Chapter 7 – The first day of Tournament
Indigo Plateau
Today is the day the Elite Four Tournament begins. One hundred people from all over regions were invited to take part in this event that will celebrate one hundred years of Elite Four. At Indigo Plateau, trainers and guests wait until the opening ceremony at the main stadium, and many of them hope to see famous trainers like the Elite Four Champion Lance.
Within Indigo Plateau a city was built to host this huge event and many cameras were installed to help the police to monitor people, trainers and possible disputes between them. But other people may be listening and seeing to what those cameras have to show.
And that leads us to somewhere within a dark room where the light of televisions are the only lights available. In these television city images are seen by three mysterious people.
"So, it finally began" said a voice "I never thought this tournament idea would work"
"I never doubted it" said another voice
"Today we will begin" said a third voice "What are we waiting for?"
"You are waiting for me" said a voice coming from a door behind the three people which had just opened and revealing the famous Elite Four champion Lance
"Lance" said one of the voices "You finally arrived"
"I apologize for my tardiness" said Lance "I had to take a walk around the Indigo city"
"This is not very prudent of you" said one of the voices "You might get recognized. Your fans wouldn't let you leave"
"Keep your opinions to yourself Lorelei" said Lance to the woman next to him known as the famous ice trainer of the Elite Four
"No need to be rude" said Lorelei smiling "I just don't want you to get to involved into this tournament"
"Don't be ridiculous Lorelei" said another voice "This tournament was Lance's idea"
"Bruno is right Lorelei" said Lance to the fighting type trainer of the Elite Four Bruno "I have an objective here, and you three are the ones I trust most. That's what I asked you all to be here"
"But for this you had to fire the currents Elite Four trainers Lance" said the third voice
"For this mission I need the best ones Agatha" said Lance to the third voice, the madam of ghost types Agatha
"So, tell me Lance" said Lorelei "Do you think we will be enough?"
"Of course not" answered Lance "That's the reason of this tournament"
"You are deceiving people with this tournament Lance" said Bruno
"The tournament is real Bruno" said Lance "It is an official competition and it is really celebrating the Elite one hundred years"
"But…?" said Bruno knowing that Lance still had more to say
"But I believe that this tournament came in an timely moment due to our special mission, so why not take advantage of this?" said Lance
"I just think it wasn't necessary you to get involved Lance" said Agatha "You know, about this thing that you are going to battle the champion"
"I didn't want either Agatha. But if I want the bests to get to the finals, I must give them an incentive to fight for" said Lance
The others three Elite Four trainers looked at each other and then to Lance. It was his fault he had to use the tournament for his own personal interests. And now not only he put himself into this situation but required them to get involved as well
"Is something wrong?" asked Lance after seconds of silence from the others
"We are just not sure if you are doing the right thing Lance" said Agatha
"Those who are not sure may leave the room right now" said Lance showing the door to the others "But be aware of the consequences by this decline"
"Don't worry Lance" said Lorelei "Even though we may be not sure, we would never let you down"
"She is right Lance" said Bruno "You can count on us for this mission"
"What about you Agatha?" asked Lance
"I'm in" said Agatha "But try to do this thinking for the team, not only yourself"
"I am grateful for your assistance" said Lance "The opening ceremony will begin in two hours. We shall head to the Stadium"
And then all four Elite member took off the room
AT THE HOTEL
"Wake up May" said Dawn "We have just one hour to get ready and go to the Stadium"
May woke up but couldn't find strength enough to leave the bed. She was feeling tired and still sleeps. But there would be no other way, either she gets up or she would miss the ceremony
"Good morning Dawn" said May "Good morning Serena"
"Good morning May" said Serena "You seem exhausted"
"I am" said May "I think it's because I haven't had enough good sleeping in like four days"
"Maybe you should go downstairs and have some breakfast" said Dawn
"No" answered May "I still have to shower and get ready to leave. If I go to the restaurant I won't get on time"
"We are sorry May" said Dawn "Serena and I woke up one hour ago and we went down for breakfast. We tried to wake you up but you didn't"
"Don't worry" said May "One hour more of sleeping will make the difference to me. But still I am very hungry"
"May" said Serena "I brought you some things from the breakfast"
"You did?" asked May in shock "What did you bring?"
"Some bread, jam, sandwiches, eggs, bacon and orange juice" answered Serena
"When did you bring all this?" asked Dawn
"When you went to the bathroom to take your shower I got back to the restaurant" said Serena
"Why did you do that?" asked May
"You are my friend now May" said Serena "I didn't want you get hungry"
"Thank you Serena" said May "You are really kind"
"You are very welcome" said Serena entering the bathroom
"You see May" said Dawn "Serena is totally trustable"
"Yes. Maybe" said May "Or she is just trying to appear trustable" thought May
The next hour passed really fast. After May's "breakfast" they changed their clothes, got prepared and took off to the Stadium. It was pretty close to the Hotel, less than five minutes walking. The surroundings of the stadium were completely full of people, most of course of guest who came to watch the tournament. Inside the stadium all one hundred trainers got together to hear the opening announcement.
At the Stadium, there were so many people that it was almost impossible to see any familiar face
"If Lance is here, how are we going to find him?" asked May
"I don't think Lance would be at the field with all the trainers" answered Dawn
"She is right" said Serena "He is the most important person here. He will be at the stage"
Suddenly all lights turned off and one small light beam lit the podium up at the center of the stage
"Look it's Lorelei" said a trainer next to the girls
"Lorelei?" asked Serena
"I've heard of her" said May "She used to be part of Elite Four many years ago"
Lorelei climbed the podium and looked down at all trainers in the field, as if trying to find someone. Her eyes were cold and emanated fear and loneliness. Certainly was not a very friendly woman, although very attractive
"Welcome trainers" said Lorelei "I am Lorelei of the Elite Four"
"So she is back to the Elite?" asked Dawn
"Looks like it" answered Serena
"Today we are all here to celebrate a special day" continued Lorelei "The day that the elite was created, exactly one hundred years ago. That day, four trainers came together to create a group that would bring the top four trainers of all regions not only in skills, but also in purity and goodness. Together they would protect our land from all evil that arise and carry forward the message of always fighting for the ideal of peace and justice. That day the Elite Four was born" said Lorelei
"Peace and justice?" asked Dawn sarcastically
"What did they ever do for peace and justice?" said May smiling
"We would know if it was true right?" asked Serena
"Totally" answered May and Dawn together
"So today, the Elite brings you a special and festive event. The Elite Four Tournament" said Lorelei "One hundred trainers, the best one hundred of all regions have been invited to participate in this championship. And just the champion will have the pleasure of challenging the best trainer that has ever existed"
"Since Ash's not here I don't believe her" said Serena. May and Dawn smiled at her commentary
"Please, stand up for him, the Elite Four champion Lance, the Dragon Master" said Lorelei pointing at the top of the stage, where a man appeared and started coming down the stairs. He had red hair, dark eyes and was wearing a cape. He really seemed amazing; at least that seemed the reaction of 97th trainers at the field. Can you imagine who the three other trainers were?
"So that's Lance" asked Serena
"Yes" said May "I still remember him from Hoenn"
"I just saw him in magazines" said Dawn "But he does seem a very powerful trainers"
"Ladies and gentlemen" said Lance "I, Lance of Elite Four welcome you for being here. You can consider yourselves champions already because you have been chosen to take part in this event. Even though Lorelei said this is a festive event, I don't want you to think this way. Think that you all are between the 100th best trainers in the world, and even if you are number 100 in Rank, you will have the chance to show that you may be more than that. Anyone of you can be the champion and battle me at the grand final. So do not hold your Pokémon and abilities, come with all you have and show the world what you can do"
All stadium clapped Lance's words, he was seen as a God by most of people there. Was he real that good?
"So it begins" said Dawn "We can't stop now girls"
May and Serena nodded positively in agreement to her
"So now we will make the draw that will set the preliminaries" said Lorelei "All of you know your Rank number, we will recognize you by your numbers and not names"
"So we are 32nd , 56th and 77th" said Serena
"We will have ten groups of 10 trainers who will now be determined by random draw" said Lorelei "Inside each group all trainers will battle against each other. Victory will give you 3 points, tie will give you 1 point and loss obviously no points. At the end, the first of each group will go to the playoffs until one trainer reach the title of champion"
"It is going to be difficult" said May
"Let's just hope not to be at the same group" said Serena
One by one Lorelei called the numbers and started setting them into the groups. Since there were one hundred numbers it could take a long time until Serena, May and Dawn get called
"Number 77" said Lorelei
Serena looked up and raised her hand to call Lorelei's attention
"Number 77 you are at group 1" said Lorelei
"Groups one?" asked Serena looking at the groups table at the screen "There is still two places to be called at my group"
"And neither of us have been called yet" said May
"There are still many numbers and groups Serena" said Dawn "It's almost impossible for us to be together"
"I hope you are right" said Serena
Lorelei kept calling the numbers until…
"Number 56" said Lorelei
Dawn raised her hand and looked at her
"Number 56 you are at group 9" said Lorelei
The girls got relief, one last to go
"Just you now May" said Dawn
"I'm nervous. There is still room in both groups one and nine" said May
"Don't worry. It will not happen" said Serena
"Number 32" said Lorelei
May frozen, that was the time. She could be either groups one, nine or seven
"Number 32?" asked Lorelei again
"Raise your hand May" said Dawn
May raised her hand not looking up at Lorelei
"There you are number 32" said Lorelei "You are at…"
The three girls hold hands, hoping for the best. If May was in either Serena or Dawn's group, only two of them could go to the finals
"…..group 7"
"THANK YOU" screamed May making all trainers look at her
"May?" said Dawn embarrassed "No need to scream"
May looked around and saw that everyone were staring at her, including Lorelei
"Well, it is good to know that you got happy" said Lorelei smiling
"That was embarrassing" said Serena
"I'm sorry girls" said May blushing
"Don't worry" said Serena "At least now we know we are not facing each other at the preliminaries"
"Serena's right" said Dawn
"Trainers" said Lorelei "We are done for today. Tomorrow the battles of the first round will start. Please stay tuned on the timetable and locations of battles, the preliminaries will not take place here at the main stadium" finished Lorelei "Thank you for your time. You may go in peace"
The trainers started leaving the stadium back to the hotel or any other places they wanted
"What do we do now?" asked May
"Why don't we go lunch?" asked Serena
"Excellent idea" said Dawn
"Yes you are right" said May smiling "Let's go eat"
The three girls left the stadium back to the Hotel but they couldn't imagine that they were being observed as they turned away from the stadium
"Three very interesting girls" said Lorelei. From behind her other three people appeared
"Why do you think that?" asked Bruno "They seem very normal to me"
"That's because you are just seeing the outside of them" said Lorelei
"What do you mean?" asked Bruno
"Those girls" said Agatha "They have a purpose for being here"
"To be the champion and face Lance?" asked Bruno
"No" said Lorelei "They have personal purposes, They don't care for the Tournament"
"What do you think about them Lance?" asked Agatha
Lance just watched them leave until they completly disappeared into the crowd
"I've seen one of them before" said Lance "The taller one"
"From where do you know her?" asked Bruno
"I don't remember quite well" Lance answered "But I feel determination in her heart"
"So the taller one is the best of them?" asked Bruno
"Who is she Lorelei?" asked Lance ignoring Bruno's question
"Number 32" said Lorelei "May Maple from Petalburg city"
"May Maple" said Lance "Now I remember her"
"Is she strong?" asked Bruno
"By her skills as a trainer, she will never make to the finals" said Lance "However…."
"What?" said Bruno
"…her love by a certain person will definitely take her to the finals and possible to the grand final against me" said Lance
"What about the other two?" said Lorelei "Number 56, Dawn and number 77, Serena"
"They are below number 32" said Lance "But once more, their love may take them further than we imagine"
"Love" said Bruno "Love doesn't win battles"
"You couldn't be more wrong my friend" said Lance smiling "Lorelei, keep an eye on them"
"As you wish boss" said Lorelei leaving the stadium after the girls