A/N: Thank you all for waiting. I hope you had a great Christmas. Mine was fantastic as always.

But you've suffered long enough, so let's cut the formalities and continue the story.

Previously in Part 1

When Sarah refused to let Ella become a Pokemon trainer, Ella found other ways to use her powers, like cheating in class. But then she discovered a Pokemon fight club where she could battle without her parents discovering. Sarah eventually discovered the truth of Ella's late nights, but not before Ella became badly injured in a battle, forcing her into the hospital for a short time. Despite her better judgment, Sarah agreed to let Ella become a trainer, believing it would be safer than perchance pushing her towards something more dangerous.

It is now approaching four months since Ella left home. She has taken up residence in Saphron City, where she has been working towards a secret goal.

Chapter 8

New Beginnings of Old Addictions

Ella stood in the very center of a large warehouse-like complex. The platform she was on was raised three feet over the rest of the floor and the entire floor had a slight angle, putting those in the back higher up than those in front. At long last, after months of preparing, everything was ready.

"Shall we open up?" a voice said into small earpiece attached to her mask.

"Are the scouts in place?"

"In place with Telepathic Enhancers powered."

"Any reds detected?"

"Two likely. Bouncers have them marked."

Ella nodded, even though only she could see it. "Good. Have the teleporters ready just in case." She turned around. From the wall, a long curving hallway led out to the front entrance half a block away. "Let 'em in."

It took about three minutes before people began to come through the entrance into the arena. They spread out, moving around to fill in the space farthest from the entrance first. Once the initial trickle began, the flow began to grow until people were pouring through. A lot of people had heard of this, apparently.

Ella smiled to herself. This was just like she'd imagined it. All those months ago, she'd felt a lot like them, only without realizing it. Eager for something to help them escape. Anything to get them away from the mundane process called life.

And now, it was her turn to give these people what she'd been given. She checked her watch. Exactly midnight.

She began to turn on the spot. "People of Saphron City, welcome." She didn't have to talk very loud. The ceiling had been designed to help voices and sounds from the platform spread over the crowd easily while still keeping them contained in the building. "You have all come here for various reason: trainers seeking a real challenge, civilians simply looking for a good show, or the lonely desperados who simply stumbled in without meaning. But regardless of who you are or where you are from, I welcome you to the Underground League."

The lights went into strobing effects and the crowd cheered.

"I am your host. You may call me Mäyto.

"Before we begin, I must impose on you one simple law. None of what you see here tonight travels with you. As the famous saying goes, 'What happens on the Orange Islands stays on the Orange Islands.' The same applies here. And believe me. We have ways of knowing." She paused, her gaze traveling over the crowd.

"But you did not come to hear me talk. Let the battles begin!"

The crowd erupted.

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Sarah sat on their couch, surfing through television channels. Life seemed to have dramatically slowed down since Ella had left. Her daughter usually called every few days, just like she'd asked, but hearing from her every-so-often wasn't nearly the same as knowing she was home and safe.

She hadn't felt so down since Ivysaur had left several years ago.

Sarah was currently passing through most of the news stations. ANN, Viridian Central, and others passed by. She was going so fast on autopilot that she nearly missed Ella's face.

She froze and went back. The Pokemon League Channel was interviewing Ella! "…your last tournament. What's your strategy to battling?"

"Luke, come in here! Ella's on TV."

"I know. I'm watching in here."

"I usually try to outplay my opponent," Ella said. "My Pokemon and I have a very close connection. We often don't even have to talk with each other to know what the other wants. That's very useful in battles, because I don't always have to tell them to dodge or do small things. They know to do it. And that throws off the other trainer."

"And what about when you yourself go into a battle? What do you like to do there?"

"Keep shifting strategies. I might start as a Mudkip going on the offensive and then suddenly change to a Gengar on complete defense. If I'm constantly changing my attack patterns, the opponent will never know how to defend."

"You seem to have learned a lot from your mother."

"Yeah. She was a great inspiration to me. A lot of my tricks I learned from her."

That made Sarah giggle happily.

"Are you at all concerned that what happened to her during the Grand Tournament may happen to you as well?"

Ella paused. "I wouldn't be at all surprised if it did. But if there's one thing my parents taught me it's that you should never give up. So regardless of what the Pokemon League Board chooses, I'll keep training unofficially."

"Way to go, Ella!" Sarah accidentally screamed at the TV. She quickly threw her hands over her mouth in embarrassment.

"Some say you could turn into one of the greatest trainers of all time. Yet you chose to settle down here in Saphron City. Why?"

"I like this place. The big city is so much different from where I grew up. I like the bustle."

Sarah finished watching as the station went over footage from her last battle. She combined a Quick Attack with a Fire Punch to take out a Mr. Mime.

"I'm going to have to drop in on her some time," Sarah said to herself.

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Ella watched from below as a battle raged on the platform. It would soon be her turn. She couldn't start her own fight club and not participate. She'd put in way too much time training.

The actual Pokemon League didn't give the same thrill as these types of battles did. Knowing that you and your opponent could very easily be fighting to the death gave you such a spark. Once you tasted it, you couldn't go back.

In fact, she'd had to force herself to participate in those blasted tournaments. If she hadn't needed to keep up appearances or not needed money, she would have skipped them altogether. But in order to make her life as inconspicuous as possible, she'd had to force herself to play in the child games that didn't give her any kind of adrenaline rush.

Not anymore. This would provide all the money she'd need. And only a battle or two every-so-often would help keep appearances up.

A group of men came out with a cloth and gently carried the previous loser away. She'd been sure to set up a section for medical reasons. It would help to bring in more people if there was something there just in case, she'd reasoned.

She stepped up as they left. "Well done, Jeremy." The crowd cheered. "Now, I will be taking a challenge. Who thinks they can best the Underground League's leader? If you can best me, you shall win 500 dollars." "That'll get 'em coming."

Several trainers rushed for the stairs, but one was slightly faster. He took his place in the trainer's box. Ella stepped back, close to the battlefield edge, but still inside. "Would you like to make first call?" she asked.

He pulled out a pokeball. "Go, Blastoise!" The large turtle appeared on the stage with a roar.

Ella twisted her neck, causing it to crack, and let her cloak slip off her shoulders. It had been too long.

Without warning, she morphed and unleashed a Thunder.