We're finally here at the Pokémon League episodes! I can't believe we're so close to finish the first saga of the Ketchum twins' journey, but this is just the beginning of the long series.
I added a small surprise in this chapter that is related to Pokémon Scarlet/Violet. I hope you will like it.
Disclaimer: I do not own any Pokémon characters! I only own my OCs!
Chapter 45: All Fired Up
There was a short moment a couple of days ago when I was a little worried whether we were going to make it to the Indigo Plateau in time to sign up for the Conference or not. Thankfully, we traveled in a fast pace and reached the Victory Road the day before the Conference. The Victory Road was the final route to the Indigo Plateau that was famous because every year Trainers who were going to participate in the Conference were allowed to carry the flame of Moltres, the legendary fire that never went out. It was a symbol of the powerful fiery souls of Trainers who traveled across the Kanto region and collected the eight Gym badges and never gave up reaching their common goal.
"We're here! The Victory Road!" Ash cheered happily as we walked down the road that led to the Indigo Plateau.
"Pipikachu!" Pikachu cheered.
"I can't believe we're so close…", I mumbled as I started feeling nervous already.
"You're just one step away from competing against many powerful Trainers than the ones we've met on the journey", Brock said.
"Yeah, and I can't wait to see all the Pokémon and battle them too and test my skills with my Pokémon!" Ash smiled widely.
"Pikachu~!"
"I thought you were going to say you will do your best to win", Misty blinked in surprise.
"Toge?"
"Well, yeah, I do want to win, but I know I still have much to learn and this is my and Ashley's first year as Pokémon Trainers", Ash admitted while rubbing the back of his head. "If I lose… It's going to hurt, but I will try learning from it instead."
"Me too…", I said quietly. "But I… I just don't want to get laughed at if I lose early, especially by Gary." I looked down as I couldn't help but remember the pain I endured years back by all the bullying. "I don't want him to make fun of me…"
"Hey, don't worry, Ashley", Brock said before he placed a hand on my shoulder. "I've seen Gary mature every time we met him and I can tell he's grown some sort of respect for you both, so hopefully he'll keep his mouth shut."
"Brock's right", Misty agreed. "And I'm sure Gary doesn't want to make a fool out of himself on national television and get lots of haters for being a bully."
"And he wouldn't want to let Professor Oak be known as the grandfather of the bully in the Conference", Ash added. "Gary may be a bully, but he's got a brain."
"At least his brain is bigger than yours, Ash", Misty commented sarcastically.
I felt my heart ease up and my body relaxed by all the encouragement. "Thank you, guys", I smiled softly.
It didn't take long before we made it to a small village that was the last one before the Indigo Plateau. A crowd of people had already gathered on the sidewalk and clearly waited for the torchbearer, so we were in time to witness this tradition with our own eyes and not just through a television screen.
"Thank Arceus we made it before the torchbearer", Ash sighed in relief as we stepped onto the sidewalk to make way for the caravan.
"Why is that, Ash?" Misty wondered.
"Because I want to get the chance to run with the legendary fire!" Ash explained. "I've always dreamed about it ever since I started watching the Conference on TV!"
"That explains that big excitement of yours", Brock chuckled. "Do you also want to carry the torch, Ashley?"
"Y-Yes…", I nodded shyly. "But… I'm afraid I'll trip and drop the torch and gets laughed at…"
"Don't be so negative, Ashley", Misty said. "You will trip if you keep thinking about the bad things that haven't happened yet. Don't think so much on the 'what ifs'. If you get to hold the torch, then do so with confidence and express your positivity by smiling."
"I'll try…", I smiled hesitantly.
The familiar tones of a soundtrack that was often played during the opening ceremonies of the Indigo Plateau Conference started playing and got louder the closer it got to the village. We turned our heads and saw a large van drive slowly behind a man who was holding the torch with Moltres' fire. Officer Jenny drove next to the van as it kept playing the music. The people started cheering and waved homemade flags for the torchbearer as he and his Hitmonchan jogged to the village.
"There it is!" Ash cheered happily. "Moltres' fire!"
"I wonder how they came across the legendary Pokémon's fire…", Misty mumbled quietly.
"They say one of Kanto's old Champions hunted down Moltres and challenged it to a battle to earn its respect", Brock explained. "After Moltres deemed the Champion worthy, it blessed them with its fire and ever since then, it's been a symbol for the Kantonian Pokémon League."
"And I'm gonna carry that torch too as one of the Trainers participating in the League!" Ash exclaimed determinedly.
The torchbearer and the caravan stopped by a rest area to take a break and have something to eat. Our group followed them to the rest area just like several villagers who wanted to take a closer look at the legendary fire and talk to the Trainer responsible of carrying the torch.
"Hi! Excuse me!" Ash called as he pushed himself through the crowd with Pikachu on his shoulder and reached the Trainer. "Who can I talk to and ask if I can carry the torch?"
"Oh? You're a Trainer that's gonna participate in the League too?" the young adult Trainer asked.
"Yep!" Ash nodded before he opened his jacket and revealed his eight badges. "And these are the proof!"
Misty, Brock, and I managed to get through the crowd when Officer Jenny stepped in between my brother and the torchbearer. "I'm sorry, but only approved competitors are allowed to carry the flame", the policewoman told Ash.
"How do I get approved?" Ash asked.
"By asking the president of the Pokémon League Torch Committee for permission", Officer Jenny replied.
"Did I just hear my name?" a new and slight raspy voice called.
A short elderly man with long white beard stepped out of the large van and walked over to us. I recognized him from the television; Charles Goodshow. He was responsible for the torches that were used in the Conferences of Kanto, Johto, Hoenn, and Sinnoh since those four regions belonged in the same continent.
"President Goodshow!" Officer Jenny saluted him. "We have a Trainer here who is asking for permission to carry the torch."
"I see", Goodshow said while caressing his beard. "Let me ask myself; do you have eight badges and are you going to participate in the Conference, young man?"
"Yes, sir!" Ash nodded as he opened his jacket again to reveal his badges. "But I'm not the only one who's gonna battle in the League." He grabbed me gently by the wrist and pulled me forward so I stood next to him. "My sister, Ashley, is also a competitor."
"Hello, Mr. Goodshow…", I bowed softly while getting nervous again. "I have eight badges too if you'd like to see them…"
Goodshow laughed heartedly for a moment. "Well, in that case, I approve you two of carrying the torch", he said.
"Really?!" my brother and I exclaimed both in surprise and joy.
"Why yes, I can tell you have the burning spirit of great Pokémon Trainers, so it's only fair you receive your own brief of moment to carry Moltres' flame to the Indigo Stadium", Goodshow chuckled. "Now, correct me if I'm wrong, but you wouldn't be the twins Champion Lance told me about a few months ago?"
"You're friends with Champion Lance, sir?" I asked in surprise.
"I'm affiliated with the Champions from Kanto, Johto, Hoenn, and Sinnoh, so I often receive reports of their deeds and accomplishments", Goodshow explained. "He said he met the two heroes of Saffron City who chased Team Rocket out of the city when they tried occupying it. He said he saw potential in you two, and he's expecting you to compete in the Conference."
"Wow… I can't believe Lance himself speaks so highly about us!" Ash said excitedly.
"Pika pika!"
"Well then, let's start the preparations right away!" Goodshow smiled. "What are your names again, Trainers?"
"I'm Ash, but my full name is Ashton Joseph Ketchum", my brother introduced himself.
"And I'm Ashley Josephine Ketchum", I nodded.
"Ashton and Ashley, I hereby approve you of carrying the torch including the two friends behind you", Goodshow smiled.
"T-Thank you, sir!" Misty replied, stunned to receive permission to carry the torch.
"It's a huge honor, President Goodshow!" Brock said. "We promise the flame will be safe in our hands!"
"Sounds great, fellas", Goodshow chuckled. "First of you will be Ashton, so follow me inside the van and we'll see if we can find a uniform in the correct size for you."
"Yes, sir!" Ash nodded.
I fiddled with my thumbs before I opened my mouth. "E-Excuse me, sir…", I spoke up. "I have one tiny request."
"Yes, young lass?" Goodshow asked.
I took a deep breath to calm down before I continued. "Can I…be the last one to carry the torch all the way to the central torch in the stadium?" I asked.
"Ashley…?" Ash mumbled in surprise.
"Do you have particular reason as of why you want to be the last?" Goodshow asked.
I looked down on my feet as I dug the tip of my shoe into the dirt. "I…am a special need's person, so I am different from other Trainers", I explained. "I don't have much confidence in myself and I get nervous in a large crowd of people…so I want to try overcoming that by bringing Moltres' flame to the stadium torch."
Goodshow hummed as he brushed his long beard again. "If it helps you feel confident, then I shouldn't hold you back", he said. "I'll allow you to carry the torch at the beginning of the opening ceremony tomorrow."
I sighed in relief and relaxed my body as my request got approved. "Thank you very much, Mr. Goodshow!" I replied before bowing deeply.
A couple of minutes later, Ash stepped out of the van dressed in a shirt with the Pokémon League logo and shorts. He turned his cap backside before he held Pikachu out to me to hold him. "Pikachu, I appreciate and love you, buddy, but for this I want to run with Ivysaur, my very first Pokémon", my brother told the yellow Pokémon.
"Pikapi!" Pikachu nodded, understanding Ash's reasoning.
Officer Jenny and a couple of the staff from the League escorted me, Misty, and Brock onboard the van and got to sit on top of it while Ash and Ivysaur would run a couple of miles before it was Misty's turn to carry the flame.
Ash received an empty torch which he used to carefully receive the flame from the torchbearer. Ivysaur helped out by using one of his vines to hold the torch along with my brother.
"The next torchbearer, Ashton Joseph Ketchum, has now the flame of Moltres!" Goodshow announced to the villagers when it was time to move forward. "Let us depart to the Indigo Plateau!"
The villagers cheered as Ash and Ivysaur started jogging together while none of them ever let go of the torch. The van and Officer Jenny drove slowly behind them so they wouldn't run over them by accident as we watched my brother running with the legendary flame.
The whole day was calm and quiet and nothing bad happened. Not even Team Rocket showed up once to try stealing our Pokémon or the flame. I had almost forgotten about the evil trio since it had been a while we saw them.
By the next stop, Misty changed into her own uniform and took over the flame. Her choice of Pokémon partner was Togepi which she carried on her shoulder for a couple of miles. Togepi enjoyed it as she got to see the world in a different point of view.
At the final stop, Brock took over the flame and had Vulpix running by his side. I sometimes forgot that Brock was just taking care of Vulpix for a certain time to train and learn more to become a good Pokémon Breeder. It was only a matter of time before he had to return the fox Pokémon to Suzie.
XXXXXXXXXX
We arrived to the Indigo Plateau by early evening and the whole place was full of people and Pokémon alike. Brock returned the flame to Goodshow so it could stay in a secured place until the opening ceremony tomorrow and changed back to his clothes before we went to the Pokémon League Village to get a place to stay for the whole week of the Conference. I stayed close to Ash and had my arms wrapped around his so I wouldn't lose sight of him. We ended up getting the keys for a cottage since the hotel rooms were fully booked, which was no problem.
We were on our way to the cottage when we walked past a café where we found a very familiar person. "I thought you were gonna be late, twins!" Gary called.
"Gary!" Ash exclaimed. "Of course we wouldn't be late for the Conference! This is a huge step for us!"
"Huge step for your defeat", Gary commented after he took a sip of his drink while being surrounded by his fangirls. "But gramps' got high expectations, so I'll be nice."
"Gary, Gary, he's so nice, until he beats you on Friday thrice!" the fangirls chanted with their pompoms.
"What a surprise…", I commented sarcastically while narrowing my eyes at him.
I was familiar with Gary's game. He used to say in the past that he was going to be nice, but he broke his own words the next day and kept harassing and bullying me. That ended up becoming a repeated cycle since I naively believed him, but I now learned those words were nothing but empty promises.
Gary looked a little surprised by my reaction, so he stood up and waved his hands. "No! This time I'm serious!" he defended himself. "I know I used to be rude and childish when we were kids, but I'm being honest now when I say I'll be nice to you! At least, until we end up facing each other in the preliminaries and the finals."
"We're all technically still kids, though…", Brock pointed out.
"I'll show you how much I've grown and learned throughout the journey when we end up battling each other, Gary!" Ash declared determinedly. "And then you'll be sorry for ever bullying me and Ashley!"
Gary snorted before he got an expression that was often associated with the light bulb ideas you often saw in cartoons. "Let's make a bet then", he suggested. "If I lose at some point in the competition, whether against you two or someone else, and you make it to the quarterfinals, I'll apologize to you for everything I've done. What'd you say about it?"
"That sounds just fine!" Ash nodded, accepting the bet.
"Pika!" Pikachu yelped in agreement.
"But what will the twins do if they lose?" Misty asked.
"Toge?"
"Did you have to point that out, Misty?!" Ash complained.
"Well, a bet is usually made up by two parties, so it's only fair that you have to deal with the consequences if you end up losing", Misty retorted calmly.
"Don't worry, I'll go easy on ya when you lose", Gary said. "If both of you lose, you'll have to serve me for a week straight after the Conference."
"Serve…you?" I asked confusedly.
"Yep! As in becoming my servants", Gary said with a cocky grin.
"NEVER!" Ash and I yelled simultaneously at our rival.
Gary grinned before he walked around the table, ready to leave and retire for the night. "That's why you should do your best to make it to the quarterfinals. Then, we can talk about the bet again", he said. "It's time for me to hit the sack and prepare for tomorrow. Smell ya later! And good luck!"
He walked away with his fangirls cheering for him and coming up with those weird chants and rhymes. I was a little surprised he didn't try bullying us more with his cruel word, so maybe he has matured? But what if it was just an act, just like what he did years ago?
"Don't worry, Ashley", Ash snapped me out of it. "We'll show him how strong we are and make him regret for what he has done to us!"
"Right…", I nodded.
XXXXXXXXXX
This was one of the worst sleepless nights I've ever had. I had a hard time falling asleep because I was nervous for the Conference. How good would my Pokémon do? How strong were my opponents going to be? How far would I go? Will I make it to the quarterfinals? Will Ash also make it?
I managed to get a few hours of sleep before I woke up in the very early morning. The sun wasn't even up yet, but I felt wide awake. We had bunk beds in the cottage, so I slept in the lower bunk bed. I silently got out of the bed and grabbed my clothes to change into them and walk out for some fresh air.
I was still tired, so the air felt extra chilly and I felt cold. Even so, I walked to the empty stadium where the ceremonies and finals were soon going to take place. In just a few hours, the place was going to be full of people that were going to see me run with Moltres' fire to the large torch at the top of the stadium. I hoped I wasn't going to trip and fall and get laughed at. I've been laughed and made fun of for so long that I just wanted it all to stop.
"Ashley?"
I flinched when I heard the sudden voice and turned around. I relaxed when I realized it was Ash. "Ash, don't sneak up on me like that", I scolded him.
"Sorry", Ash smiled sheepishly before he stood next to me. "Can't sleep too?"
"Yeah…", I nodded as I stared at the empty field.
Both of us were silent as we looked at the stadium as it bathed in the moonlight. Hundreds of Trainers were going to fill the field for the opening ceremony and a large amount of them were surely to be stronger than us. I wanted to win the preliminaries so much and make it to the quarterfinals. I secretly wanted to win the League, but I knew I wouldn't make it there. That was why I set my hopes low and try to be realistic about the dreams I have.
"Ashley", Ash spoke up.
"Yes?" I asked as I turned to him.
My brother looked at me with a glance that I knew about. It was time for one of our rituals that we often made during our childhood. We stood face to face and then held each other's hands while staring in the eyes of one another.
"No matter how far we'll go…", Ash began.
"No matter how bad it'll get…", I continued.
"We will be together until our dreams come true!"
We smiled at each other by the end of the ritual. I felt a lot more relaxed now. This ritual was something we came up with to assure that we were always going to be there for one another no matter how far we will make it in the Conferences and other big competitions.
"Let's do our very best, Ashley", my brother told me.
"Yes", I smiled, feeling so happy to have Ash by my side.
XXXXXXXXXX
I managed to get more sleep when Ash and I returned to the cottage, so I felt much better after waking up in the morning. The cottage had a kitchen, so Brock woke up early to prepare breakfast. Shortly after we finished eating, a staff member from the Conference showed up on behalf of Goodshow and asked me to come along.
I met up with Goodshow in a private room inside the main stadium where I got my uniform and instructions of what I should do when I run to the large torch with Moltres' fire and also when my cue was. I got changed into the uniform in a locker room and brought Firered's Poké Ball with me. He was going to be my companion for the opening ceremony.
I stood in a corridor that led outside to the field that was now crowded of the other Trainers that were going to participate in the competition. The stadium was also full of people who came from every corner of Kanto to watch the Conference in person and not through a screen.
I held the torch in my hand while I couldn't help but fiddle with my feet. I was getting nervous for each second, but Firered stepped behind me and wrapped his wings around me to give me a hug. I giggled by the way the wings tickled me, but the gesture helped my nerves to calm down. "Thank you, Firered."
"Rwrr…", Firered rumbled.
He removed his wings so I could face him with the torch. "Firered… We've been on this journey for almost a year now and look how far we have come", I told him. "I wouldn't have made it here without you, so… Thank you for becoming my partner, Firered."
"Rawr…!" Firered smiled.
"And now, the Trainer bearing the flame of Moltres is about to enter the stadium for the official lighting of the central torch which will burn throughout the Pokémon League Competition!" the announcer called out.
"That's our cue", I said as I turned to the opening leading to the stadium field. "Let's go…together!"
"Rawr!" Firered roared before the two of us ran outside.
The crowd from the stands cheered loudly and that made my ears ring for a moment, but I ignored the hissing pain. My focus was to get this done and join the other Trainers after changing my clothes. As soon as we were outside, Firered flew up to follow me through the air. I ran to the middle of the field that was open and led me to the central torch. The cheers from the stands were replaced by claps as I reached the first steps up to the stadium torch.
"Our final Pokémon Trainer who is carrying the torch is Ashley Josephine Ketchum from Pallet Town!" the announcer called. "After months of traveling together with her twin brother, who is also competing, she is now going to light up the torch and the Indigo Plateau Conference shall begin!"
I carefully ran up the stairs without tripping until I reached the final platform before the central torch. I was about to take the final steps to my destination when two people in weird robes showed up in front of me. Both of them had long brown hair that reached down to their waists.
"What's this? Two people in robes has suddenly showed up", the announcer said. "Are they representatives of the League?"
I stopped in my tracks before I could accidently run into this mysterious duo. "E-Excuse me, but who are you?" I asked timidly, suddenly worried that I had missed something of the instructions I received from Goodshow.
"We were sent by President Goodshow to assure the flame of Moltres makes it safely to the central torch", the woman of the duo explained.
The man held out his hand, obviously wanting to take the torch. "So pass the torch to us and we shall light up the stadium", he said.
"Mr. Goodshow never told me about this…", I shook my head as I took a step back. I was getting a bad feeling about this.
Firered landed next to me and growled warningly at the duo. "Rwrrr…!"
"Don't be so stubborn and hand over the torch to us!" the woman shouted angrily as her voice cracked, now sounding awfully familiar.
"That voice…!" I gasped in realization.
"Ashley!"
I looked over my shoulder and saw Ash run up the stairs with Pikachu. He looked really worried and must have sensed danger around me. He often had that sixth sense, which Mom used to joke about that our sixth senses could sense whenever one of us was in danger.
However, because my attention was at my brother, the torch was snatched out of my hand. I let out a shriek of surprise and turned around to see two familiar faces that had been hidden beneath those long bangs.
"Team Rocket?!" I exclaimed in surprise.
"Took you long enough, twin-twerp!" Jessie laughed while she held the torch.
"Thanks for the torch!" James grinned widely.
Ash and Pikachu made it up to us and stood between me and Firered. "I never thought you were going to stoop so low and ruin the Pokémon League!" my brother yelled angrily.
"Pika pika!" Pikachu growled aggressively.
"It's been a plan of ours for a while now, since any essence of a Legendary Pokémon is worth millions of PokéDollars", Jessie explained.
"We thought of snatching the flame sooner, but we decided to wait until the opening ceremony to lower everyone's spirits", James added.
"How can you be so cruel?!" I shouted angrily while feeling tears accumulate in my eyes.
"We're Team Rocket, so of course we are cruel!" Jessie laughed before she held up a walkie-talkie. "Meowth, commence Operation: Ruining Ceremony!"
"Aye-aye, Jessie!" Meowth's voice responded.
"No way!" I cried. "Firered, take the torch back!"
"RAWR!" Firered roared as he stomped toward Team Rocket in a fast pace.
However, James was faster as he threw a Poké Ball. "Weezing, use Smokescreen!" he shouted.
Weezing came out of the Poké Ball with a soft grunt. Seconds later, it released a thick black smoke and engulfed the entire platform. Firered had been meters away from Jessie when he stopped in his tracks because of the smokescreen. I covered my mouth and nose and coughed while trying to fan the smoke away.
"Time to light up the torch!" Jessie sang through the smoke.
As soon as the smoke had cleared up, my brother, our Pokémon and I were greeted by the sight of the central torch being lit. It was burning, but not in the gentle way I used to see on the television. It was violent as if it had sensed Team Rocket's evil spirit.
If things couldn't get worse, they were now. A large robot in the shape of a Nymble, a Pokémon originating from the Paldea region, crawled up to the top of the stadium. The building started crumbling so Firered picked me and Ash up in his arms before he flew up to avoid one of the robot's feet. Pikachu managed to climb up onto my brother before we left the platform. We watched in horror as the Nymble robot extended its two front arms and lifted up the burning torch and loaded it onto its back.
"Ladies and gentlemen, the central torch has just been stolen by a giant Nymble robot!" the announcer gasped in horror.
The Nymble robot leaped up in the air and went right for the field where the other Trainers were standing. They scattered around and escaped inside the stadium before they could get crushed by the robot's multiple legs.
"We'll steal every Trainer's Pokémon now!" Meowth's voice echoed from a loudspeaker on the robot. "Hand them over or else we'll squash you like a Weedle!"
Firered landed in a corner of the field and let me and Ash down before we could take further action to stop the chaos. "We must stop them before they ruin everything!" I shouted.
"I'll try stopping them!" Ash yelled. "Pikachu, use Thunderbolt!"
"Pika!" Pikachu shrieked determinedly as he jumped down my brother's shoulder and ran toward the robot with his cheeks sparkling. "Pika…CHUUUUU!"
Pikachu released a Thunderbolt and it hit the robot. However, it didn't do any damage at all nor did it slow the robot down. The three voices of Team Rocket laughed at the unsuccessful attack.
"Sorry, but the robot is entirely insulated, so electric attacks won't work on us!" Meowth explained.
"Firered, use Flamethrower!" I shouted.
"RAAAWR!" Firered roared before breathing his Flamethrower at the robot.
The Nymble robot leaned down so the torch became the target instead. To my shock, the flame of the torch absorbed Firered's fire attack, so it ended up making zero damage to the robot.
"Nice try, but better luck next time!" James laughed.
"Well, since the twin-twerps seem to be full of spirit, perhaps we shall let them taste their own medicine", Jessie suggested.
"I'm with you, Jessie!" Meowth laughed.
The Nymble robot stomped forward and forced me, Ash and our Pokémon into a corner of the stadium while aiming the central torch at us. I started shaking in fear, already knowing what Team Rocket was about to do.
"N-No… They can't do this to us!" I cried hysterically as I clung onto my brother.
Ash had his arm wrapped around my waist while he covered Pikachu with his body. "You're gonna regret this, Team Rocket!" he yelled at them. "You're wrecking this competition because of the flame of Moltres and you think you can stop us?! Well, we aren't the only Trainers here! The others will stop you after you hurt us!"
"That's what you think, twerp!" Meowth said. "Say your last wishes!"
The flame of the torch burned brighter before it was fired at us. I closed my eyes and prepared for the worst.
This is it.
I got to live a short life and experience a lot of things, but I wanted to see a lot more and make my dream come true.
The heat of Moltres' fire engulfed me and tickled my skin. The air was also thick, but I could still breathe. I opened my eyes when I realized I didn't feel any pain. I looked up and saw Firered had wrapped me and Ash with his wings while Pikachu held onto my brother's jacket on the back. Firered's wings didn't do much to protect us and yet we were still fine and our bodies hadn't burned into black crisps.
Ash was just as stunned as me that we weren't injured, even though the flame was still engulfing us. "What's going on?" he asked as he looked at his hands.
The flame suddenly got its own life and flew up in the air and out of the central torch that was still strapped onto the Nymble robot. The flame shapeshifted into the silhouette of the Legendary Pokémon Moltres!
"Moltres!" Ash and I called in relief and joy at the sight.
The fire even shrieked like the Legendary Pokémon and flew in the air, shocking everyone who witnessed this moment. The fire bird flew toward Team Rocket's robot and engulfed it with its flame. It didn't take long before the robot overheated and exploded into millions of pieces. The central torch was safe as it somehow ended up flying up in the air due to the force of the explosion and fell back onto the stadium where it originally was. Team Rocket's cries faded away as they were thrown out of the robot and flew up and away in the sky.
The flame of Moltres screeched victoriously before it flew back to the central torch and sat down inside of it before turning back into its former glory. The people in the stands cheered as the chaos was now over and everything was back to normal. Well, as normal as it could be now.
However, the opening ceremony needed to take a brief break so the staff could clear up the field of the broken machine parts of the Nymble robot. While they cleared up the mess, Ash and I went inside the stadium where Misty, Brock, Goodshow and even Gary showed up to check on us. The nurse in the infirmary confirmed that my brother and I had no injuries or burn marks, so we were clear to go.
I changed back into my clothes since my work was done and joined Ash and Pikachu on the field when it was time for the opening ceremony to resume. It was now Goodshow's turn to hold his annual speech.
"Welcome, one and all!" he spoke in a microphone. "This stadium is a very special place where those who truly love Pokémon 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!"
The whole stadium erupted into loud cheers and applauds. It became a little too much for my ears, so I covered them with my hands to muffle the noise. It helped a bit, but I knew I had to get used to it if I wanted to compete in this Pokémon League and other Conferences in the future.
But now…
Let the Indigo Plateau Conference begin!
XXXXXXXXXX
Ashley's party:
Firered the Charizard (male)
Luna the Clefairy (female)
Sunny the Rapidash (female)
Chanchan the Hitmonchan (male)
Volt the Jolteon (male)
Aria the Lapras (female)
XXXXXXXXXX
Ashley's Pokémon at the Lab:
Kobra the Arbok (male)
Hunter the Aerodactyl (male)
Oliver the Vileplume (male)
Queendra the Seadra (female)
Rina the Nidoqueen (female)
Kabo the Kabutops (male)
Wanda the Gyarados (female)
XXXXXXXXXX
Ash's party:
Charizard (male)
Wartortle (male)
Pikachu (male)
Ivysaur (male)
Hitmonlee (male)
Rhydon (male)
XXXXXXXXXX
Ash's Pokémon at the Lab:
Squirtle x4 (males)
Krabby (male)
Muk (male)
Tauros (male)
Gengar (male)
Pidgeotto (male)
Mimey the Mr. Mime (male)
Omastar (male)
Poliwrath (male)
Snorlax (male)
Exeggutor (male)
Nidoking (male)
Dragonair (female)
Beedrill (male)
XXXXXXXXXX
Misty's party:
Goldeen (female)
Staryu (genderless)
Psyduck (male)
Togepi (female)
Poliwag (male)
XXXXXXXXXX
Misty's Pokémon in the Cerulean Gym:
Starmie (genderless)
Horsea (female)
XXXXXXXXXX
Brock's party:
Geodude (male)
Onix (male)
Zubat (male)
Vulpix (female)
Rhydon (male)