Chapter 5: Talking with the Champ
The next morning as Ash awoke from his slumber on the couch with his new lover, noticed that she had already woken up and was already up and about. He looked at his pokégear groggily until it clicked in mind a few seconds later… "10:30! I was supposed to call them back, I hope they aren't too angry with me", cried Ash as he was tossing the blanket aside on the couch and slipping into the kitchen to grab something before calling them in case he had to meet with them.
As he took off his new blue, red, and black pokégear and inputted the number given to him on the note from Mr. Thundertrap the night before and awaited the ringing to be exchanged by an attendant's voice.
"Pokémon league headquarters' help desk how may I direct your call?", said the attendant cheerfully.
"Um…My name is Ash Ketchum and I need to…",Ash paused suddenly, to read the side note on the note Mr. Thundertrap gave him, "whenever you call whatever you do, do not mention that we spoke at all…",
"Sir…sir…?", replied the attendant questioningly.
As he clicked back into reality, "Oh I'm sorry I got lost in thought for a moment there, yes I need to speak with Mr. Sandtrap please, it's urgent…"
"Just a moment please", replied the attendant.
"Mr. Sandtrap…", said the voice of the attendant on the speakerphone of Mr. Sandtrap's office.
"This is he", Mr. Sandtrap replied.
"There is a young man by the name of Ash Ketchum on line one requesting to speak to you sir, he said its urgent…", replied the attendant.
"Well let's see what he has say", said Mr. Sandtrap quietly.
"Sir?" Replied the attendant.
"Patch him through, I was expecting him…thank you", returned Mr. Sandtrap.
"Right away sir", continued the attendant.
"Mr. Ketchum… you will now be transferred directly to Mr. Sandtrap one moment please", replied the attendant.
"Thank you very much…", replied Ash with a sigh.
A moment later…
"Ash! I trust you slept well…", replied Mr. Sandtrap cheerfully
"Y…Y…Yes, now to finish what we were discussing last night…", said Ash before he was interrupted.
"Wait, Ash…are you calling from the pokégear we gave you last night?"
"Yes…", replied Ash cautiously.
"I need you to call me back in a few moments…but this time call me on the number stored on your pokégear under my name, I shall explain everything when you do", replied Mr. Sandtrap.
The line clicked…
"Wow…he must be pretty serious if he wants me to call him on his personal line", Ash thought.
He then began searching for the number among the few contacts already stored on the gear.
"…Ahhh there it is", the number auto dialed and seconds later Mr. Sandtrap was on the other end, "Ok Ash the reason for this is, is for security, you see every employee of our company has his or her own pokégear and their lines are a lot more secure than the company phone so…anytime we deal with important matters like this we tend to get a little jumpy", said Mr. Sandtrap.
Click…click…click…", oh just a sec Ash…ah… ok Mr. Goodshow, the champ and the other vice-president's are connecting I'm sure you are eager to speak with them", continued Mr. Sandtrap.
"Wait just a minute…I'm talking to the…", said Ash as he got cut off …click…click…click…click…click …, "Alright everyone, if you will look at your screens this is Ash Ketchum, Pokémon trainer, champion of the Sinnoh region, participant in Indigo, Johto, and Hoenn leagues, winner of the Orange Island league and candidate for frontier brain of the Kanto battle frontier, Ash if you will pull your pokégear away from your ear and press the flashing buttons, you can see what we see", said Mr. Sandtrap.
Ash followed his instructions… and suddenly the pokégear went on speaker phone and his 'resume' appeared in front of him, the information was of every official battle he had been in, contest, and tournament he had participated in since he became a Pokémon trainer, complete with every Pokémon he had every caught and used in battle.
"Wow…that is something else, everyone said at once, participating in all of those and still traveling place even a few contest matches under your belt that's impressive!", said the champ.
"Thank you very much", replied Ash.
"Now Ash the presidents are going to be asking some questions about your journey, is that alright?", questioned Mr. Goodshow
"Yes, I don't have a problem with that", said Ash.
"It also says here that you were traveling with friends during each of your journeys, is that true…", questioned the champ?
"Yes it is", replied Ash.
"Do you think you would have been able to make it this far without them?", questioned the champ.
"No, I don't think I would have, without their support I would have probably given up after the first league tournament, probably even half way through the gyms in the Kanto region", replied Ash in a low voice.
"…are they coming with you, here?", questioned the champ.
"Yes, they are, if you will allow them to do so, each one of their own free accord, two of them are contest coordinators, one is a breeder and gym leader, and the last one is a gym leader, water Pokémon trainer and…",said Ash as he broke off at the end.
"And…", questioned the champ
"And…and…and my gi…gi…girlfriend", said Ash powerfully.
"Can we have their names please", questioned the champ?
"Sure, I'd be happy to…", replied Ash.
Moments later their information popped up next to his, "Wow they all have quite a reputation", replied the 'trap brothers', the champ, and Mr. Goodshow all at once.
"Yes…well help each other out using our own talents in our own ways. I'm glad to have met each and every single one of them even if we met under some bizarre circumstances", replied Ash.
(Misty gasped and flipped back around the corner)…but Ash pretended not to notice.
"Bizarre circumstances, please explain?", questioned everyone at once.
"Well…", Ash said, Ash then began explaining how he had met each of his traveling companions.
"Wow… that is something, especially with Misty, you sure hooked a looker kid…", replied the champ cheerfully.
"Yeah, I just wish she could have heard you say that, I just don't know how she'd react to that…ain't that right Misty?", questioned Ash out loud.
(Misty gasped again and walked slowly towards Ash) "Hello gentlemen…I'm Misty Waterflower of the Cerulean gym…Sorry for eavesdropping", replied Misty in a sorrowful tone.
"Yes, we all know you well madam…", replied the Champ (The champ then began listing out all official information that had been obtained about her).
Misty just stood there blushing with her hands in front holding them in an embarrassed state in front of Ash
Ash's Jaw dropped lower than it had ever been dropped before at her accomplishments, for someone so young you sure have done a lot…replied the champ as he finished his statement.
"Well Mr. Ketchum…thank you for your time, we have learned a lot about you and look forward to seeing you and your friends at the opening ceremony of the Pokémon League Headquarters Gym Tournament", replied the champ.
"See you in a few weeks' gentlemen", replied Ash and Misty together.
"A few months Ash, sorry but preparations have been changed so the competition will begin 2 weeks behind schedule so please make sure you are at the boat by that time."
"Two weeks more?"
"Yes, now if you will excuse us we have preparations to finish."
The phone clicked…
Misty just froze…Ash looked at her with a serious look, but followed up with something unexpected.
"Good morning darling, I trust you slept well last night…", Ash said softly.
"Umm…mmmm, especially since you were there", replied Misty softly.
"Good", replied Ash as he landed a romantic peck on her sweet tender lips.
"What's going on here, he's not mad or anything at me… for eavesdropping on him especially since he was talking sweetly about me to them and even told…told…told…them we were a…a…a…couple? Something's not right", thought Misty.
All of a sudden as if on cue Pikachu and Rilou appeared in front of them
"Pikachu use thunder bolt!", yelled Misty as she threw Ash towards Pikachu.
"Pi…ka…chu!"
The thunder headed straight for the startled man hitting him with a few hundred thousand volts of electricity.
"Pi…ka…chu…kn…ock…it…off…ahhhh…", said Ash shockingly.
Ash falls over on the floor with the current still coursing through his body.
Pikachu and Rilou gasp simultaneously and then run over to their masters side worried as to what had happened.
As Ash regained his integrity moments later, "Misty just what the bloody hell…", snapped Ash.
"Oh darling…I'm sorry…you…you were just acting so weird, I just didn't think you were…well…you…", replied Misty apologetically.
"Misty…no I'm sorry…for snapping at you I just couldn't act like myself in front of them… they were rating me and everyone else… and if I had gotten angry… at you while still on the phone with them… and then you running away crying…I wouldn't be able to forgive myself…", insisted Ash.
"Well my boy you pass…", said a not to familiar voice.
"What?", questioned Ash
"Down here boy, on the phone…hahaha", replied the champ.
"That was spectacular...the passion…the drama…oh it makes me feel young again".
"You pass my boy, you pass…", continued the champ.
"Pass what?", questioned Ash again.
"Your entrance exam…to put one's companions feeling's over all else, it been a while since we had one since well…me", replied the champ.
"I…I…I…still don't understand", said Ash.
"Alright let me explain…all of our winning champions are placed through several tests before they are even considered entering The Pokémon League Headquarters Tournament. First test, collect all gym badges and beat champ of current region. Second test, chose whether or not to participate in the tournament in a secret meeting. Third test, after contacting us…and reviewing their profile by three or more presidents, one of many requirements must be met, and you got the toughest and rarest one of them all. Not many participants actually pass under that category…actually to tell you the truth you are the second trainer to do it…EVER…said the champ."
"Ever? Well who was the first", replied Ash?
"Well…me…it has been many years since I became champ, actually about 15 to be exact", replied the champ.
Ash sat there with a blank look on his face for a few moments.
"If you hadn't passed this test…you would have been unable to even get near the boat…and of course Rilou would have been taken away from you as well…such a failure we would be in to let you keep him, if you failed to attend… but since you passed that's not going to happen…", continued the champ cheerfully.
Ash still sat there with a blank look on his face.
"Um…Mr. champ…I think he fainted from the shock", replied Misty.
"Oh…ok…just make sure you tell him and your friends to be at the boat by the time we depart…or else…"
"Just kidding…ahahahahaha", said the champ as he continued laughing until he was on the floor kicking like a little child.
Misty clicked the phone off before she heard any of his more absurd voice and crushed the pokégear with her bare hands.
Misty then sat down next to Ash and placed his head on her lap.
Ash awoke moments later in excruciating pain…
"Ash…darling are you alright?", said Misty sympathetically as she helped Ash to his feet.
"Yes I'm fine, nothin' I haven't felt before, and it's just why did you do that all of a sudden? I thought we had something special between us", replied Ash in an almost crying voice.
"No…I didn't mean to it's just…you were acting odd and I thought that might snap you out, also I think the so called champ…turned that into a little game…ooh if I ever see that man I'll…I'll, ooh I'll tear his arms and legs out of their sockets and force em' down his throat", replied Misty furiously as she held her first so tight that she almost began to bleed.
"It's ok darling… don't worry about it, I not mad at you for being concerned about me, and I'm actually grateful… so let's put this whole thing behind us and forget about it", replied Ash sympathetically
"Hey…what's all the racket coming from down here?", asked Dawn as everyone came flushing down the stairs.
"Oh…it's nothing Dawn…just a small couple's quarrel, that's all", replied Ash with a painful smile.
"Yeah…couple's quarrel", mimicked Misty.
"Well…let's go get some breakfast, shall we…?", asked May.
"Yes…we shall", everyone said at once.
As Ash and the gang are walking along the main road to the nearest buffet, Ash sees something out of the corner of his eye.
"Hey guys…how about we stop by one place before we go", asked Ash.
"What for, Ash?", asked Delia.
"I thought it would be nice if we all had pokégear so that just in case…we get separated we can still contact each other, I mean, I know we've always met up again, but this time I've got a funny feeling we are going to need it and besides I'll buy", replied Ash.
"Sure…why not, one can never be too careful", replied May.
"Well…let's go", replied Misty.
Ash and the gang walk into the nearby pokégear store.
"Ok everyone…pick whichever one you like, just try to be reasonable…ok?", continued Ash.
Moments later…everyone had found one they liked, and were already en route to the nearest breakfast buffet, and had already begun inputting pokégear numbers.
"Well everyone…let's see 'em", continued Ash energetically.
Misty had picked a phone charm for hers (since she already had one) of a Pikachu and a Milotic, May had picked a flame red colored pokégear with a Blaziken phone charm, Brock a Golem phone charm (since Khoury's father had already given him one), and Dawn had picked a bubble blue colored pokégear with a Piplup phone charm.
"Ok everyone…let's eat", said Ash cheerfully.
"Itadakimasu!", everyone said at once as they began gouging a hole in the buffet's line of food.
An hour later…
"Thank you for the food…", everyone began to say as they all began finishing their meals.
"Hey Ash, isn't a fireworks show going on tonight", asked May?
"Yeah I think so; we should all get our kimonos ready when we get back to the cabin", replied Ash.
"Oh don't worry about it honey I'll get them ready, you kids just go have fun, ok?", replied Ash's mom cheerfully.
"Hey thanks mom, you're the best", replied Ash.
"Ok guys last one to the…",said Ash as he broke off and was thrown to the ground as Rilou had charged and pushed him back.
Suddenly an enormously powerful thunderbolt came roaring straight in front of him, millimeters from his face and Rilou's tail, and impacted a nearby abandoned building leaving a gaping hole big enough for someone to step in and out of.
"Rilou…what the…", said Ash angrily.
Ash looked to the direction of which the thunderbolt came from and saw Paul standing there, with his fully evolved Electivire standing next to him still charging volts of electricity between its tails.
"Son of a…Paul what the bloody hell's your problem", yelled Ash angrily.
Paul has reappeared and attacked Ash straight out of the blue, what's he up too and why this sudden appearance, find out next time on Events Unexpected.