The Quickfire Quiz Master

Pushing her body forwards, the wind blew through Alexa's hair as she joyously laughed. Taking in the fresh sea breeze whipping past, droplets of saltwater kissed her face as her Milotic sped through the Route 21 waterway southwards, making a straight path to the volcanic Island Town of Cinnabar Island. With citizens of the town known for their Burning Desires, not even Cinnabar Island's Ravaged Past could keep them away. Having been wiped away (on numerous occasions) by Volcanic Activity, the people insist on rebuilding anew every single time. With the decrepit Pokemon Mansion just located off the mainland coast, it manages to avoid destruction every single time. However, unlike the Mansion's former host, a different Brainiac (and Hot-Headed Quiz Master) also remains on this island! The Fire-Type Scientist, Blaine!

Just as the sun began to set on the island town, Milotic began to slow on its jetspeed-like pace, eventually transitioning into a slither in the shallows of the water. "Thanks Milotic!" Alexa said, dipping her feet into the water and hopping off the creature. Bryce followed suit as the duo of trainers walked beside the Pokemon swimming closer and closer to the shore. "Return! Now let's go find you a Pokecenter." Recalling the beast to its ball, Alexa and Bryce stepped onto the sandy shores of Cinnabar Island.


Exiting the orange roofed Pokemon Center, the pair gazed down the street seeing two flashing spotlights, and a variety of multicolored strobes shining off in rapid succession to draw attention to the building. On a neon sign out front flashed the words: TRIVIA NIGHT!' The duo made their way to the lines of crowd filing in, with their fully healed Pokemon on their belts.

On a darkly lit stage, the shadows of three podiums could be seen silhouetted within the darkness. Each one contained a microphone, however no distinct details on them could be made out. Suddenly, a man appears in the darkness and strides onto the stage. As the clock hits 7:00 pm and the cameras start rolling, the spotlight flashes on showing a bald headed man with sunglasses, a lab coat and a white moustache standing before the three podiums. Holding a microphone up to his mouth, he gives his introduction to the Quiz-based Game Show.

"Ladies and Gentlemen, welcome to Cinnabar Trivia Night! It just so happens that we have three knowledgeable trainers here to test their wits! Here to challenge me for the valiant Volcano Badge! While they shall all face my Pokemon in due time for their opportunity to claim victory, it's all a matter of where I place their challenges that matters. Tonight, three contestants shall endure varying degrees of Pokemon Trivia for points! Whichever trainer ends the night with the most points will receive a televised match with me for their Badge following the Trivia Portion of the show! The remaining two contestants will have to challenge me bright and early tomorrow morning! Who's ready for a Trivia Night!" Blaine said before the cheering live audience before him. "The first Challenger, hailing from Viridian City... Bryce Krüger!" As he said that, a panel in the floor opened allowing the first contestant, ten year old Bryce, to be carried up to a podium shaped like Blaine's face. "Next up, from the scenic Pallet Town we have, Alexa Ketchum!" Alexa followed suit, rising up to the center podium through the stage itself.

'Oh man, I wonder who the third challenger is gonna be?' Alexa and Bryce simultaneously thought, with determination and joy respectively.

"And FINALLY!" Blaine roared into his microphone, as a single violin string began to play. This was odd as the previous contestants did not have any theme music.

"Oh my god," Alexa said, clutching her podium a little tighter.

"This guy has Final Boss Music!" Her travelling companion eclaimed.


Author's Note- For the certain song that I have in mind, look up "The Rising Sun (Shinsuke Nakamura)"


As two puffs of fire shot out from the third and final podium, Blaine continued calling forth the next challenger. "A former Quiz-Challenge Champion is here, and he's looking for a rematch! Fighting from the clean slate known as Pallet Town! You know him! You love him! The former Champion of KANTO! A Man who beat DEATH!"

'No! It can't-' Alexa thought to herself as shock ran through her body.

"REEED KETCH-UUUUM!" Blaine exclaimed, drawing out the last name of the famed trainer.

Just as silence falls upon the audience, Two blinding fireworks go off indoors, sending the audience into an uproar, as the intense violin music continues to blare across the roaring crowd. Being raised up to his podium, a man in his forties sporting a red cap, white t-shirt with a '96' Logo and jeans raised his hands before the audience, with a smile plastered on his face.

"Oh hey, Alexa," The black haired trainer said in a deep voice. "I figured our paths would cross again sooner or later!"

"WHAT?!" Alexa exclaimed, seeing that her mother's husband, and rival for her journey, was on Cinnabar Island as well.


"Alright, first we have the Lightning-Speed Buzz-In Round! I'm going to read the question and the first trainer to hit their button gets to answer it! Ready Players? GO!"

"For 100 Points! Name the Imitation Pokemon!"

When the Blaine-Faced Podium in the center lit up, Alexa spoke first: "Sudowoodo!" She said into the microphone.

"That is correct!" Blaine exclaimed, as '100 pts' appeared on a monitor above the girls head. "Very good! Most people confuse Ditto for that one! Next, 200 Points! This Pokemon has the highest amount of possible evolutions! Love, Rocks!"

Buzzing in was Red who confidently said, leaning into the microphone: "That would be, Eevee, Blaine."

"Correct!" As 200 points were added to the monitor above Red's head. "For 500 Points! These Pokémon are cherished in the Alola region, where they are thought to be feminine deities of the land incarnate!"

"Alolan Dugtrio!" All three contestants exclaimed, buzzing into the question in unison.

"Correct! Correct! Correct!" Blaine cheered. "We're gonna cut to a commercial break, but stick around for more trivia!"


Later on throughout the Trivia Night, the point totals sat at:

Bryce- 1700

Alexa- 2200

Red- 2200

With the point totals tied, it was determined that Alexa and her Rival, Red, would soon be entering Sudden Death to crown the one who would challenge Blaine on that night. However before his departure, Bryce was given a chance at the "Wheel of Pokedex."

"Alrighty folks!" Blaine exclaimed, rallying up the crowd. "We don't want Bryce going home completely empty-handed so we're giving him a shot at the Pokedex Wheel! Spin the wheel, get a 'Dex Entry and guess what that Pokemon is! Get it right, and we'll let you go home with that Pokemon!"

Currently set to the Pokedex Entry: "Extremely loyal, it will fearlessly bark at any opponent to protect its own Trainer from harm," was a large multicolored wheel with nine different Entries to land on.

'That's Growlithe!' Bryce thought to himself. 'Can you imagine! If I got one of those!' Entering a daydream, Bryce fantasized about owning a black and orange Puppy Pokemon blowing a Flamethrower at his command. "I'm ready, Blaine!" The boy said trudging up to the wheel and rolling up his sleeves. Raising his hands up, grabbing onto a lever, he pulled it dowards and watched as the colorful 'Dex Entries spun in rapid motion. As the colors blitzed before his eyes, he imagined himself partnering up with all these potential Pokemon partners. The possibilities of who he would end up with seemed limitless, and all he had to do was play into fate's hand. Maybe a Hitmonchan!? Maybe a Charizard!? Maybe even a Tyranitar!

As Fate's Wheel spun, it began to slow until it finally came to a complete stop.

"(BLANK) is a pathetic excuse for a Pokémon that is only capable of flopping and splashing. This behavior prompted scientists to undertake research into it!" Blaine read aloud, before a spotlight landed on Bryce.

"Ah!..." The boy excitedly cheered, before realization set in. "...It's Magikarp…" Bryce said in a defeated tone.

"That IS CORRECT!" Blaine roared into the microphone, sending the audience into an uproar. As Bryce stood next to the Cinnabar Island Gym Leader, a 'Trivia Night' Assistant walked out onto the stage with a wriggling Magikarp in their hands to give to the boy.


"What are you doing here Red?" Alexa said to the older man backstage while Bryce was winning his prized Magikarp. "Is Mom with you?"

"Well quite honestly we didn't expect to see you here," Red said to his wife's adoptive daughter. "So she wanted to drop in at the house and stay there for a bit. I'd travel here solo then go back to see her."

"Damn," Alexa said. "Must mean we passed each other then…"

"I know you miss your mom, kid," The man said, placing a hand on her shoulder. "There's not a minute that goes by when we're on the road and she's not thinking 'bout you. Besides, I'm sure she's gonna be shocked when she tunes in and sees that the two of us are squaring off against each other on Blaine's game show!"

"And when I win, I'll be challenging him live on national television!" Alexa said, just as Blaine had uttered 'That IS CORRECT!' from the stage behind her.

"Well you're gonna have to beat me first," Red said, peering down at the girl, as the audience behind the curtains went into an uproar.


"And we're back down to our final two! Red Ketchum vs. Alexa Ketchum in the Spitfire Semifinal Showdown! Let's BEGIN!" As a countdown from three initiated, two Magmars appeared on a digital screen, lighting off a two minute timer. "Whose plant blooms when it is absorbing solar energy? Staying on the move to seek sunlight?"

"What is Venusaur, Blaine," Red said, buzzing in, making his current point total increase by 100 points.

"⅓! This Pokemon's chance of transitioning after evolution!"

"What is Pikablue!" Red announced, as a red 'X' appeared on his mini screen, with 200 points being deducted from his total.

"Alexa! Chance to steal!" Blaine quickly uttered, pointing to the girl.

"What is Marrill!" She said, sending the crowd into applause. "C'mon Red! Know your Johto Pokemon!" The teen said with a wink.

"An icy punch that may freeze the target!"

"Ice Punch!" Alexa shouted moments before Red had opened his mouth to speak.

"THAT IS CORRECT!" Blaine exclaimed, as the vigor in which he screamed knocked his sunglasses askew.

'This is it!' Alexa joyously thought to herself. 'This is where I show Red!'

"What!... Is the airspeed velocity of an unladen Farfetch'd?" Blaine asked, making the pair of contestants hesitant to guess.

Suddenly, Red, Alexa's Rival, buzzed in, raising a gasp from the audience. This was a man about to risk it all. "Kantonian or Galarian?"

A puzzled look came onto the Quiz Master's face, as silence fell upon the once lively audience. "...Well I don't know!" The Cinnabar Island Gym Leader exclaimed into his microphone, before an orange siren began to go off, sending a gasp over the audience. "Oh my... ladies and gentlemen! Do you know what this means?! Red Ketchum has stumped the Quiz Master!" Suddenly, colorful confetti and streamers began to rain down from the ceilings.

"What!?" Alexa exclaimed, angrily confused by this victory-like celebration.

"You see," Blaine says, straightening his sunglasses, locking onto Red. As he spoke, the podiums began to lower into the floor. "When you have bested me on the trivial playing field, it's only right that I best you on another so that I may defend my honor! You sir, have been challenged to a Gym Battle by me!"

"Well if it's a battle you want, it's a battle you got!" Red said with a grin, drawing a Pokeball off his belt, and adjusting the cap atop his head.

Before Alexa had known it, the stage beneath her feet had shifted backwards, revealing a battlefield for Blaine and Red to combat each other on. Now positioned further away from the two, she felt as if her well-assured victory had been ripped from her grasp.

"Tough luck not beating your Rival," Bryce said, appearing at the side of Alexa, looking on as Red sent out a Snorlax while Blaine threw out a Ninetales. In his arms, he held a Magikarp approximately 2 feet across in diameter. Extending it out to the girl he said: "Hey, check out my newest Pokemon!"

"That's great…" Alexa said, witnessing the Snorlax launch forwards at its opponent with a Mega Punch in hand, just as its opponent's flames began to curl around its body. 'At least I'll get a chance to scout out his potential team for tomorrow... But I bet Blaine totally rigged this episode for the ratings!'