"Use blizzard!" The arena was packed to compacity as the people of Sinnoh eagerly watched the second attempt at a takeover. Confidently, a middle aged woman with long platinum blond hair stood commanding her Glaceon with ease.
She smiled wickedly as her graceful winter fox seemingly floated over to their opponent. With a quick intake of air, the blue fox squealed its name as a flurry of crystallized air funneled forward, causing a cry of pain to be heard coming from the opposing side.
Standing stiffly on the challengers platform stood an obviously panicked Shinji Tadashi. His long mauve hair blew in the breeze revealing two burning dawn gray eyes. He watched in horror as his loyal pokemon Torterra fall to his knees in exhaustion.
Anxiety gripped his every nerve as he realized the truth. It was over. Once again he could feel the shame of defeat as he allowed himself to run out of time. In a last ditch attempt he called a move, hoping for a miracle. "Use giga drain quick!"
With a determined nod, the continental pokemon struggled to his feet. The leaves on his back began to glow as a dozen luminated seeds shot aimlessly throughout the arena.
All the pokemons efforts were to no avail though, the titan was simply out of energy.
Without mercy, the blond woman jumped and pushed her hand forward, signaling to her Glaceon to send out the finishing move. Shinji didn't bother to watch, he couldn't bring himself to. He knew what this loss meant for his career.
After the smoke cleared and Glaceon rushed back to her trainer for praise, Shinji silently returned his starter to his pokeball. Turning, he left the arena; ignoring the sound of an announcers voice yelling over an exuberant crowd that was fading behind him. "The winner, and still champion... Shirona Yui!"
XxX
Two weeks passed and Shinji was in a dark place. He kept replaying the loss over in his mind, trying to figure out just how he managed to lose for a second time. His team had come out strong.
Each matchup had been perfect, every one of Shinjis pokemon had the type advantage and his strategy was on point. So how had he managed to lose when he clearly had the upper hand?
Groaning at the sound of knocking on his door, Shinji walked to let his brother in for what would probably be another lecture about feeling sorry for himself. Yeah... right, as if he would be pathetic enough to wallow in self pity. "What do you want Renji?"
"I just wanted to see how you're doing. I was wondering when you were going to start training to chalenge Shirona again." Either oblivious, or purposely ignoring his aggravation Shinji wasn't sure, regardless, Renji made his way in the dark room and walked directly toward the window.
Ripping the curtains open he smiled as shinji growled. "Are you a complete moron or did you come here specifically to piss me off."
Taking a seat at the foot of his bead, Renji looked smugly at his younger brother and shrugged. "I have no idea what you're talking about."
His response irritated Shinji to no end. "You know damn well I only have one more shot at challenging her, and I have to wait four years before I can challenge her again!"
Renji looked genuinely remorseful and Shinji realized his brother was an actual idiot. "Oh, right. I actually forgot about that."
Shinji didn't have the patience for this conversation. His head was already starting to hurt even after only a few minutes of his brothers blabbering. "How did you forget how your regions politics work?"
"It's too complicated now." Renji shrugged uncaringly. "Back when I was traveling, the champion had to accept every challenge and could be replaced at any time. This whole 'four year term' thing doesn't make any sense."
"That's because the champion has more responsibility now." Shinji yelled eagerly. Just thinking about the mess that caused all the changes got his blood boiling.
"Ever since the Jhoto uprising, The champion of each region is responsible for the safety of every single resident. The elite 4, the gym leaders and frontier brains, even the police, they're all under the champions command. If the champion could change on a whim, it would be catastrophic!"
"I guess it makes sense. But still, it seems illogical to give that much authority to the champion. It kind of ruins the whole pokemon league if you ask me." Renji was right in that aspect. At least they could agree on that. But there was nothing either of them could do about it now that the damage was done.
"Well, no one asked you. After the uprising, it was decided that the champions had rule over their regions. Weather we agree with it or not, it doesn't matter. We can't change the laws."
"So you don't agree with it then?" He couldnt tell if Renji had a hidden agenda or if he was trying like a moron to bond with him. If it was the latter, he was doing a horrible job. Deciding he was done talking, Shinji moved to end the conversation and get back to his self loathing in peace.
"Is there anything important you wanted, or are you just here to annoy me?"
"Yeah yeah." The older brother said with a casual wave of his hand. Raising his brother for the better part of 15 years, Renji was used to Shinjis occasional moodiness. "You really do need to go on another journey soon."
"What the hell Renji? I've been home two weeks and youre already kicking me out?" Getting the reaction he expected, Renji quickly began reciting his planned argument. But for some reason, the words he prepped failed him and he instead wound up sounding like a complete idiot.
"It's not like that. It's just... Summo is coming back to town next week and I wanted to, um, celebrate her return here..."
"You're kicking me out so you can get laid." If Shinji wasnt pissed off before, he was now. Not only was he going through one of the most depressing times in his life, his brother didnt even want him around! Shinji understood he was... blunt, but did his own brother hate him the same way everyone else did? "Wow."
"Shinjiiii, it's not like that little brother! It's just-" He couldn't even defend himself after that. Shinji knew when he wasnt wanted, and if Renji wanted him gone, then he would leave.
"Don't bother. I'll be out of here by Friday."
"Where are you going to go?"
"Somewhere that's not here."
"Well, I have an idea of where you could go this time. Let me make a phone call first." Without waiting for Shinji to respond, Renji rushed out of the room and down the stairs.
Pulling out his phone he dialed the only number he could think of. The one person who would be willing to travel with the grump that was his little brother.
"Hey little cousin! It's been too long. So how have you been?" After a long pause a sneaky smile broke on his face. Although he felt bad about his loss, their cousin would definitely take the opportunity to travel with Shinji.
"Oh really? That's too bad. Have you made any plans for what you're going to do next?" After listening again he began getting excited.
"Really? Well, you should drop by the house before you leave the region. I think I might have an idea you may be interested in."
