The cheers echoed in his ears, louder than any alarm clock ring or Arcanine roar. His blinking eyes almost missed what happened next; Sabrina's handshake with mismatching hands leading to her gripping his thumb, calling back his pokemon, bringing the clutch of heroic champions to a healing station in the stadium's underground, and reaching the male trainer locker rooms. He remembered some people there patting him on the back, some even complimenting his dual-attack strategy, but it all felt like a painting made with dribbling colors- all blended together in a chaotic mess.

Then they dispersed when security came, and the sounds of cheers and conversation gave way to leaky faucets and creaking hinges on lockers.

Ray gave one command and Pikachu launched itself from the pokeball. It sniffed around the room and stretched before cleaning itself. It gave Ray an idea, and so a few minutes later he entered the showers and did the same.

Now with damp hair and smelling much nicer, he readied himself for the wave of reporters on the other side of the locker room. Instead, there was a girl with her auburn hair tied into a single ponytail and brown eyes. Her smile grew bigger the more they looked at each other until she couldn't hold back her excitement. She leaped at him and hugged him around the neck.

"YOU CRAZY BEEDRILL! YOU DID IT YOU ACTUALLY DID IT! YOU WERE SO INCREDIBLE I SCREAMED MY HEAD OFF!"

This time, everything froze as they swung in the locker room doorway. He had known her since they were kids. He made fun of her pigtails- sorry, ponytails. Now they were sharing a moment together, and he felt far happier than with the other trainers. Maybe it was because they knew each other for so long. He put his hands around her too, and they shared a moment of victory and hope. Maybe they all weren't so screwed after all.

"Thanks," Ray whispered.

Delia let go of his neck. "I guess the good luck kiss worked, huh?"

Ray nodded.

Then they heard steps racing towards them. A familiar tall boy ran towards them in a blue vest.

"I knew I'd find you here," he wheezed. "This changes things."

He caught his breath some more, and Pikachu hopped on Ray's empty shoulder.

"No offense, Ray, but I was wondering why you didn't use Pidgeot sooner."

"Me too," Ray admitted. "I guess Pidgeot was faster than I thought. Must have forgotten that in the moment."

"Anyways," Blue said, "things can still get complicated. I hope the league decides not to change the rules randomly to disqualify you or something. Delia, you're next, up against Agatha, the woman with a lot of ghosts. You think you're ready?"

She cleared her throat and straightened out her t-shirt. "I hope so. As far as I know, her pokemon mostly use poison-attacks."

"She also uses Hypnosis and dream eater combination if given the chance." That voice sounded similar. A girl with dark black hair and piercing eyes walked towards them.

"Don't forget that, Delia."

She stopped in front of them and bowed at Ray.

"Good battle, Ray. You took me by surprise."

Ray bowed back. "You did a great job as well."

Sabrina smirked at him before walking away from the group.

Blue looked back to Ray with a questioning look on his face.

"Dang, she never said anything to me before."

Ray shrugged before a call came onto the intercom.

"Attention, Delia Arvaniti. Please go to Trainer entrance number one for your battle with Agatha. It will begin in five minutes."

They all looked towards the navigation kiosk on the other side of the hallway. It was on the other side of the stadium. They all bolted towards the other side.

"I had no idea they could restart the arena that fast," Delia said with a pant.

"Me either," gasped Ray.

They reached the other side before the final call was given, only to be blocked by a league official. His chest puffed out like his ego had been inflated by the small pin on his lapel labeling them as "League Official" complete with insignia.

"Delia Arvaniti, I presume?"

Delia nodded in between gasps of air.

"I was told by the pokemon league that the rules have changed slightly. Trainers can only bring in five pokemon."

Even Blue looked surprised.

"But that's not fair! I registered for six!" Delia's cheeks glowed red and her gasps for air stopped.

"I understand your plight," the official said in a robotic tone. "Unfortunately, rules are rules." They all could sense his air of satisfaction as Delia slowly reached for her pokeballs and deliberated in a low voice.

"Let's see, if I need to account for poison attacks, Kadabra might work...Wait, which one is weak to poison? They all seem pretty good, I just need to figure out which is slowest...Hmm...maybe this one..."

"Ms. Arvaniti, you must pick now, otherwise you'll forfeit the match."

They all screamed "WHAT" at the official's smug face.

"You can't do that!" Ray screamed as Delia fiddled around with her pokeballs. "She's right here, and your stupid rule is the only thing keeping her from entering!"

"I understand," the official said, with a hand motioning for Ray to calm down. "It's just league policy.

"I'll show you league policy," Delia grumbled as she removed Weepinbell's pokeball and gave it to Ray. As she handed it to him, their fingers touched, and Ray's anger left for a second. Delia exhaled through her nose and blushed a bit.

"Take care of Bella for me," she said before rushing into the arena. The two boys watched the world cheer on their friend.

"Let's get to our seats," Blue said. "This fight will be something else."

"Yep," Ray replied, looking one last time as Delia waved to her crowd of new fans. "It definitely will."