Chapter 82: Lucas vs. The Hoenn Elite Four
After months of traveling across the Hoenn Region, Lucas had obtained all but one of the Hoenn League badges, the badges necessary to have the right to face Hoenn's Elite Four and the League's Champion. In that time he had captured and evolved dozens of Pokemon, met new friends and enemies, found someone he truly loved and found within himself a strength that told him he was no charmed beginner, but a skilled Trainer who deserved his Sinnoh Championship, even if it meant constantly proving himself and dealing with the headache of celebrity.
Now Lucas stood before the final Gym Leader, Juan of Sootopolis City, a veteran water type Trainer who had trained countless proteges who battled with skill, strength and finesse, not just in the field of combat, but in the Contest Circuit as well. Lucas had defeated three of the four Pokemon the Leader set before him, and only one Pokemon remained between him and his final badge: the rare, and surprisingly tenacious Relicanth.
Simply by the virtue of its high defense and highly resistant typing, the opponent's Pokemon had managed to take out almost half of Lucas' team. But victory was close. The Relicanth was highly damaged, and Lucas still had two Pokemon left. Granted, one of the Pokemon had almost no shot against the water and rock type, but his other was a Pokemon he knew he could count on in even the most difficult of battles. Lucas held out his arm and called out Gizmo's name. The Eevee jumped into battle with a 'vii' of conviction and faced the difficult to damage fish.
Lucas began the turn with having Eevee use Dig. As Lucas had feared, upon entering battle Gizmo squeaked as the Stealth Rock tore into his fur and flesh. The smaller, faster Pokemon burrowed into the arena floor while the Relicanth remained in its zen-like state. The fish Pokemon wasted a turn and at the beginning of the next round the Eevee erupted from the ground and damaged the fish. Lucas repeated the strategy, having Gizmo go underground, but the strangely resistant Pokemon evened the score, the normal type's damage eventually being worse than the Relicanth's.
In the stands Skyler, and Juan's most successful protege, Wallace screamed support at their respective heroes. The normally dignified Skyler roaring over the more gentile Coordinator as the battle came down to its final rounds. Juan remained poised and confident as he called out more attacks to his Pokemon. And Lucas responded in kind, trying to hold his composure in spite of the knots in his stomach. He had utmost confidence in Gizmo, but this was one of the most important battles in his life, the last obstacle between him and his final badge. Lucas took in a deep breath and gave the final command to his Eevee, the most powerful attack the small Pokemon knew and the one that took almost all Trainers by surprise, "Gizmo, we're almost finished buddy. Show him your Return!"
Gizmo nodded and snarled a defiant 'Vii'! An aura of pure energy formed around the normal type, an almost pure white light of ultimate power. The Return ability's power depended on a Pokemon's love of its Trainer, and there were few Pokemon alive that loved their Trainers more than Gizmo loved Lucas. Juan was helpless as even the stalwart Relicanth couldn't resist Gizmo's power, blasting off of the Eevee's body and overwhelming the fish. The final attack the last push needed to knock out Juan's Pokemon.
The Relicanth twitched, then flopped and the battle was over, Skyler leaping up in the stands screaming before catching himself, coughing and instead throwing a more civilized, confident smile more becoming of a Dragon Tamer. Juan closed his eyes and frowned thoughtfully before recalling his fallen Pokemon. A moment later he opened them and nodded with an approving smile. Once more, however, it was Wallace who spoke first, "My goodness Lucas that was astounding! I was of course rooting for the Master to win, but that was one of the most exciting battles I've ever seen. It makes me wish I was still Gym Leader here so I could have faced you! Oh, if only you did Contests as well,"
"Sorry Wallace, that's Ashley's thing, not mine. But hey, if you want a battle for fun some day, we can do that," Lucas replied. He was so elated the victory still didn't feel real.
"Oh, I'd love that! And we must get together with Ashley some time and do a luncheon. I still haven't properly congratulated her for her Cute contest victory. Next year I'm challenging her in the Smart category," Wallace continued chatting away. With a small adjustment of his tie, Juan lifted an eyebrow. The younger man instantly noticed the gesture and was once again blushing with embarrassment, "Oh Master I am, so, so sorry for being so inconsiderate today. I am just a complete brute!"
Once more Lucas suppressed a snicker. Juan strode down the podium towards Lucas, a powerful presence even in defeat. His voice was still stern and clear, the epitome of dignity and decorum as he addressed his opponent, "As the Gym Leader of the final Gym of this Region, I am often challenged but rarely defeated. And it has been a long time since I've had the honor and glory of facing a current Champion with an advanced team. Today you have given me a battle I shall remember fondly probably for the rest of my days. So it is my great privilege to present to you, Lucas of Cherrygrove the final Badge of the Hoenn League, The Rain Badge of Sootopolis City,"
Lucas didn't even realize how overwhelmed with emotion he was until he saw his hands were shaking as he accepted the badge from the Gym Leader. He reached into his vest and pulled out the badge case he had been using for the Hoenn League and placed the final badge amongst the seven others. The badges gleamed in the light of the Gym and looking at them Lucas remembered everything he had gone through to get them. The first badge he almost didn't get because of his naivety, the second where he taught the Gym Leader a valuable lesson, and the third where he learned the lesson himself. The fourth he got because of his courage and not in battle, the fifth, sixth and seventh that seemed to take so long to get, and now the eighth, the one that felt like it came so soon. The teen carefully put the case away and looked up to match eyes with Skyler, the blue-haired Dragon Tamer beaming with pride at him. This was his adventure in Hoenn.
And soon it would end.
Lucas thought of everything he could think of to stall. They stayed in Sootopolis as Lucas explored the Cave of Origin and stubbornly looked for a Relicanth of his own. He explored the floating city between the currents south of Hoenn's mainland and the Shoal Cave which was home to many ice types. But even coming up with every excuse possible, after a few short weeks he found himself at the shores of Ever Grande City, the last stop for Trainers to rest and get supplies before traveling Victory Road and facing the Elite Four.
Ever Grande was a gleaming metropolis built to honor the legacy of Pokemon Training. Its shops teeming with every medicine, vitamin, tool and advantage ever needed in a Pokemon Battle. Here Lucas met more of the powerful Trainers who also intended to face the ultimate challenge of the League. These would be his opponents on the road as they would battle one and other along to way to the Elite Four to test if they were truly ready. In battle Lucas knew he was more than ready to face the challenge, but in his heart he knew facing the Elite Four would mean one thing.
He would have to say goodbye to Skyler.
Without even realizing it he was holding Skyler's hand extra tightly, kissing him more fiercely and would spend at least an hour each night watching his partner sleeping before sleep would overcome him himself. Knowing that once he faced the Elite Four it might be months before he could see Skyler again, he even agonized if he would break his commitment to himself and get physical with the other teen. A final, wonderful memory before they would be indefinitely separated. In the end he decided against it. As much as he wanted Skyler, he wanted their first time to be more than a goodbye. Lucas even started considering not challenging the League at all, but in a few days time, the decision was made for him.
When he and Skyler were eating breakfast in one of Ever Grande's restaurants, a man in black clothing and a matching black cape approached them. Upon seeing him, Skyler dropped his fork and went pale. Even Lucas recognized that the man wore the garb of the Dragon Tamer Clan, Skyler's family, "Skyler, what are you doing here? Don't you know that Lance has been looking for you for months? You're supposed to be home, you know that!"
"Uncle Ryu! I-I can explain,"
"I've come here to focus my Training, but it's a relief that I've found you. I will let Lance know that you are here and have him take you back to Blackthorn City," the man's tone left no room for debate, and decisively he walked away, no doubt to call Skyler's cousin that very moment. Skyler sunk his face in his hands.
Lance had of course found Skyler months ago, but had come to an accord with his younger cousin as he traveled with Lucas. He had promised the younger boy he would come up with excuses as to why the Trainer had not returned yet, buying as much time as he could from the wrath of the Clan. But now that another relative had found the escaped teenager, Skyler's time was up, regardless of Lance's deal.
It was in that moment that Lucas chided himself for even momentarily daring to abandon his mission, to not go after the Championships with all he had on the line. He was a child to think he could somehow prevent his separation with Skyler. Realizing it was inevitable, Lucas determined two things: first, now was the time to face the Elite Four. This was something he had been working towards for months. Sweating on the roads, surviving rain and rival Trainers, and honing his skills. The second thing was that he had to make these final moments with Skyler count. He took Skyler's dejected face into his hands, and kissed him reassuringly. Skyler put his own hands over Lucas' and touched the Trainer's forehead with his own. After paying and leaving the table, hand in hand the two Trainers headed to Victory Road.
After months of low leveled Pokemon and Trainers, the only real challenges the Hoenn Gyms, Victory Road was a return to the level of difficulty Lucas remembered from his early days as a Trainer. The struggle, the need to think quickly and imaginatively and never to leave his Pokemon in a position to get badly hurt unless absolutely necessary. Those days were only over a year ago now, but felt like a lifetime away. In spite of his skill, Lucas had let himself slack, even slightly, and he could no longer afford to do that now he was only Victory Road. High leveled, highly evolved Pokemon attacked at every corner. Heavy rocks and torrential waterfalls blocked his way. He and Skyler were ambushed at almost every turn by Pokemon and Trainer alike. Shaky at first, Lucas once more returned to the level he had fought so hard to achieve in Sinnoh, and debated fiercely who would be his final team of Pokemon as he would challenge the Elite Four. Pokemon from his Sinnoh Championship came to mind, but now he had Pokemon he trained exclusively in the Hoenn Region he knew could survive just as well.
Two days in the harsh terrain and even harsher obstacles and the Hoenn Pokemon League building was in sight. Like in Sinnoh, though the building itself was grand, all that was there besides the challenge inside was a final Pokemon Center and store that only carried to most basic of necessities. It was here that Lucas used the Center's computer and arranged his final team, the team he hoped would deliver victory and the second Championship he needed to win. He selected Gizmo, Diablo, the Tentacruel he came to call Genghis Khan, his female Steelix, his Alakazam Kazza and his Torterra from Professor Rowan, a variety of Pokemon of various types, strengths and abilities he hoped would be enough to face the Elite Four and the Champion. Aside from the mischievous businessman Steven Stone, Lucas had no idea who the Elite Four were, what types they used or what they'd be like. But it didn't matter, because as the ultimate test of the Hoenn League, Lucas had to be ready for everything.
Finally finished and as rested as he could be given his nerves and excitement, Lucas and Skyler approached the door that lead to the beginning of the Elite Four Challenge. A guard and official from the Pokemon League blocked their way. He held up his hand, "Before you may enter, I must see the eight official badges of the Hoenn League,"
Lucas reached into his vest and presented the case, the now complete set sparkling as the official opened it to examine them. Satisfied, he nodded, returned the case and stepped aside to let Lucas pass.
As Skyler stepped behind his boyfriend, the official blocked the way again, "Badges?"
"Oh, I don't have any. I'm not challenging the Elite Four, I'm just an observer," Skyler explained.
The official shook his head, and refused to move, "I'm sorry, only the challengers may enter here. If you wish to watch, you'll have to go to the stands to where the Champion waits, assuming this challenger makes it that far. For the Elite Four a Trainer faces them alone,"
Lucas and Skyler exchanged uncertain looks, but Skyler smiled and put his arm on Lucas' shoulder reassuringly, "It'll be alright. I know you'll make it to the Champion and when you get there I'll be cheering for you extra loud,"
Lucas gave an insincere smile, "Of course, you'll be waiting for me in the winner's circle,"
Skyler remained where he stood smiling, refusing to leave until Lucas went inside, his confident face the last thing the tattooed Trainer would see before facing the Elite Four. While Lucas smiled back he could already start to feel his heart start to break, knowing Skyler wouldn't be by his side in these important battles, and the winner's circle probably the final time he would see the Trainer who was not only the love of his life and his biggest supporter, but had become his dearest friend and the most important person in his life. As the door shut between them, Lucas swallowed his pain and dug deep into his new determination. Skyler would have to leave whether Lucas won or lost, so the Trainer would win. He would win for himself and his own mission to finally rise from his brother's shadow, if only in his own mind if no one else's. And he would win to see Skyler's smiling face when he became Champion.
The corridor was dark, only illuminated by a single spotlight as Lucas approached the door to the first challenge of the Elite Four. He would be alone but he knew each room had cameras to show the battle to outsiders, and knew countless people besides Skyler would be watching him. As he came closer, he realized he heard familiar music coming from inside.
Like the Sinnoh League, the rooms for the Elite Four were deceptively small, and this first room was no exception. The room was dark, though not as dimly lit as the corridor before it, decorated like a dive night club, with neon lights and speakers on the walls blasting out fast-tempo, angry music with elaborate guitar chords, fierce drumming and a roaring lead singer. Lucas' heart began to pound, his previous feelings almost entirely forgotten as he realized why the music was so familiar. It was a song from his favorite band, The Howling Mankeys, and standing on podium was their lead singer, Sidney.
Decorum and determination evaporated as Lucas embraced his inner fanboy, "Oh my God, Oh my God, Oh my God! You're Sidney! You're Sidney from the Howling Mankeys! I F*&^ing love you guys!" He dumped his Duffel bag on the ground and tore through it until he found the four CDs he always carried around and a felt tip pen he prayed was working.
Like Lucas, Sidney had fire engine red hair, in a small tuft with the rest of his head shaven. He also wore black cargo pants loaded with chains, an ironic business shirt and dress vest in loud colors, loaded with pins, patches and safety pins. Seeing Lucas' reaction to him, the punk rock god began laughing heartily, "Facing the Elite Four is a hell of a way to try to get my autograph kid, you could have just gotten it at one of my shows,"
"I've been to your shows! I've been to every one you had in Cherrygrove! I even went to that one-night showcase in the Goldenrod Underground Path where Faint Attack was doing a release party and you got on stage and sang with them and Sneasel Used Night Slash until that dumbass threw a drink in your face! I'm the kid who kicked him in the balls when you punched him! I still have a scar from that night!" Lucas was still animatedly talking, approaching the singer with the pen and CDs and pointing to a small white line he had on his temple.
Sidney continued to laugh, practically to tears, "That was you, kid? Metal!" He took Lucas' CDs and signed each and every one of them. After handing them back, he crossed his arms over his chest, "I do recognize you from everything you've been doing against Cosmic. Are you here just to meet me, or do you plan on challenging me as well?"
It suddenly occurred to Lucas that Sidney had a purpose in being in this room, "You're one of the Elite Four? I'm a dumbass, of course you are! I get to fight Sidney? Holy Shit I get to battle against Sidney of the Howling Mankeys!"
"Okay, so clearly I don't need to introduce myself, but yeah, I'm Sidney of the Howling Mankeys, and member of Hoenn's Elite Four. My specialty is dark types-"
"-Dark types! Freaking sweet!" Lucas couldn't contain himself.
Sidney gave a final howl of laughter, shrugged in defeat and pulled out a Pokeball, "Okay, y'know what? Screw it. Let's just fight. Show me the kid that fought against Cosmic, and can apparently mosh with the best of them. Go! Sharpedo!"
Though Lucas returned his focus to the battle, he couldn't help his giddiness. He was about to do battle with one of his heroes, and it would be one of the best moments of his life. It was a tough fight, but Lucas couldn't shake the smile off his face. The Sharpedo was the toughest of any he had ever seen, with insanely high attack and devastating moves. His Torterra, even with its type advantage, barely edged the shark Pokemon out, forcing Lucas to keep thinking on the fly with the Trainer loving every moment of it. Next up was a Cacturne that was equally surly and powerful. Lucas traded blows between his Tentacruel and his Steelix to take it down, requiring the Pokemon to be poisoned, beaten down and blown with a sandstorm before it finally fainted, and only familiarity with the cactus creature preventing his own Pokemon from being taken down with it. Next Sidney summoned a pure dark type, Absol, the disaster Pokemon. It too was a powerhouse of attack, knocking out the Steelix and Torterra with astounding ease. It ended up requiring several of Gizmo's Return attacks before the third Pokemon was defeated.
"So far I'm impressed kid, you got me down to my final Pokemon. Been a while since that happened," Sidney smirked and twirled his final Pokeball between his fingers leisurely before finally summoning it, "Go! Mightyena!"
Lucas sneered in response, knowing exactly which Pokemon to pick for this final round, "Make me proud, Diablo!"
Lucas' Pokemon appeared before his opponent like the hundreds of fights before, snarling, snapping and ready to face anything that came at him to win the approval and respect of his Trainer. The two Mightyena circled one and other without direction from their Trainers, sensing an intense rivalry that was natural to the tenacious dark types. Sidney nodded approvingly, "Looks like yours is a real bastard. I like that,"
"Sidney, you have no idea," Lucas crossed his arms and smiled. Diablo lunged at his opponent with a ferocity like none other. After nearly costing Lucas his seventh Gym Match, the dark type was determined to show he deserved to have a steady place on Lucas' team. He no longer battled for himself or for his Trainer's approval, but because his Trainer needed him to win. But the Mightyena found the other Pokemon to be no pushover, giving as good as he got. Traditional Pokemon attacks gave way to real fighting, the Pokemon relying on their claws, jaws and brute strength to get the other Pokemon to submit. But there was a reason why Diablo was the leader of his pack back in his Poochyena days, and after months of formal training, gaining his strength and evolving, and sheer determination towards his Trainer, the battle ended with Sidney's Mightyena pinned on his back, Diablo the top dog once and for all.
Sidney recalled his defeated Pokemon and slow-clapped, "Nice job kid, very nice job indeed. You remind me a lot of when I was a kid, from what I heard we probably had a similar upbringing. People thought I was just a punk too. But you know what? I showed them damn right I'm a punk, but that I had worth because of what I am, not in spite of it. Keep that spirit alive,"
As the adrenaline of the battle receded, and the excitement of meeting his idol finally computed in his head, Lucas found himself once more overwhelmed with emotion, "I've been looking forward to facing Hoenn's Elite Four since I came here, but meeting you and learning you're Elite Four is probably one of the greatest moments in my life. And the fact that I got to defeat you like this, man if this is a dream I don't ever want to wake up,"
"Well, move your ass, kid, there's still three more of us before you can face the Champion," Sidney stepped to the side and gestured with his thumb to the door behind him, "And by the way, I'll be doing another show in Johto pretty soon. Can you make it Olivine?"
"Wouldn't miss it," The two Trainers nodded in respect to one and other a final time, and Lucas headed for the next challenger.
Another short, dark corridor where Lucas revived and healed his team led to the next door. This room was brighter than the last, with flattering warm lighting and water features on every wall. Just like the Sootopolis City Gym. As Lucas absorbed this information, he found his jaw dropped as he discovered who his next opponent was.
"Ah! Lucas! I'm so thrilled to see you. I know you promised me a battle, and now we'll get to have one. I'm elated!" Standing on the podium across the room was the Pokemon Coordinator and former Gym Leader, Wallace.