Pokemon 2024
~The Long Game~
Prologue 2
THE PAST
INDIGO LEAGUE: ARENA OF THE CHAMPION
"No! Noooo!"
A boy had collapsed to his knees and was now pounding the ground below him with his fists in frustration.
"I can't be beaten! I'm the best! The Champion!"
In front of the boy stood another boy in a red jacket and jeans with his hands in his pockets. The new Pokemon Champion. He felt thrilled at his accomplishment, probably even more thrilled at the fact that he had finally beaten his rival. But somehow…deep inside…he felt sorry for him.
The boy in the red jacket stepped forward and offered a hand to his rival to help him up but was met instead with his hand being slapped away in disgust.
"Spare me your pity! I'm still a better trainer than you'll ever be kid!"
He quickly hopped to his feet and took out a pokeball.
"Red! I demand a rematch!"
"No."
The two boys whirled around to see a man in a black cloak walking toward them shaking his head.
"If you truly are the best Blue, you should know not to force your Pokemon to fight for you after all that damage they sustained. Brute force does not make one a champion alone."
The man turned to the boy in the red jacket.
"Excellent job Red. Your bond with your Pokemon clearly shone through and was evident in the way you masterfully handled that battle."
The boy smiled as the rival gritted his teeth in anger.
"It's not over!"
The man turned to him and frowned. "It is for now. Red is the new Champion. You may challenge him to a rematch in the future. But only when you're ready. You Blue…are not."
The rival fumed. "NO! This isn't fair! Only I can be the best! Me!"
The man in the cloak turned to the boy and put a hand on his shoulder. "There's nothing we can do for him now, he lost. It's a natural part of being a trainer. Come Red, it's time to get you instated as the new Champion!"
"NO!"
Behind them the rival had discreetly drawn out a pokeball and had thrown it into the air.
"GO! NIDOKING!"
A red light erupted from the pokeball and a powerful and gigantic looking Nidoking emerged, yet it looked worn out and beaten as it struggled to recover from the injuries it had gotten from the battle .
The rival became furious and turned to the boy.
"I demand a rematch! And I'm not leaving until I get one!"
The man in the cloak sighed. "This actually really disappoints me Blue. I would have hoped that your grandfather had taught you better than this…" He casually pulled out his own pokeball and pressed the button to release his own Pokemon.
The rival gritted his teeth. "Nidoking! Prepare to attack! We're not leaving without my rematch!"
"Dragonite. Ice punch, make it quick."
With that, a fearsome Dragonite emerged and swiftly swung a fist gleaming with icy energy at Nidoking, who normally could have dodged the attack, but was now so tired it could barely move. Consequently, the attack knocked the unfortunate Pokemon across the arena they were standing in.
The man walked over to where the rival's pokeball was and decided to recall Nidoking himself. A red light emerged from the ball and reclaimed the now unconscious Pokemon.
The rival shook his head in defiance. "This is far from over…"
The man turned to the boy. "Red, I might need your help on this…got any Pokemon that can still battle?"
The boy grinned and pulled out a pokeball marked with a small gold lightning bolt when…
"Lance!"
A muscular and tan looking man barreled towards them with a Hitmonchan running along his side. He stopped in front of them.
"I heard you that secret distress signal you triggered. The others will be along real soon. What's the problem?"
The rival froze and began to back away.
Lance jerked a thumb in his direction. "Bruno, please escort Blue here away from the Pokemon League until he is mature enough to accept that not all battles end in success…"
The rival held up his hands as if to try to block Bruno.
"No! Stop! I'm the Champion! Me! BLUE!"
As both Bruno and Hitmonchan each grabbed one of his arms and began to drag him away Lance shot him a look of pity.
"You have a lot to learn before you're ready to be a Champion Blue…"
The boy in the red jacket watched as he was dragged away and his rival's expression of unbridled panic began to twist into an expression that was much more determined…much more…dark…
The rival turned to look behind him at the boy in the red jacket and shot him a sinister looking grin.
"You'll regret this Red. This is far from over. The best trainer will always win. And I will…I won't rest until your life burns to the ground. And I will be there to watch you burn with it. Remember that Red…and I'll see you soon…champ…"
And with that, Bruno and Hitmonchan finally managed to drag the rival out of the room…
The boy in the red jacket's eyes widened in concern as Lance walked over and lay a comforting hand on his shoulder.
"Not to worry Red. You're the Champion now. If he ever gives you any trouble, just call us and the Elite Four will make sure you're safe. Besides, what can a ten year old boy do that's really all that bad?"
Red looked back at Lance and they smiled at each other.
Lance gestured for Red to follow him. "Now! What do you say we get you registered as the new Pokemon League Champion?!"
Red followed Lance into the next room.