelure, go!" I replied. "Start with Shadow Ball!" Chandelure fired a Shadow Ball at Cofagrigus. It was a direct hit, but Cofagrigus retreated into its coffin to take the blow.

"Shadow Ball back!" Cofagrigus came back with its Shadow Ball. It wasn't as strong as Chandelure's though.

"One more!" I shouted. Chandelure indeed fired a black ball back at Cofagrigus. It was a Critical Hit and took it out.

"It seems we're at the exciting part of this story. Jellicent, go!" she shouted, sending out the spooky Water Type.

"Can't have you going up against that," I told Chandelure as I recalled it. "Scrafty, come out!" I was hoping that its Crunch would do the trick. And it did! Jellicent took a lot of damage, but there was something wrong with Scrafty after it hit.

"Use Energy Ball!" Jellicent fired a green ball at Scrafty, taking its health down to half.

"Another Crunch!" However, Scrafty couldn't. It tried, but it was incapable all of a sudden,

"Jellicent's Ability is Cursed Body," Shauntal said. "It acts like the move Disable in a way. When hit by a move, Jellicent will make it unavailable."

With no choice since Scrafty's other moves were Fighting and Normal Type, I switched into Gothitelle who took a Brine from Jellicent. "Okay Gothitelle, Thunderbolt!" Gothitelle shocked Jellicent with a Super Effective Electric Type attack. Jellicent has high Sp. Defense though so it didn't finish it.

"Shadow Ball!" Jellicent fired a Shadow Ball at Gothitelle, doing a significant blow to it.

"Give it another Thunderbolt!" I yelled. Gothitelle did just that. One more shock and Jellicent was toast.

"This would keep the reader on the edge of his or her seat. Okay Golurk, go!" Shauntal sent out a large-blue Pokémon with chunky arms and a wooden seal across its chest.


Golurk (ゴルーグ)

129

Ground/Ghost Type

Automaton Pokémon

9'02" (2.8 m)

727.5 lbs (330 kg)

It is said that Golurk were ordered to protect people and Pokémon by the ancient people that made them.

Golett -Lv 43- Golurk


"A manmade Pokémon. Wow. Okay Gothitelle. I don't think you can take another hit, so let's use our little strategy. Telekinesis!" Gothitelle lifted Golurk into the air.

"Shadow Punch!" Golurk punched the air, making its shadow stretch out along the ground. It hit Gothitelle, knocking it out.

"Okay Chandelure, use Inferno!" Chandelure came out and made a pilar of flames around Golurk. It was burned.

"Earthquake!" Golurk made the ground shake, but the cut in Attack from the burn meant that Chandelure survived.

"Hex!" Chandelure's eyes started glowing and it gave Golurk an evil stare. It was a mega shot and took it out.

"Looks like we're reaching the end of the book. Chandelure, go!" Shauntal sent out her own Chandelure. "Shadow Ball!" Chandelure used Shadow Ball on my Chandelure, and it was done for.

"Samurott, I choose you!" I shouted. "Surf!" Samurott made a large wave that crashed into Chandelure.

"Energy Ball!" Chandelure fired a green ball at Samurott, doing a lot of damage to it.

"One more Surf!" Samurott created one last wave that crashed down onto Chandelure. It was finished.

"Mmm. Yes. I think I've found a good new path for my story. Thank you, Hilbert."


The warp pad unlocked.

"Well," I said. "I've beaten all of you. I guess it's time to take on the Champion."

Shauntal adjusted her glasses. "Indeed. The Champion may not take things seriously, but Alder is no laughing matter. Good luck, and against N to."


I got back to the room, and the statue in the middle was glowing. I went over to the statue and pressed a button. The platform started lifting me up.


When I reached the top, I was faced with a giant set of stairs. "This is it," I said. I walked up the stairs and thought about everyone who had helped me. Professor Juniper gave me my first Pokémon, Cheren and Bianca had helped train me, the Gym Leaders and Elite Four put up a good challenge and everyone else who helped me get where I was.

When I got to the top of the stairs, I went in the giant building. "Alder, I'm ready to-"

I stopped. Alder had his head down and his fist clenched. "You win," he said.

I saw who he was talking to. Small smile on his face, N faced me.

"So, you made it. A bit too late, but you made it. I am the Champion of the Unova region."

"It was no use," Alder said. "Reshiram. It's too strong. My days as Champion has come to an end."

N shook his head. "No, they haven't. You may still be the Champion, even if your Pokémon will be liberated."

I was confused. "N. This is the highest honour a Trainer can receive. Why are you throwing it all away?"

"Because" N said. "He will be Champion in a new Unova! A Unova region ruled by the one and only Team Plasma where Pokémon and Trainers are separate!"

I felt the ground shaking. "What's going on?" I asked. Suddenly, many large towers started spouting up from the ground around the Pokémon League. There was a large one in the middle to. The earth from on top of it fell to the ground below as well.

"What is this?!" Cheren yelled, arriving on the scene.

The massive structure stood tall above the league. Suddenly, multiple paths came out from the Castle and implanted into the Pokémon League, the biggest one leading up to the grandest part of the Castle.

"What is that thing?!" Alder shouted.

"This, is my Castle," N exclaimed. "Yes. Team Plasma have been hiding out in the Pokémon League this entire time. And this is where we will craft a Unova where all Pokémon are free from their Trainers." He turned to me again.

"N," I said, tears in my eyes. "Why are you doing this? I thought we were friends."

"Enough!" N shouted. "We will have our battle for the ages in the throne room. May I see your Dark Stone."

I took it out, and N put his hand on it. "Well?" I said.

"Yes. I believe Zekrom will awaken soon. I will meet you for our final battle!" He handed me back the Dark Stone, then jumped off the side of the Pokémon League where Reshiram was waiting underneath to fly him off.

"I'm telling you, the Elite Four really put a challenge," Cheren said. "Sorry I couldn't be here sooner. I knew something was fishy about that man."

"Alder," I said. "Our challenge can wait. My mission now; to take down Team Plasma. If N is right, then our match is almost here. We're almost at the deadline after all. I'll go on ahead."

My two friends nodded, and Alder spoke. "Good luck, Hilbert You are a hero of the Unova region, I know it. Give N a match that will be told across the ages!"

I ran across the stairs towards the giant castle.


Location: N's Castle

Talk about a warm welcome. Upon entering, six of the sages were waiting for me. Zinzolin, Gorm, Rood, Ryoku, Giallo and Bronius.

"Where's the big guy?" I asked.

"He will meet you," Bronius said.

"Our Lord N is the hero of Unova, not you!" Ryoku announced.

"Don't even think about it, you're already done," Giallo spoke.

"Why don't you just go home and save yourself from embarrassment?" Zinzolin told me.

"Lord N will rule the Unova region, and all Pokémon will be liberated!"

Rood stayed quiet, simply nodding head slightly at me with a small smile.

"I'll take on every one of you!" I said. "Try me!"

"No need!" came a voice.

"Who's that?" I said.

All of a sudden, the Gym Leaders of Unova arrived on the scene. Well, except for Cilan, Cress and Chili.

"Well, it's a shame we missed this discovery!" said Lenora.

"If I were to paint this castle, it would be as black as your hearts!" Burgh shouted.

"Prepare to watch me glow!" Elesa said, riding up on Zebstrika.

"Too bad I missed out on this excavation!" Clay shouted, taking out his pickaxe.

"This match will be sky high!" Skyla called.

"You will be frozen in your tracks!" Brycen said.

"The Legends of Unova are not yours!" Drayden brought up.

"We'll take care of these brutes!" Iris assured me. "You have a battle to do!"

"Guys, thank you!" I went up and hugged Iris. "I won't let you down. Unova isn't Team Plasma's just yet!"


When I got to the second floor, the Shadow Triad suddenly appeared around me.

"There are some people who want to meet you," they said.

The Shadow Triad took me to a sort of bedroom. In that, it had a bed. In here were two girls, probably around the same age as N. One had blonde hair and the other had pink hair. They were wearing dresses like princesses.

"Hello," said the pink haired woman. "Please let us make introductions. I am Anthea, and this is my sister Concordia."

"A pleasure," she said. "You know, you haven't met the deadline just yet. Therefore, N had requested that you rest up. It is night-time after all."

I was hoping to do it today, but I had already had four of my biggest battles ever. It only made sense that I should have some rest.

"Tell me about N," I said as I got into bed.

Concordia told me the story. "N was brought up by Pokémon. Pokémon that were mistreated and abused by awful Trainers. It was Ghetisis that brought those Pokémon onto N. Having been brainwashed, he only thought of Pokémon and started seeking the truth. N's heart is pure and innocent. But there is nothing more beautiful and terrifying than innocence."

Anthea then spoke. "Trainers battle not to hurt their Pokémon, but to grow in skills and experience. After meeting you, I believe N has learned this deep down. But he has spent too much time in this castle to know that. We will now leave you to sleep. No worries: Team Plasma will not attack. They are aware of what is about to go down."

The two left, leaving me alone.


I didn't plan this. It seems that becoming Champion will have to wait; that duel with N will officially be happening tomorrow. Taking on the Elite Four was challenging enough, but a battle that will determine the fate of Unova? I'm nervous.