~ Chapter 102 ~
One by One
"Friends, family, Gym Leaders, people I had met on my travels…all of them had come out to watch me challenge the Pokémon League and defeat Valentina. I was surprised and heart warmed that they had all kept true to their word. This would be far from the last time this would happen…but the first time is always special. I think the most important people to be there were my family from Twinleaf Town. My friends, Jeremy's family, Palmer, my grandmother…and my grandfather—his presence was especially important to me. His presence was never one I thought would be there…but to have him there meant everything. I didn't need his advice—not this far in—just his eyes watching me…and his presence."
Sam looked upon his friends and family as his name was called.
Alyssandra and Enzo rushed back in from their rematch battle, and Sam's stomach did a backflip.
Everyone was here to watch Sam take on the Pokémon League…but now that his name rang over the PA system, Sam was ready to vomit and give up.
He grabbed his crate of Full Restores and Max Revives and lugged it with him over to the doorway to the battlefield.
Could he really do this?
Was he ready?
Was he strong enough?
Sam sighed and took a deep breath.
"You've got this, my boy," smiled Aurelio, placing a hand on his grandson's shoulder.
Sam nodded, and started to walk towards the massive crowd of people gathered before him.
Firs to approach him were the eight Sinnoh Gym Leaders.
"You've got this, kid. You had this when you beat me," smiled Palmer, giving Sam a thumbs up.
"If you can lead a siege to bring down Team Galactic and save Sinnoh, you can take down the Elite Four, with no problems!" cheered Candice.
Byron let out a booming laugh. "You've got more heart and guts than any challengers I've met before!"
"My niece has taught you well, and life as taught you better," nodded Fantina, "Soon, you vill be the strongest trainer in the region!"
"Ferocity! Tenacity! Your strength shall overwhelm your opponents!" cried Crasher Wake as he flexed and posed.
"Just don't forget, just because your Pokémon know moves that may surprise your opponents, doesn't mean your opponents haven't done the same," smiled Maylene, "You should've learned that lesson from me!"
"It's nice to have seen you come so far since Eterna City," smiled Gardenia.
"And since your first Gym Battle!" added Roark, "All those months ago…it feels like years."
Rort was next, standing near his brother, granddaughter and nephew. His foot had healed, though now part of his arm was wrapped in a bandage from a burn he received the other day. He grabbed Sam's hand and shook it tightly. "I can't wait till I go back to the Ironworks and tell all the boys that the kid who helped stop those pesky Ambipom is the new Champion! You can do it!"
Sam thanked Rort, then turned to see Cynthia standing there with he arms crossed, cool as ever. "I stood exactly where you are myself. I know how nervous you are…it doesn't wear off, I'm sorry. But that doesn't mean it can break you."
Sam nodded. He appreciated the honest truth from Cynthia. Out of everyone in this room—save for Professor Rowan perhaps—she knew exactly what Sam was going through.
"You know, I know potential when I see it. Valentina will not be Champion much longer, I think," smiled Cynthia, "It's funny…had you come here before her to face me when I was still Champion, perhaps yours and hers roles were would reversed."
Sam smiled and thanked Cynthia.
Barry stomped but to Sam, beaming with happiness for his new friend's success. Dawn and Lucas Oak stood behind him.
"You better win this, or I'll fine you 10 billion Poké-Yen for failing!" demanded Barry.
Sam chuckled and shook Barry's hand. That was Barry's own way of supporting him, and Sam would take it.
"You've got this!" cried Dawn, giving Sam a hug, while Lucas patted him on the back.
"I believe in you too," he smiled.
Sam thanked the trio and then turned on to the next of his friends who had gathered.
Jeremy's mother and father, as well as Niya's and Alyssandra's parents and younger siblings: Giulia and Emilio.
Jeremy's parents wished Sam the best of luck. His father shook his hand firmly, and patted Sam on the back supportively.
His mother gave him a hug, and handing Sam a photo of the friends and their families together from years ago—for luck.
Niya's parents stepped forward, wishing Sam good luck, and that they had always known he had the skills to get this far.
Alyssandra's parents shook Sam's hands, congratulating him. Her mother Lucia apparently had always supported Sam and Alyssandra getting together, and had called it—she even won a bet with her husband over it.
Her father, Emilio, had always hoped Sam would be his son-in-law—he saw no one better for his daughter than Sam, especially now that he was to be Champion.
Though admittedly, they would have a difficult time cheering for one side or the other come the battle against Valentina; it was their oldest daughter against their daughter's boyfriend and their longtime family friend.
Sam ruffled the hair of Alyssandra's two younger siblings.
They were fraternal twins, and both under ten years of age. Sam remembered when they were kids, newborns, toddlers…it felt like ages ago. They'd grown up so much. In a few months, they'd be ten years old, and off on their own Pokémon Journey in the spring once they'd graduated from Pokémon School.
Sam smiled at the parents of his friends, and turned back towards the door.
Now he came upon Palmer and Professor Rowan.
Palmer looked like he was holding back tears of pride, and Professor Rowan seemed to wear a sad smile.
"Your gramps would be proud of you," said Palmer, patting Sam on the shoulder.
"I would be, he's right," laughed Aurelio from his ghostly place beside Sam.
"You've got this…gonna be stronger than me one day," Palmer gave a choked laugh, "You're growing up on me…no one said you could do that!"
Sam choked on a laugh as well and hugged Palmer.
Palmer, speechless, merely hugged him back before walking off towards the nearby counter to regain his composure.
Professor Rowan stepped forward—Sakura Oak was hiding behind her grandfather, shy as ever—and shook Sam's hand and smiled at him with a proud look.
"Your grandfather and I challenged the Pokémon League here, at this very spot, sixty-seven years ago," he noted, "It's…been a long time since then, but I think about that moment almost every day of my life. I miss him every time I do…I know if he were alive he'd be here now, cheering you on from the front seats."
"He'd be standing in the challenger's box with me, screaming strategies at me while I tried to think," corrected Sam, laughing.
"You're right, he would be," laughed Rowan, doubling over with laughter.
As he wiped away a tear he gave Sam a final nod.
"Thank you. For meeting me at Lake Verity, and giving me Piplup," stated Sam, "I appreciate it. I never could have gotten here without you."
"It wasn't me alone," smiled Professor Rowan, "But I acknowledge my part in this."
Sam nodded and turned towards the next in the line up.
His uncle, coming all the way from the ranch to see Sam battled the Elite Four.
He patted Sam on the back, and slipped him a note. "This came from Kanto," noted his uncle Lou, "Read it when you're done, if you want. In the mean time, you've got this! You've got the blood of both grandfathers in you. You've got greatness in your blood because of them. I believe in you."
Sam thanked his uncle, noticing the letter was from the Kanto Ranch as he slipped it into his pocket.
He'd need to read that later.
Sam then looked at the next few people waiting for him.
His friends and his grandmother; that's all that was left.
He had received letters from people who wished him well, but couldn't be there.
Mr. Victree.
The Yamamoto's in Solaceon Town.
Sam approached his friends and grandmother.
Turning to his friends, Jeremy wished him luck, giving Sam a hug. "You can do this, man," smiled Jeremy, "You'll be Champion in no time."
"Who knew I'd train a Champion," laughed Niya, "I better start charging for my services."
"Let me win first," smiled Sam.
Niya nodded and Sam turned to Alyssandra.
She threw her arms around him and hugged him tight, then reached up and kissed him quick. "You'll do fine. Just breathe. Like you always tell me."
Sam nodded. "Just remember who to cheer for," he joked, "Me, not your sister."
Alyssandra laughed and Sam turned to his grandmother.
"Looks like we'll soon have two champions in the family," smiled Sam's grandmother, "There's a lot of people here rooting for you, putting their hopes in you. But I want you to know, even if you don't win this time, we still love you. And no matter how many times you take a run at a league, we'll all be here to support you."
Sam smiled. Even now, sixteen years old, and his grandmother still knew exactly what to say to calm him down.
"Thank you…for everything," said Sam, vomiting up the words and feelings of two and a half decades, "For taking care of me, even though I'm not your kid. Raising me, teaching me right. Loving me…all the things I have, all the things I know…I owe you guys a lot and…thank you. Especially, for kicking my ass to go on this Journey in the first place."
Sam's grandmother smiled and hugged her grandson. "You're family, my only grandchild. I'm supposed to just ignore you?"
Sam laughed. Somedays, Sam didn't know who was wittier, his grandmother or grandfather.
"As for kicking your butt," continued Nancy, "Someone had to. You couldn't very well live at home forever, sitting there doting on my like I'm some old lady."
Sam laughed. "Fair enough."
"More than fair, really. True!" insisted Sam's grandmother.
Sam's face went red.
"Here, before you go," added Nancy, "Take this. Give this to Lyss after you're done here today…whatever happens."
She placed something in Sam's hand.
He took it and opened his palm to see his grandmother's black crystal necklace, the matching one to his. "Wait, grandmother this is—"
"Not the time to argue, go on! You need to get to that door!" stated Sam's grandmother, disappearing back into the group of his friends and family as they waited to be escorted to the stands.
Sam turned, throwing his case of Full Restores and Max Revives over his shoulder, and turned towards the big doors that would lead to his future and the battlefield.
"Present your badges and Trainer ID, challenger!" called the two guards by the side of the door.
Sam placed down the crate, again. He was starting to wonder why he even bothered lugging that thing around everywhere. At least there wouldn't be much moving once he reached the battlefield.
Sam presented the guards with his Trainer ID and his badge case; the badges gliterred in the light of the room, having just been shined the night before. The guards turned the badges over in their hands as they examined them thoroughly.
"Do you Gym Leaders verify that these badges were rightfully earned, and lawfully obtained?" asked the guard on the left.
The Gym Leaders answered in the positive.
The guards nodded and returned Sam's possessions, throwing the door open between the two of them.
"Proceed," they stated, "But know that once you step through this door, you cannot leave until you have defeated all members of the Elite Four and the Champion…or they have defeated you."
"That's inspiring," muttered Sam as he entered through the door, past the no-nonsense guards.
The door slammed coldly behind him, echoing through the hallway where he stood.
The hallway was narrow, but the ceiling was high.
Lights were located at the base of the walls, lighting up the hallway from the below.
It led towards an elevator up ahead that likely brought Sam up to the challenger's box.
"You're not alone," said a voice behind Sam.
It was his grandfather.
"I don't know if I need your advice this time…I think I've got this, just…a bit nervous that's all," stated Sam, "Besides I'm pretty sure that's illegal. I need to win this, on my own."
His grandfather nodded sagely. "I know. And the nerves are normal," he added, "Rowan and I nearly threw up in this hallway ourselves when we came here. Of course, you're lucky. You don't have to contend with Adelaida De Oliveira. She was terrifying. At the age of twelve she was already a member of the Elite Four…when Cynthia finally took her on she was Champion, and Bertha had taken her place in the Elite Four of Sinnoh."
"I've heard stories," replied Sam.
"They don't do her justice," snorted Aurelio.
Sam's stomach did a backflip.
"If you won't take my advice, will you at least take my presence and support? Might help the nerves, and I want a front row seat to see my grandson take down the Sinnoh League," smiled Aurelio.
Sam smiled at his grandfather and nodded.
"I'd be okay with that," he said.
With that, Sam walked towards the elevator.
His fate lay at the top of that lift.
Be it victory, or defeat.
Only time would tell.
