A/N; Hope you're having a great day. I finally made the choice of where exactly I'll be taking this story to. There were three options in mind, but I've fully committed to one with the latest chapter on the pa-atreon. To celebrate that, here's a bonus chapter.

Thanks to the patrons for making this all possible. If you're interested in reading the next 9 chapters weeks before their release, then feel free to join us. If you can't though, never fear. You can read the next chapter completely for free on pa-atreon and the rest will find you in time.

These meetings exhausted me. When I first defeated the elite four in Kanto and became the first unified ruler of both Johto and Kanto, I was overjoyed. I'd made my family, my town, and my country proud. I'd subjugated Kanto and shown the supremacy of Blackthorn and by extension, Johto.

I cared little for that though. I wanted to be the strongest. Being champion of both regions showed that I was the undisputed best in both regions. Number 1. I was the dragon. I ruled over all.

I just never expected that being the ruler came with these meetings. I was fine with the rest of the responsibilities; showboating for the press, hunting down a few rogue elements that caught my eye and having battles here and there against the elite four or the rare challengers. The meetings were the only problem. Each region had two every month. Since I was champion of two regions, I had to deal with four of these every month. One meeting a week.

But it was finally coming to an end though. "Does anyone have any final concerns to raise?" The league president asked in that over enthusiastic voice of his. The meeting was finally over. I was about to stand up and strut out but then my brain caught up to my ears. Agatha said she had something to say. This was odd. No one raised additional concerns. It was a fucking formality. The other elites were also suitably shocked at this grievous faux-pas.

The president recognized her and sat back to allow her speak. "Oak is up to something again" She spoke in her nasally voice that grated on my ears. Of course, it had to do with Oak. The normally rational woman became a conspiracy theorist of the highest order whenever he was involved.

She was always sure he was planning something. She had something against the former champion, and everyone could tell. I had no idea what it was, but league gossip said she'd tried to start a romantic relationship with the man, but he had rebuffed her. That was the most logical theory on the matter though. There were lots of less logical ones.

Bruno chose to reply her. "And what has Oak done this time?" He asked in a soothing baritone. She clearly wasn't pleased at being patronized like Bruno was clearly doing but the fact that she seemingly ignored it to continue speaking about Oak told us how seriously she felt about this.

"He is using his son as some sort of agent. Some intermediary. Perhaps to come after the championship slot again. He might intend to rule over the region once more through his son"

I had to step in now. "What gives you this idea?"

"The boy. Have you seen him? I've watched his profile closely. He has developed too quickly to be without Oak's guiding hand. Firstly, he started his journey and was hospitalized shortly after. He lost his starter, a Growlithe but replaced with a Scyther. He also caught a pidgeotto within the week after leaving the hospital. That pidgeotto that he somehow managed to fully evolve in a week. He also challenged and beat Flint with only a single pokemon-"

"I'll stop you there, Agatha. He isn't the first gifted trainer to challenge the League. Oak's son or not, his development is nothing extraordinary and I shudder to think of how many privacy laws you breached to obtain this information" I had to end this madness.

"It's not just the growth though. Oak has gifted the boy a rare pokemon never seen in Kanto- A milotic. A pokemon he used to complete his second gym challenge on its own. Oak also expanded the boy's carry limit by claiming him as a research assistant. Surely, I'm not the only one that sees the signs?" She seemed to be begging at this point.

Bruno came to the rescue again. "Agatha. Oak might have shown more nepotism than ideal or expected from a man of his stature, but he has done nothing illegal. Surely a father can gift his child with a pokemon? We've all looked through the act that gave Oak his powers. It is well within his rights to appoint someone as a research assistant and to grant them an increased carry limit as well. No laws have been broken. No powers abused. What will you have us do?"

"Bar the boy from competition and expel him from the league" She replied petulantly. Even she could tell how ridiculous that sounded. "I can think of no other way of preventing Oak from the Champion's seat" She justified

What?

What did she just say?

Did she just insult me so?

My blood sang for compensation. My fury grew to great heights. I tempered it though. I had not gotten this far by giving into my instincts at the slightest provocation. I spoke then. I managed to keep my fury from my face but it shone through in my obvious. "Let Oak come. Let the world come. I am champion. No one will claim my seat. I am the strongest. Do not forget yourself and provoke my fury, Agatha"

Her face went pale at that. Good, she had woken the dragon. She was fortunate I did not decide to demand satisfaction for the insult she had paid me. The meeting was over at that. I had enough of this.

I got off my throne and stormed out of the room, my cape billowing behind me.

I got to my office in record time. Everyone in my way was wise enough to not be in my way by the time I got to them. I sat down for a bit and sunk into the meditation my grandfather had taught me to calm myself. I was a dragon. A dragon's rage burned hotter than the sun.

After an hour of meditation, and feeling calmer, I called my secretary to show me the videos of the boy's challenges. Luckily, she was able to understand my roar of 'Show me Oak's boy's battles'. If I had to clarify myself further, I'd have sacked her on the spot.

I watched his gym challenges with interest. It was interesting. That water type of his was sloppy with the dragon type moves it dared to use so carelessly. I sat back and felt anticipation roar in my bones. I wanted the boy to come. Let him come with his pokemon and see what a dragon was.

Speaking of pokemon though, his team was unimpressive. A bug, a common bird, and a unique water type. There'd be no joy in defeating an opponent like this. Oak might be helping him but clearly not enough. The old coot must have lost his touch. And then the perfect idea came to me. To pit my training methods against Oak. I never got to fight the old man before he retired, and he has been audacious enough to deflect my challenges since then.

I'd fight him through his son though. I'd defeat his greatest instrument handily to show my superiority and defeat his training techniques to show Blackthorn's superiority.

"Mercy" I called out. "Send the Charmander we received from the Valley to Donnell Oak. Flag it as a special gift from the champion himself. Tell him I await his challenge, where we shall pit our Charizards against each other".

When I finished with him, none would ever doubt me again.

AN; Just a short interlude I felt like writing. Isn't Lance interesting? I enjoyed the dive into his psyche. Let me know if you'd like more of these.