A Platinum Adventure
Disclaimer: I do not own Pokemon.
Yusei: Enjoy your stupid chapter!
Journal Entry 12: The Pokemon League And Marley
Lucas opens his eyes to the light of day, looking up at the ceiling. He looks to the side and sees his lovely girlfriend beside him. The teen places his right hand on her left cheek and rubs it with his thumb lightly, smiling as he looks at her. "She's so beautiful."
"Mm, Lucas…" Cheryl mutters in her sleep. Her hands slink behind him and pull him closer to her. "Don't do that, Lucas…we're not married yet…let's wait a while…"
"What the hell is she thinking?" Lucas whispers to himself as she rubs herself on him. Once again he sneaks out of her grip and walks silently downstairs. 'I have to talk to her about that. I want to wait, but if she ever tries anything, I doubt I'll ever be able to resist her.'
Lucas reaches the living room floor, and sees his mother sweeping a clean floor. From the party yesterday, which lasted into the night, there's no way it could be so clean. His mother must be really good at cleaning. She finishes sweeping up dirt and plops down on the couch, there she notices Lucas coming down. "Ah, Lucas. Good to have you here."
"Is everyone gone?" Lucas asks her as he sits down.
"Yup. They've all gone back to their places. So you're off to Sunyshore City then?" Joanne asks him.
"Yup! The final badge awaits me, and then the Pokemon League! Me and Cheryl will leave out once she wakes up." He says with a grin. He was rather eager to hurry off and finish his journey.
"Good. I hope you succeed…no, I know you will." She says to him, patting the top of his head.
"Mom," Lucas complains, moving her hand off his head.
"Don't worry Mrs. Kongoseki! I'll make sure Lucas does his best!" Cheryl says as she dashes down the steps. Joanne laughs while Lucas sighs; he feels like he's getting picked on.
--
"Bye mom! I'll see you when I come back!!" Lucas shouts at his mom happily. She waves at him as he and Cheryl leave out. Both of them speed through route 202 to Sandgem, and then to Jubilife and Oreburgh. Through Oreburgh they would head up to Eterna City for a little visit.
By the time they reach Eterna it was already 10:28 a.m. Lucas and Cheryl dismount, allowing him to pack his bike in his bag, and head for the town's statue. Cheryl reaches into her bag and pulls out a sort of plaque.
Lucas realizes what it is, and then asks her, "Where did you get that?"
"It was stolen by Team Galactic. Me, Riley, Cynthia and Paul raided Galactic's headquarters and with the help of the police we got to put them away." Cheryl says to him, remembering one of the many things that have happened ever since he was gone.
"Wow. Allot has happened in 2 months I guess." Lucas states with a smile.
"Yup. I had to do so many things…I even learned some things I shouldn't have…" She says, now growing sort of depressed.
"Like what?" Lucas asks her as she placed the plaque back on the Pokemon statue.
"Well…it's not really important." Cheryl states as she stands back up, turning to face her boyfriend. 'I can't tell him what Gardenia told me, that she has feelings for him…'
"Huh?" Lucas was having a bit of trouble reading into Cheryl's thoughts and actions at that moment. Well, he could read her mind but he doesn't know how to yet.
"Anyway, let's hurry up and go to Sunyshore City. We can go south from Veilstone with Zephyris' help." Cheryl says to him, now smiling to hide her previous depression.
"Yeah. Let's go. We're done here right?" Lucas asks her. She nods yes and with that he sends out Staraptor. With the giant bird the two of them could easily fly away.
Staraptor lands in Veilstone city, and both trainers dismount from it. Lucas retrieves his Pokemon as Cheryl straightens her clothes. The two then head south of the city, into the route below. Lucas and Cheryl ride down the route on the bike, whizzing past grassy plains and such and having fun while doing so.
While passing by though Lucas has another one of those flashes, and pauses halfway through the route. "What was that…it happened again."
"Lucas?" Cheryl asks him. This was the second time it happened, them stopping on this route for some odd reason he knows nothing about.
"Oh, it's nothing. Let's continue…" Lucas says, in hopes that she doesn't notice and bring it up.
"Lucas, is something wrong? Please tell me…" Cheryl pleads to him, hoping she would speak with him incase he was having a problem or something.
"Cheryl, I assure you there's nothing wrong." He says to her. He then continues pedaling down the route, and Cheryl follows his example.
"Lucas," She whispers to herself as she pedals. If he was okay then there's no need to pester him about it she guesses.
They finally reach the end of the route, and come to where the Lakefront of Lake Valor is. Seeing the many people by the lake having fun and playing the couple could guess it was fixed up again. When they reach the ramp where the hotel is, they continue to their left instead of going down the other one.
Lucas and Cheryl reach another beach route, filled with trainers spending time with their Pokemon and battling one another. By now they lift up off the bike so Lucas can put it away. "Hey look at this! Some practice before the gym battle. You up for this?"
"Sure!" Cheryl says in agreement to him. The two approach two trainers who are lightly training their Pokemon, and challenge them. Both of them send out Gabriel and Vespiquen against Gyarados and Lumineon.
--
"That was a rather fun party yesterday." Cynthia says to Riley as they sit in a diner drinking tea.
"I agree. It's good that he came back in time, and even quelled Giratina's anger." Riley states as he dines on his meal, which is spicy sushi and takoyaki. "So, you really want him?"
"Of course. He's the perfect candidate for me." Cynthia replies after eating her takoyaki. "He should be in Sunyshore City by now so he can get the Beacon Badge. Then it's the Pokemon League."
"Ah. He has to face that bored-out-of-his-mind slacker. If Lucas was able to stop Cyrus then he'll be fine against that guy." Riley states while eating takoyaki.
--
"Strength!" Both Lucas and Cheryl shout at the same time. Their attacks pound the opposing Pokemon, knocking them out for the count.
In a single half hour the couple were able to defeat all 8 trainers on the beach. Their Pokemon out now are Chansey and Luxray. Lucas reclaims Luxray while Cheryl hugs Chansey. "Aw, you've done so well in our battles!"
It is at this moment that Chansey begins to glow brightly. Lucas watches the Pokemon evolving in amazement. Chansey finishes its evolution, revealing it to be Blissey. Cheryl jumps up in down with joy. "Yay! Yay! I finally got a Blissey!!"
"It has a lot of health doesn't it?" Lucas says as he looks at it.
"Yes. It's my absolute favorite Pokemon!" Cheryl squeals while hugging her Pokemon. Blissey hugs Cheryl back as Lucas watches happily. After ten seconds of hugging she reclaims her Pokemon, and then the couple continues towards Sunyshore.
Lucas, with Cheryl behind her, the two finally enter the sunny place. At first look the city seems to be rather close to the water, and yet there seems to be allot of power and electricity used. There were also see through bridges up above.
As they move further into the city, Lucas sees a person with a bright red…Afro walking up to him. He stops suddenly before them, stares at Lucas and says, "I see…you there!"
"Uh, me?" Lucas asks him as he points to himself.
"Yes. You seem like a good trainer. You see, there's this person over here that needs to be challenged to a real blood boiling battle! I want to ask you if you can battle him!" He says to him.
"Why me? I mean how strong is he?" Lucas asks the man with a confused look in his eye after thinking it over a bit.
"Volkner is strong all right. He is after all the gym leader of Sunyshore." He says to him.
"Gym leader!?" This shocks both of them once they hear it. Why would he need to ask him that if this guy should be getting powerful duelists fighting him all the time?
"Volkner's rather ignorant and arrogant of his strength. And it's only worse since he's strong. He's needs to face a strong opponent before he ends up putting the city through a blackout again." The red guy says as he crosses his arms around his chest.
"So he's the reason for that?" Cheryl asks him.
"For what?" Lucas was confused.
"I came here to see what the place was about, but then I heard that it was all closed up because of a blackout. I couldn't go in." Cheryl answers him.
"Yep, it was all his fault. Anyway, have fun!" He says, running off to leave the couple alone.
"That was weird…oh well. Since I was gonna battle him anyway…" Lucas walks further into the city, with Cheryl following close behind.
"This may be a challenge for you, Lucas. If this guy is so bored that he would just cause a blackout then he must be really strong. He may be on pair with Cyrus!" Cheryl says to him, showing a little worry.
"We'll see when I battle him." Lucas says as he and Cheryl go inside the Pokemon Center. After they heal their Pokemon they head back outside, to explore the city more. The couple climbs up the stairs of a rocky cliff, and see a lighthouse. "Let's look inside. We can probably see the Pokemon League!"
"Okay!" Cheryl agrees and follows him inside.
The two trainers enter the lighthouse, and see a bunch of people inside spending time together. Among one of them is a blond guy with a blue military sort of jacket on looking out through the binoculars.
"Let's go look!" She says, as they head to the binoculars. Lucas taps on the blonde's shoulder.
"Hey, can we look through those next?" He asks him. The guy looks back at him, glaring down at Lucas with his blue cold eyes. Lucas could feel the sting of coldness from him. "What? Something wrong?"
"I don't recognize you from this town…are you a traveler?" He asks him.
"Uh huh. I'm here to challenge the gym leader, and then me and Cheryl will head to the Pokemon League." Lucas says as he smiles at the blond.
The blond frowns quickly. "…so you're the newest challenger. You look positively pathetic."
"Hey! What's that suppose to mean?!" Lucas shouts at him.
"Lucas isn't a pathetic trainer! He's beaten many trainers, including the seven gym leaders and Cyrus of Team Galactic!" Cheryl says in his defense.
The blond man's left eyebrow rises up in interest. "Cyrus? That guy? Then you must be responsible for Team Galactic's destruction. I always hoped someone would stop Akagi."
"You know him?" Lucas asks the man.
"Fine…I've decided. If I find out you're weak, then I'll challenge the Elite Four." Lucas and Cheryl blink twice and then gasp in shock when they hear what he says.
"What? You mean you're the gym leader?" Cheryl asks the guy.
"Yes. I am the Shining, Shocking Star Volkner. Anyway, my gym's done renovating so I don't need to be here." He says while walking past Lucas.
The couple watches as he disappears out the door. Lucas looks into the binoculars, ignoring the guy for the moment, and takes a peek at the Pokemon League. He could see the plateau up top a huge waterfall. He then lets it go to allow Cheryl a chance. She looks into the binoculars and gasps, saying, "Look! We're so close to the Pokemon League!"
"Yeah. All that stands in our way is Volkner, and that waterfall." At Lucas' sentence Cheryl blinks questionably and turns to face him. He then smiles at her and says, "Let's go to the gym!"
"K!" She says with a warm smile. The two lovers head out the lighthouse. From there they continue up top the sunshade bridges towards the gym. The couple would only be able to reach the gym over these bridges.
When they reach the gym they see the red guy from earlier before the gym. "I just saw Volkner. He seemed rather happy. I guess I was right about you after all!"
"He didn't seem happy…" Lucas says, remembering that guy's expression.
"Well good luck kid. His Electric Pokemon won't be easy to deal with." He says to him. He then walks away, leaving the entrance open for them to go through.
"Let's do it!" Cheryl says as she sides with Lucas. Her boyfriend heads in first, and then she follows after.
When they go inside, the two gasp in shock. There was a bridge leading all the way to the back of the room, although there were many gaps in it. On the side were tall pillars with levers. Both trainers had their jaws dropped by the time they sucked all this information in.
"Is this why the city's always suffering blackouts?" Both of them figure at the same time. The two come out of their stupor to solve it. It's these types of gyms that Lucas hates.
But he tackles this puzzle anyway. If he doesn't he would never get to battle Volkner. So after gruelingly stopping by each pillar and finding the right combination to reach the gym leader, both Lucas and Cheryl finally reach Volkner at the end.
Volkner smiles as he watches the kid approach him. Lucas stops a few feet before the gym leader. "I'm here, just like you expected."
"Ah. It's not so often, but some trainers manage to come and challenge me. And those with the guts to battle me were nothing more than weaklings. Every single one of them was boring battles that were unable to make me sweat defeating them." Volkner states, as he takes out a Pokeball around his belt. "Anyway, like I said before I'm Volkner. I guess I am the strongest of the eight gym leaders here."
"Well you are the last Gym Leader. I don't really care either way! I'll win regardless!" Lucas states with total confidence. He takes out a Pokeball as well.
"I hope you really are the trainer, who will remind me how fun it is to battle." Volkner then sends out his Pokemon, Electivire. This is the evolved form of Electabuzz.
"As I figured, an Electric type. I'll use Gabriel!" Lucas sends out his sole Dragon Pokemon, Gabite.
Volkner smirks. "I figured you'd send out a Ground type. Begin the battle!"
"Cheryl, get back." Lucas says to his girlfriend. She nods and backs away a bit, allowing the two trainers and their Pokemon room to battle.
"Electivire, Thunder Wave." Volkner says, as his Pokemon releases an electromagnetic wave at Gabite. The dragon simply shrugs it off. "Just as I thought."
"Heh. This will be an easy victory for us!" Lucas says, as his Gabite charges in for a Dragon Claw attack.
"Don't even think about fighting back. Electivire, Brick Break." The electric Pokemon charges after Gabite, and throws a powerful punch at it, which breaks through the Dragon Claw attack.
"Huh!?" Lucas mutters as he watches his Pokemon get blown away. Gabite regains its composure and prepares itself against Electivire.
"Don't assume my Pokemon are anything like the others. A simple weakness like Ground won't hold back my guys. After all, this is the perfect field to battle them." Volkner says while looking at the ground they stand on.
"Field?" Lucas looks down at the ground they were standing on, and gasps when he realizes what he meant. "I get it! This is why you made this!!"
"What's wrong with this field?" Cheryl asks, not understanding what's going on.
"Well the ground we're on is made of metal. There's no way Gabriel can dig through it. And Earthquake is just as useless because it could knocked this thing down and we could get hurt." Lucas explains to the girl. She gasps when she realizes what he said.
"He what? Isn't that cheating?!" – Cheryl
"Anyone smart enough to realize it would have requested a duel outside. I guess you aren't the one after all." Lucas grits his teeth as he glares at Volkner. Had he thought about it at first would he have done so?
"It doesn't matter. I'll win regardless. Gabite, use Dragon Rage!" On Lucas' command Gabite fires a ball of dragon energy at Electivire.
"Fire the laser!" Electivire charges up energy all around it. It then fires a blast of electricity at the Dragon Rage, called Charge Beam. This attack absorbs the dragon attack and continues towards Gabite.
"Charge Beam?" Lucas then gasps when he thought about it. "Gabite, jump out of the way!!"
His Pokemon leaps from the attack and dodges. Lucas and Cheryl jump onto the pillars to escape the beam. Lucas rises up from having fallen down, and gazes at the fight. Gabite comes soaring down towards Electivire. "This battle will be over before you can lay a hit on my Pokemon."
"Dragon Rush!" Gabite covers itself in swirling light blue energy. Gabite makes a diving tackle onto Electivire, adding a good deal of damage to it.
"I must say that was rather impressive. Use Quick Attack!" Electivire increases its speed to make a blinding fast tackle for Gabite. "Follow up with Ice Punch!"
"Dragon Claw!" Gabite fights back with a claw swipe, blocking by the wrist of the fist to divert the attack.
"This guy's actually pretty good. Keep going on with the assault!!" Volkner says, as Electivire keeps up with its Ice Punch attacks. It would seem he's starting to get into it.
"Twister!" Gabite swings its tail at Electivire, blowing the Thunderbolt Pokemon into the air by a powerful wind. By now Volkner was smiling glad fully as he watched the battle.
"Yosh! Things are looking up!" Cheryl says as she watches her boyfriend's battle.
"Giga Impact!" Electivire envelops itself in pure energy, and dive-bombs downward to Gabriel.
"Dragon Rush!" Gabite copies the enemy Pokemon in a similar way, and leaps up at it for a head on strike.
The two Pokemon crash into the other painfully. Neither one seems to be giving up or faltering for the moment. But with Gabite being lower in stats, Giga Impact being a stronger move, and the unkind laws of gravity on Electivire's side, it didn't take long for the thunderbolt Pokemon to knock down the dragon Pokemon.
"Gabriel!!" Lucas calls out to his Pokemon as Gabriel falls down off the bridge, into a chasm of electric circuits. He knew Gabriel would be safe from the circuits, but the strike from Giga Impact could have seriously hurt it. "Gabriel, are you okay?!"
"I guess this battle is over. Even if it survives the electricity below that Giga Impact was Electivire's greatest attack. There's no way you can beat me with him." Volkner states to the others. Electivire lands on both its feet.
"No. He's fine! There's no way Gabriel will fall to something like this! Right now he's enraged, at having to be sent over the edge by such a brutish attack!!" Lucas states, staring at Volkner at Electivire. Suddenly out from the chasm 'flies' a brightly glowing figure. It is similar to Gabite's outline, but a bit different in some ways. "Gabriel?"
"It's evolving?" Volkner, Cheryl and Lucas watch in amazement as Gabite evolves in mid air. It finally finishes as it lands before Lucas, revealing it to be the Mach Pokemon Garchomp, or Gablias. "His Gabite became a Garchomp? Just like hers…"
"Wow! I got a Garchomp! It's an extremely strong powerhouse!" Lucas cheers, waving his arms up and down like a hyperactive child. "I've heard of these guys! They have amazing stats out of all non-Legendary Pokemon, only outmatched by Slaking!!"
"I guess Lucas really likes Garchomp." Cheryl says, a sweat drop going down her head.
"This is…" Volkner begins to smirk as he looks at Lucas and his new Pokemon. "This is exactly the type of battle I've been waiting for!! Electivire, Giga Impact!!"
Volkner's Pokemon is unable to move at the moment. In fact it collapses onto its knees without using its attack. Volkner gasps and mutters, "That's right…Giga Impact tires him out for a single round."
"Draco Meteor!" Lucas says, as bright energy collects on Gabriel's forehead. It then leaps high up into the air as bright yellow meteors are shot down at Electivire. They cause amazing damage, or would have if Garchomp had higher special atk stats.
"These won't stop me! Ice Punch!" Electivire charges after Garchomp, ready to finish it off with a powerful ice attack. Gabriel holds up both its arm-wings and blocks the attack, but only part of its arms started to freeze.
"Draco Meteor tires it out. There's no way it can move now." Lucas figures as his Pokemon suffers the ice attack.
"C'mon! Is that the best you got!?" Volkner taunts as his Pokemon prepares for a second strike.
"Not this time! Draco Meteor's downfall has lifted; Brick Break!" Garchomp's fin arms begin to glow brightly, just as it ducks from the second punch. It then follows up with using both blade arms in slamming the thunderbolt Pokemon twice.
"Electivire!" Volkner calls out, but it was too late. His Pokemon was knocked down from the powerful attack. The battle has finally gone to Garchomp.
"Yatta! I finally won!" Lucas shouts with happiness.
"Lucas has earned all eight badges!!" Cheryl cheers alongside him.
Volkner calls back his Pokemon, and then begins to lightly shake all over. At first the couple thought he was so upset he would cry. He then throws his head back, laughing hysterically. "Hahahahaha ha!! That was the most fun I've had in a battle since…ever!"
"Wow, really?" Lucas asks, breathing a sigh of relief afterwards.
"I thought he was going to cry." Cheryl whispers to herself.
"It's also made me excited to know you and your team will continue to rise to new heights. Here you go, the 8th badge." Volkner walks over to Lucas and hands him the eight and final Sinnoh badge.
"Wow, thanks. I got the Beacon Badge!!" Lucas shouts as he holds it up. He then places it in his case.
"That badge will allow you to use the move Waterfall, which allows you to climb up other waterfalls. It's something you'll need to reach the Pokemon League." Volkner explains, as per his orders as a Gym Leader.
"I guess it's time I become the Pokemon Champion then. It's a long 12 chapters, but I'll finally get to face the best!" Lucas says to himself with a glad grin.
"Chapters? What are you talking about?" Cheryl asks him.
"Huh? Oh nothing." He replies.
"You're right; the next stop for you is the Pokemon League challenge. You have to cross the sea here and win your way through the gauntlet that is Victory Road." Volkner says as he sits down on his bridge, one that he created out of boredom. He then continues with, "Although, even if you pass through the Victory Road then you'll have to face the Elite Four. But if you can get past them then you'll face the champion. You'll have a much better chance at beating them than me."
"That's right…Cynthia." Cheryl says sighing once more in a depressed way once she had to think about that woman again.
"Well thanks for the battle. Have a good day!" Lucas says to Volkner, who smirks back. He also calls back his Pokemon Gabriel.
"I should be thanking you. I hope to battle you again one day." The spiky blond replies.
"Let's go Cheryl." – Lucas
"Uh huh." – Cheryl
Lucas and Cheryl leave out the gym, going through those complicated traps like before. Volkner lies back down on the ground, throws his arms behind his head and naps the day away. He knew Lucas would have no trouble against the Elite Four.
As Lucas and Cheryl exit the gym, hands held together. The green woman asks her boyfriend, "So when are we off to the Pokemon League?"
"We can leave now actually…except I don't have Waterfall. We might have to go find Riley." Lucas says, remembering what Volkner told him about being unable to reach the league without the HM.
They walk towards the beach within Sunyshore. There they spot another spiky haired blond looking out into the sea. The moment he turned around the couple could see it is Paul. The trainer says, "Hey, Lucas."
"Paul? What are you doing here?" Lucas asks his best male friend.
"…I've been thinking…and I want to admit…you're better than I am." He says, looking at his best friend.
"Paul…" Lucas has never seen his friend act this way before. "How long have you been thinking this way?"
"It all sank in when I fought that woman from Team Galactic. I was able to stop her, barely, and yet you could defeat her as well as their leader. A part of me died then…" Paul continues, showing a more mature expression than before. "That part of me was the one trying to be like my father. I can't progress in life if I focus on finding my father's path, and not my own."
"Of course." Lucas says in agreement.
"I've never seen Paul act this serious." Cheryl mutters to herself.
"Lucas, good luck in the Pokemon League. I wouldn't stand a chance against them." He replies, walking away into town. Before disappearing, he turns back around to say, "But one day, I'll come face you, as a true trainer, and take you down as the Pokemon Champion."
A smile grows on Lucas' face as he hears his friend finally admit his superiority. Although this isn't the way he wanted it, he nonetheless accepts it. "Sure. I'll wait for you!"
And with that Paul jets off into town, leaving the couple alone once more. The minute he left though a female figure approaches Lucas and Cheryl. Cheryl says, "I think that's the longest he's ever been nice to us."
"He's a nice guy! I'm not sure why he's still single though…" Lucas says, muttering the last part silently.
"Excuse me…" A feminine voice speaks. The couple turns around to face the sea, and sees a girl around their age walking close to them. "Was that a friend of yours?"
"Huh? Oh yeah." Lucas says, pointing to where Pearl went off. He and Cheryl take a good look at the girl; she has a bright green dress with white fluff at the end, light blue sleeves on her arms and a red bow tie. She also has long brown hair with two golden beads tied on the top to make spikes, and pale white skin. "I'm Lucas, and this is Cheryl."
"Lucas huh…I'm glad I got to meet someone, someone who could remind me of my hometown." She says, closing her eyes while placing her right hand on her bow. "A beached city with a lighthouse, sweet people who understand the life at sea, and trainers who show true friendship and love."
"Love?" Lucas didn't understand that last part; he didn't like Paul that much.
"I was referring to you two. You make a sweet couple." She replies. At that Cheryl and Lucas blush a bit, as she hugs Lucas' arm.
"Of course we do." Cheryl says with a proud voice.
"I also heard some of your conversation; you want to reach the Pokemon League right?" She asks him.
"Uh huh! But I don't have Waterfall. I need that to reach the Elite Four." Lucas explains to her.
"Well if you want, you can have this." She reaches into her dress pockets and pulls out an HM disk.
"What's that?" Cheryl asks her.
"It's HM07 Waterfall."
Both Cheryl and Lucas jaw drop and gape as they look at the disk and her. "Wow, are you really sure you want to give it to me?"
"Sure! Although, you have to do me a favor someday." She says, winking at Lucas afterwards. Lucas blushes a little when she winks at him, and Cheryl pouts angrily. She then finishes with, "I'll be expecting this back someday. You'll have to return it to me, in a Pokemon battle."
"Battle? Who are you?" Lucas asks the mysterious woman.
"My name is Jasmine, and I'm a gym leader from Johto." She reveals, causing Lucas to jaw drop again.
"Gym Leader?" Cheryl repeats, this info blowing her mind as well.
"Well, thanks, I guess." Lucas says, as he receives the HM from her. "I hope to face you soon, but don't expect to win this back so easily."
"I wouldn't have it any other way. I'll see you in Johto, Lucas." Jasmine replies, smiling as he pockets the HM in his bag. She then walks into town, leaving the two alone on the beach.
"Well that settles that problem. Now we just have to cross this ocean." Lucas says, looking out into the sea.
"Yeah. There should be a ship that heads over to there." Cheryl says, looking around the beach for a port. "Ah! Over there!"
"Huh?" Lucas turns to his left at where she was pointing, and sees a port. "That'll work! Let's go!"
The two lovers dash over to the port, where they see plenty of trainers gathered together to get on board. It seems they were all into taking the Pokemon League challenge. The couple had to stand in a line, awaiting their confirmation into the Pokemon League. Of course, since most of them didn't even have all eight badges they were kicked out quickly, leaving only 7 qualified trainers. Lucas would be the last one.
They approach the guard at the front of the boat. "Present your badges."
Lucas opens his case, and shows off all eight of his badges. The guard nods and moves to the side. "Very well. You may pass."
Lucas heads into the boat, with Cheryl close behind. But the guard grabs hold of her. "Only those with all eight gym badges may enter."
"But I'm with him!" She says, looking back and forth at the guard and Lucas.
"You can let her go! She's my friend!" Lucas says, hoping he would let her join.
"I'm sorry, but no trainers without all eight badges are allowed to take the challenge. She may watch from the sidelines in the Pokemon League, but she'll have to take another boat for that." He states.
"Fine. As long as I get to see him again." Cheryl replies, finally giving into his rules. "Bye Lucas. I'll await you at the Pokemon League!"
"Bye Cheryl!" Lucas says. After this incident things progressed normally; the ship takes off and heads for the Pokemon League, a second boat arrives for those who didn't qualify, and the eight trainers are now on deck preparing for their upcoming battle.
Lucas is currently looking out into sea, a sad look on his face. "It's been so long since I went anywhere with Cheryl. Oh well."
He then turns around to see the other trainers on board. Most of them were generic trainers, Ace to be more precise. None of them seem to be that interesting, except for that one girl. Amongst the Ace trainers is a girl in black gothic lolita clothes. Her black hair is curled up and over her left eye, and she has a white ribbon on the right side of her hair.
What gets to him the most is the fact that she was staring at him. Lucas thinks that's kind of creepy, but doesn't care for the moment. She'll probably stop soon: well that's what he thought.
After ten minutes into traveling over the sea Lucas sees that she's still looking at him. 'Is she interested in my clothes? Whatever…not going to ruin my day.'
The gothic girl looks away from him finally, staring at the floor from the lawn chair she's sitting in. 'There's no mistake…he's the one.'
"When are we going to get there?" Lucas wonders, as he continues to look out into the sea.
After a couple of hours the cruise ship finally reaches an island, or more like a peninsula. Besides the Pokemon center, there only seems to be a big mountainous cave behind it. Lucas and the other trainers exit the boat, filing together in a 4x2 group before the Pokemon center. A guard appears out from out the cave.
"Welcome to the Pokemon League, or the first half of it. Here we will begin your first test; the Victory Road challenge!" He says. Other guards exit the cave and go beside him.
'Here I go…' Lucas thinks to himself, preparing for what is to come.
"Here you must go through this cave. Inside you have to reach the other end of the cave as your only objective; your only obstacles will be the habitat Pokemon, each other, and the many trainer guards within. And if you manage to get past all that then you'll have to climb up the waterfall, and there you'll reach the end." He says, looking at all the Pokemon trainers.
"You may begin now. The challenge will end once someone reaches the end." The second guard states.
Lucas and the trainers finally are allowed to head into Victory Road, which is what they do. After an hour of trekking through the cave, in which they are now allowed to battle against each other, Lucas comes before a Steelix. This Pokemon is obviously blocking his path. But he can deal with this problem easily.
"Infernape, battle with him!" His fire type releases a Flamethrower at Steelix, instantly defeating it.
Lucas recalls Infernape, and continues on his path. "That thing wasn't so strong after all-eh?"
He stops in the middle of his walkway to see that girl from earlier in his way. She continues to look at him with that emotionless expression. Lucas was about to ask her something, until she says, "…have you encountered a Legendary?"
"Huh?" He mutters, not really understanding what she said. "What do you mean, have I encountered a Legendary? You mean a Legendary Pokemon?"
"…Yes…" She says, pausing too much between her words. "…I'm Marley…you are?"
"I'm Lucas." He replies. This girl doesn't seem to be that good in talking to other people. "Can I ask why you wanted to know why I've met a Legendary Pokemon?"
"…You seem…different…from the others here…" She replies, not really answering his question.
"And can you stop talking like that?" Lucas asks her. He finds it rather annoying that she keeps on talking to him without using any words. It's as if she doesn't like talking.
"I…am looking for…a certain tablet…it is here…somewhere…" She says, looking at the ground while twiddling her fingers. "I was hoping…you would…help me."
"Huh? Why me?" Lucas asks her.
"I feel you would be the best help…out of all the trainers here." She says, looking to the side. She then turns to him and says, "My name is Marley. Will you help me out?"
"I…" Now it was Lucas' turn to hold his tongue. He couldn't say no to her, but he couldn't just forget about the challenge. He has to get out of Victory Road and then defeat the Elite Four, and finally Cynthia, to become Champion.
But he would seem like a total jerk if he didn't do anything. And this would go against his valor. "Fine. I'll help you, but you have to help me get through the Victory Road Challenge."
"Okay…I never planned…on challenging the league…in the first place…" Marley replies, a smile finally coming up on her face.
Lucas then walks over to her, extending his right hand out to her. "My name is Lucas. Let's get moving."
"Thank you." Marley says, taking his hand and shaking it. The two then head down the walkway to search out the exit.
An hour has past since then, and both Marley and Lucas have battled random wild Pokemon and two trainers who have decided to team up as well. Thankfully with her speedy Pokemon and his variety Pokemon they have been able to move past any trouble.
They see a light near the end of the road, meaning the exit was clear in sight. "There it is! I've finally made it!"
"I see…another path…" Marley says, looking to the right of where Lucas is. He turns to her direction and sees a second path just like she said. "Thanks for bringing me here…you can go…and fulfill your wishes…"
"Marley…" He watches as she goes away, down that other road deeper into Victory Road. Once Lucas sets foot outside he would be the first one, and would finally be able to answer his dream, as well as join back up with Cheryl. "But right now, I should keep my promise."
"Promise?" Marley stops as she heads down the road, looking back at Lucas.
"Well what are you waiting for? Let's go!" Lucas says, running down the road past Marley. "I wouldn't mind seeing this Pokemon among flowers."
"W-wait! I won't let you catch it!" She says back, going after him. Inside she was glad though, that he wanted to continue with her to the end.
--
"Is that all of them?" A guard asks another one, who comes out of Victory Road with two trainers in his arms.
"No. We still have two more still inside." He replies before tossing them back onto the boat to return.
A third one pops up and says, "Let's go find out if they made it to the other side."
--
20 minutes have past since they left the Victory Road exit for this path. They have yet to find anything, until they find a light at the end of a long tunnel.
"I see a light!" Lucas says as he rushes to the end of the tunnel. Marley follows him close on his heels, until they reach the light.
Once they make it through they see the outside. They could see a lush field of flowers on a path, which leads to a small island adorning a big gray stone. Lucas and Marley walk across this path of flowers towards the island. Lucas couldn't help but stare at the rock. "What is this?"
"I…I don't like to talk…" Marley speaks, walking past Lucas towards the stone. "I choose my words carefully, but they still may hurt someone accidentally…when I think of that, I clam up."
"Marley?" Lucas couldn't get what she was talking about. Why was she telling him this now when she could have said so earlier?
"That's why I think this certain Pokemon is so wonderful. It's one that conveys the feelings of gratitude in a nice way…" Marley begins, placing her left hand on the kanji carved into the stone. "This stone tablet, it has a strange feel to it."
"You shouldn't care about accidentally hurting someone with your words. If you didn't mean it and you really care about that person they'll understand." Lucas says to her, hoping she would understand him and grow to become a better person.
Marley smiles a bit as she looks at him. "I saw this stone before…in Kanto. Someone by the name of Professor Oak told me…there was another here."
"Professor Oak? You mean that old guy who's known around the world at the Pokemon philosopher, or something like that?" Lucas asks her before looking back at the stone.
"The same one…these engravings…are for someone to place their thoughts…after growing as a person…through an adventure." She says, removing her hand from the stone. "I would like to place…my own heart and thoughts into it…but even with the adventures I've made…I haven't grown at all…that's why…"
"That's why you took the Victory Road challenge, to find someone who was able to mature during their adventures to help you. Is that right?" He realizes, figuring out about it all after carefully thinking it over.
"Ah…That's why I wanted to know…if you met…a Legendary Pokemon…only a truly mature trainer…would have met one." – Marley
"Wow…you really thought I was mature…" Lucas mutters to himself, a smile slowly rising up on his lips.
"You've probably met many people and Pokemon…experienced many things that have shaped you…as you are now…" Marley says, walking away from the stone. "Think…out of all who affected you the most…who made the biggest change in your life…"
"Who changed my life the most…" Lucas repeats, thinking about that for a few seconds.
"Who do you want to thank the most?" Marley says, not stopping for a single nanosecond there.
'Who do I owe my change to the most…that's easy…' Lucas then closes his eyes, and visualizes the person who has touched him and his heart the most. He then opens his eyes, and says clearly, "Cheryl."
Suddenly the stone releases a bright light from all around it, blinding both trainers' vision. They shield their eyes as the light envelops them. "What is…this light?"
Suddenly the light dies away, revealing the two trainers in place before it happened. Lucas is the first to open his eyes, and gasps when he sees that a major change has happened. The small island that was initially devoid of plant life is now blossoming with flowers. There is also a sort of flower-adorned bridge connected to the island from behind the stone.
"Where did these flowers come from?" Lucas asks Marley, since no one else was around.
"That Pokemon…" Marley says, still looking around in awe after removing her hands from her eyes.
Suddenly the flowers start to rustle a bit, as it seems like something is moving through them. Lucas and Marley then see a green creature, a Pokemon no doubt, moving within the flowers. "What's that?"
"There it is!" Marley says, pointing to the green Pokemon. It heads across the bridge and leaves them there.
"Let's go!" Lucas says, running over to the bridge to chase it. Lucas has his Pokedex out as well with Marley following behind.
"That Pokemon…it's connected to the tablet. That's what he told me." Marley says as they chase the Pokemon.
"You mean Oak?" Lucas asks her after looking at her from the side of his eye.
"Actually…there's something I have to tell you…" Marley says as she looks down at the ground in shame. "Someone else told me…the whereabouts to the stone in Kanto, and then here…he said he would help me…if I capture it for him…"
"He did? Who?" Lucas asks her. They were still only halfway to the other side.
"I won't catch it…if I were to capture that Pokemon then no one else would be able to see it…" Marley states, gritting her teeth a bit. "I'd rather have you catch it…than that old man…"
"Wow, you didn't hold back that time." Lucas says to her, and then thinks back to what she said about 'old man'. "Who is this guy?"
"…The leader of Team Galactic." At these words Lucas stops running to stare blankly at her. She halts her running as well.
"What?! But shouldn't Cyrus be in the Torn World?" Lucas asks her. He was hoping not to hear about him or Team Galactic again.
"Cyrus? That's not…what he told me…this guy was called Charon…" Marley says, remembering the guy's name.
"Charon?" Lucas repeats, and then he thinks back to that time he and Riley hid amongst the grunts of Team Galactic within their hideout. He then realizes whom it could be, that old guy who stood with the other three Commanders. "You mean, that old guy? He's ruling Team Galactic now!?"
"Let's go. We might lose that Pokemon." Marley says, as they head off towards the end of the bridge.
They finally reach the end and spot the Pokemon on top of a hill of flowers. "There it is!"
"That's the Pokemon who can convey feelings of gratitude…you made it so I could see it…so I shall convey 'thanks' into my own words." Marley says, looking up at him.
"Marley?" Lucas asks, noticing that she has a weird look in her eyes. It's almost like when Cheryl looks at him.
"To you, thank you, Lucas…" She then places her arms around him, hugging the red cap trainer softly. "Thank you for letting me witness that Pokemon…that man will never reach it…"
"Marley…" Lucas says, blushing a bit when she hugs him. He tries to ignore this feeling, knowing he would be betraying Cheryl if he enjoys it.
"So that's the Gratitude Pokemon, Shaymin." A grumpy voice shouts. Both trainers turn to the left of the bridge, and see a ship close by. Lucas gasps when he realizes who's on it; Charon. The current leader of Team Galactic glares down at Lucas from the bow of the ship. A bridge is let loose and extended to the island. "I must thank you for bringing me to the Legendary Pokemon, but I disagree on who you brought with you."
"You! Get out of here! An evil man like you doesn't deserve to be near here!" Marley shouts, no longer holding her words back. She doesn't need to around him. She releases Lucas and pulls out two Pokeballs.
'Charon…I've never seen what Pokemon he uses, but if he is to be the leader he must be a strong trainer.' Lucas thinks, looking at the fat old guy.
Charon walks across the bridge to move closer to the island. But before he could reach it two members who run down the bridge knock him off. Charon falls into the ocean, struggling to stay afloat.
"It's you two." Lucas says as he looks at the two members who knocked him down: Team Galactic Commanders Mars and Jupiter.
"It's him…" Mars says as she looks at Lucas. Both her and Jupiter walk over to Lucas, ignoring the drowning Charon and battle-ready Marley. "Boy, you will tell us where Master Cyrus is!"
"I would like to know too, where that shadowy Pokemon took you and Master Cyrus." Jupiter says in a more calm voice.
"Oi! (glug, glug, glug) Don't leave me here!!" Charon shouts, trying to swim to land. Two other members of Team Galactic come out from the ship and save him.
"Um, the last I saw him was in the Torn World. It's where Giratina took us." Lucas tells them. Mars runs to him and grabs hold of his collar.
"Don't screw with us boy! Like I'm suppose to believe some B.S. like that; Torn World, yeah right!" Mars says to him, gripping his shirt tightly in anger.
"I'm not lying! He's really in another world! I came out through an ancient cemetery though." Lucas says to her.
"You're going to tell me the truth whether you like it or not!!" Mars yells, rearing her right fist back for a punch. "Tell me now-"
"Torn World right?" Jupiter asks him, halting Mars from knocking his lights out.
"Uh, yeah! Of course, I'm not sure how to get there though." Lucas says, hoping he can calm them down with his words. Telling them the truth was the safest thing to do, since neither of them probably knows where the Torn World is.
"Jupiter, you can't really think he's telling the truth right?!" Mars asks her supposed comrade.
"If it was that Pokemon then there's no way he could be anywhere else." Jupiter says, grabbing hold of Mars' arm.
"Well this is all fine and dandy, but what are you two doing?! Squash those nuisances!" Charon says as he is finally helped out of the sea.
Mars and Jupiter look back at Charon, and then at Lucas. Mars then says, "Fine. We'll go look for this damn Torn World. We'll even be good little girls."
"Like you can be a good girl." Jupiter says, and then drags Mars away towards the other side of the bridge.
Charon gapes in shock. "HUH!"
"Okay…what happened?" Lucas asks no one in particular.
"I think…our hard work was reduced by a large margin." Marley says, returning one Pokeball to her belt.
"How could this happen…those two left me…for that fool Cyrus! What do they see in him to make them betray their own?" Charon grumbles out loud.
"I think I can answer that." Lucas says as he walks over to Charon and the two grunts. "Cyrus wasn't really evil. All he ever wanted was to get rid of human spirit and rebuild the world for the better. As much as I hated him, I knew he only wanted to do what he felt was right."
"Who cares about honorable crap like that!?" Charon shouts at Lucas.
"Why…did you trick me…what do you want Shaymin?" Marley asks the old man.
"Shaymin has the astonishing ability to purify any ruined land of any pollutants in the air, and turn it into a lush field of flowers. I shall take that Pokemon for myself, as well as the Magma Stone." Charon says, taking out a Pokeball.
"Magma Stone?" Lucas asks him.
"Yes. It's the stone that holds the Pokemon Heatran under wraps at Stark Mountain. With it gone Heatran would make all the volcanoes around the world erupt, scorching the land with lava! Think of how much people would pay Shaymin to repair their homes?!" Charon laughs maniacally at the end.
"I knew it; you two are too different. Cyrus would have spent a fortune to pursue his task, but you only care about money in the end, breaking any and all honor you have or rules you see fit to achieve it!" Lucas says to him.
"Screw the rules, I have money! With it I don't need to play by them! With it I can rebuild Team Galactic and make it better, and never betray it!!" Charon says, adding to it with a laugh. He then frowns as he glares at Lucas. "Now, I should deal with you as well. Get rid of them, Tyranitar!!"
He sends out a Rock/Dark type that looks like a dinosaur. It grows angrily as it looks at Lucas and Marley. But before it could reach them, and they could send out their Pokemon, Shaymin comes out from the flowers. "It's aiming for Shaymin!"
"Hyper Beam!" Tyranitar rears its head back and then fires a stream of pure energy at the hedgehog. The attack misses, but scorches the flower field horribly as it continues to move towards the trainers. "If I am to catch it I can't have any distractions. This Master Ball isn't something you can come by so easily."
"Lucas…save Shaymin!" Marley says as she runs towards the Dark Pokemon. She sends out the Forest Pokemon Sceptile. "Leaf Blade!"
Sceptile slashes its right arm blade at Tyranitar, which regains its balance. The other two grunts show up before Lucas who tries to reach Charon. 'I don't have time to battle them…guess I should try that then, if I'm really an Aura Guardian.'
Lucas holds both hands before him, and tries real hard to concentrate. His mind continues to think of firing off his aura. Within seconds a pulse of dark energy is released from his hands, which blows the grunts into the sea and him backwards.
"What the?" Lucas picks himself back up and looks at his hands, wondering how exactly did he do that. "I really should practice this…"
"How…did he do that?" Marley asks herself once she saw him use that move.
"Yosh! Now to deal with him! Charon!" Lucas shouts as he stands back up and rushes towards him.
"He dealt with them that fast!?" Charon growls, noticing Lucas coming for him.
"I won't let you use Pokemon for evil!" Lucas shouts at him before throwing a punch at his face. This punch knocks him to the ground, and forces him to drop the Master Ball.
"Curse you boy! First you stopped Cyrus, and now you're aiming to defeat me?" Charon curses, glaring up at the young boy.
"Of course. Do you really think I'll let you destroy the lives and homelands of thousands of humans and Pokemon?" He says to him in an angry voice.
"Get him, Bronzong!" Charon sends out the evolved form of Bronzor, a bell shaped version of itself. "Use Giga Impact!"
Bronzong levitates high up into the air, preparing to come back down like a comet. Lucas sees this and runs to Shaymin, which is lying in the field in pain from the explosion of the Hyper Beam. He also sees the Master Ball close by. "He can't succeed in his plans if he can't catch Shaymin…"
Lucas then realizes the surest way to foiling his plans, and sighs. As he does Bronzong is close to coming back down. Lucas picks up the Master Ball, and tosses it at Shaymin. "Sorry about this Marley."
"No! What are you doing!?" Charon shouts, seeing Lucas throw the ball at the hedgehog. Just as the Master Ball captures Shaymin Lucas grabs it and leaps into the sea, dodging the Giga Impact attack. The attack totally destroys the island, turning it into a barren wasteland; lucky for Charon he got away in time.
Lucas comes out from the water, and tosses a Pokeball out to the field. Infernape comes out. "Infernape, use Flamethrower!"
His Pokemon fires a stream of flame at the steel type, reducing its hp to 0. Bronzong falls to the ground. Charon grits his teeth in anger, and then turns his attention to Tyranitar, which finally falls to Sceptile. Both Marley and Lucas turn to Charon, who glares angrily at them. She then says, "You're…the only one left."
"Damn you both!" Charon curses, running towards his ship to make a getaway.
"Wait…get back here!" Marley shouts, running to his ship. Lucas places a hand on her shoulder and stops her. "Lucas…"
"Don't worry. I stopped him from getting Shaymin, but you might not like it." Lucas says, holding the Master Ball in front of her.
"Oh…I see…it's okay…" Marley says, a smile coming up on her face.
"Eh? It is?" – Lucas
"Like I said…I'd rather you catch it…than him. Besides…you saved it…and even allowed me to see it. That's…all I could ask for." She states, holding the hand that holds the Pokeball.
"Wow, really? Thanks, I guess. But I'm not sure what to do with Shaymin…I guess I can show it to Cheryl and Professor Rowan." Lucas says, as his Master Ball disappears. It seems to be going back to his PC, since he can't have more than six Pokemon on hand. He then remembers the Victory Road challenge. "Aw that's right! I hope there's still time!"
"Time…for what?" Marley asks, right before Lucas takes out his take-apart bike from his backpack. He then assembles it and hops on.
"Get on! There may still be time for me to win!" He says to her, holding his right hand out.
"Sure." Marley says, looking back at him as she boards the bike.
Using the fast gear Lucas and Marley jet back to Victory Road, for Lucas to reach the finish line and continue with his journey. It didn't take as long this time to get back thanks to the bike, and when he does they spot some guards searching for them.
Eluding them the best they could, Lucas and Marley dismount the bike and cross the finish line together, as the only members of the challenge to not be taken out. At the other end they see two more guards standing before a humongous waterfall. It looks like it could go all the way to heaven.
"IT'S HUGE!!" Lucas shouts, taking note of how big the waterfall is. "I'm guessing this is the last challenge."
"This will be your last challenge. Your Pokemon must scale this giant waterfall, using the move of the same type." The left guard says, as they both step to the side to let him go up.
"Well, this is where we part ways. Thanks for that little side trip Marley." Lucas says to the gothic lolita.
"Sure…I enjoyed it too…just a little…" Marley says, a slight blush forming on her face.
"Go, Geyser!" Lucas sends out Floatzel, and jumps into the water with it. "Okay, I'm going to have you a certain move. I won't knock you if you fail."
Floatzel nods to its master, and begins to head for the Waterfall. Lucas grabs hold of its back and lets it swim up. The first time they fail, and the second time they make it halfway. The third time they finally reach the top, and get on dry land. Lucas retrieves his water type and glares at what's ahead: the Pokemon League.
"Finally. This is where Cynthia and the Elite Four are to be." Lucas says, as he walks towards the front door.
The minute he walks in a beautiful girl with long green hair immediately tackles him to the ground. Lucas looks down at the girl he knows all too well, Cheryl, and the two smile at one another. The inside of the Pokemon League building is like a combination of a Pokemon Center and a Poke-mart. She then says, "What took you so long?"
"Be quiet! I went through allot of trouble." Lucas says, staring deep into her green eyes. He then stands up along side her and heads to the pc. "I got to show you something."
He then sends Staraptor into his pc, and retrieves the Master Ball he used earlier. Cheryl notices what it is, and asks him, "When did you get a Master Ball? What's in it?"
"I'll show you; come on out, Shaymin." Lucas sends out his grass type hedgehog, which lands in his arms.
Cheryl gasps with great excitement when she saw the green hedgehog. It has a fluffy white underbelly with green fur on its back similar to a normal hedgehog and its spikes, and it has two pink flowers on both sides of its head, almost as if they were ears. They look like Gracidea flowers.
"Oh my god! How long were you in there!?!" Cheryl asks him almost flabbergasted.
It is then that Lucas explains to Cheryl the events that went on while he was inside Victory Road; from Marley and her request in wanting him escort her through Victory Road to find Shaymin, to Team Galactic's involvement and trying to capture it. At the end she was a bit upset that he wanted to help another woman, but she was okay with it; his heart belongs to her, and that's enough to keep her cool.
"So you saved Shaymin from being used for evil by catching it…that's what I would have done too." Cheryl says, smiling as she picks up the tiny hedgehog. "Did you read the Pokedex?"
"Huh? Oh yeah!" Lucas takes out his Pokedex and scans Shaymin. "Shaymin, the Gratitude Pokemon; This Pokemon has the unique ability to absorb and dissolve toxins in the air to instantly any ruined land into a lush field of flowers. It can also communicate through telepathy and can sense gratitude within the hearts of others. It avoids detection by curling up to resemble a flower pot."
"I've heard of a legend similar to that…" Cheryl says, looking down at the Shaymin in her arms. "Floaroma use to be a barren wasteland that was unable to sprout life. Even Pokemon avoided it. But then someone gave thanks to nature, and suddenly there was an explosion. Not long afterwards did flowers sprout throughout the land, and Floaroma became livable."
"Now that you mention it, that would make sense if this guy was responsible." Lucas says, looking down at the cute Pokemon Cheryl holds.
"Anyway, will you be ready for the Pokemon League challenge?" Cheryl asks him, as he takes back Shaymin.
"Of course. All these guys need is another day of training, and then we'll take them on." Lucas says. He then returns Shaymin to its ball and walks to the door. "Just one more day."
--
Charon paces back and forth in anger as his boat takes him towards the Battle Frontier. "Damn that boy. I can't believe he defeated me so easily…but next time I won't allow him victory. Once I steal the Magma Stone I can still gather millions of ransom."
"We'll see about that." A voice shouts as a Croakgunk jabs him in the back. Charon collapses onto the ground in pain. Out from the shadows stands Looker. "Without Cyrus or those two girls guarding you I can easily take you out."
"What?! One of the World Police?! Get him!!" Charon shouts, hoping his other members of Team Galactic would come and save him. But no one came for him.
"There's no one else here to save you. You're the only one left." Looker says, holding out handcuffs.
- Three Days Later
Lucas and Cheryl look at the entrance to the Elite Four room. Our diamond protagonist has his six Pokemon ready for battle: Infernape, Lucario, Garchomp, Luxray, Floatzel and Shaymin. He was rather hesitant to bring Shaymin into battle without training him more, but he would really need a Legendary Pokemon of its power in battle.
A man with green hair stands between him and the entrance. "Beyond this is the Pokemon League challenge; you must defeat the Elite Four in one on one battles. You have to win all of them to succeed them."
"Okay. Can she watch us battle?" Lucas asks him.
"Yes. But she must be at least two feet from you while he's battling." The man says, and then points to him. "Now, I want you to show me your badges, to confirm you are from Sinnoh."
"Here you go; Oreburgh, Eterna, Hearthome, Veilstone, Pastoria, Canalave, Snowpoint and Sunyshore." Lucas reveals all eight badges, and then pockets the case.
"Thank you. Now you may step through." He says, allowing Lucas passage into the room. He walks inside slowly, allowing Cheryl to follow behind closely. The door takes them through a gray hallway. The two come out to a forest-like field, and see a guy with weird lime green hair.
Up above them in the stands surrounding the field is a group of people. It would seem they're the audience. Cheryl looks towards Lucas and says, "Good luck, Lucas. I'll be cheering you."
She places a kiss on his lips, and then walks over to the side to allow him time alone for battle. He shakes off the blush and prepares for his fight. The man opens his eyes and says, "Welcome, boy, to the Elite Four. You're the first person to successfully reach us in months. My name is Aaron."
"So how does this challenge work out?" He asks the older guy.
"You have to battle each member of the Elite Four one at a time in one on one battles. But the catch is, you cannot use the same Pokemon twice, you cannot heal them during battles, and you cannot swap them out." Aaron explains, taking out a Pokeball.
"I'll battle with Vespiquen!"
He sends out the Beehive Pokemon, one Cheryl has as well. "A bug type eh? I choose Natsu!"
Lucas chooses Infernape, who shows a great advantage over it type wise. "Ah, a fire type. Let's hope you don't regret it."
Yusei: That's the end of this chapter. There are two more left until the end. And then finally we'll deal with the other more important stories. Of course there's still that story with Naruto and Ayame we could bring back.
Kenshin: Who cares? I thought that one was a little stupid. Let's get moving to the next chapter.