Chapter 11: Winner Takes All: Kanto Pre-Tournament is Announced! Celia…shows interest?
Finally, it was the middle of May. Skylark had Bulbasaur for about six months now, but they were already one of the strongest tournament players in Slateport City. He won every tournament, and the only fight he had lost so far was to Tony's Arcanine. Skylark was the happiest he had been since he still had his dad, even with his painful scars from the fire on his back.
Bulbasaur was getting stronger and faster nearly every day, and he had become a role model for many trainers who had trouble winning battles. They looked at him and became motivated, knowing that he had once been even weaker than them but now he is probably in the top five trainers in Slateport. It was everything Skylark had dreamed of; but this wasn't his whole dream.
For a few months now Skylark had his eyes on the World-Wide Kanto Region Beginner Tournament, where youth from all over the world gathered and played against each other. His goal was to reach that tournament and win, and along the way beat Celia in a battle. Sadly, he was still head-over-heels for her, but he was determined to push those emotions aside when the battle came.
His final goal was, after winning the tournament, to set off and become the champion of the Pokémon League in every region, and becoming the Pokémon Master. Then he could prove to everyone that he is stronger and that they underestimated him. He wanted to prove them wrong so much.
One day, though, while at the Pokémon Academy, he was sitting on the bleachers and watching two trainers battle and practice. Bulbasaur sat beside him, watching and anticipating the moves of the Pokémon. Skylark and Bulbasaur had decided to watch other battles so they could observe the moves and personality of the trainers and Pokémon. Doing this, they could give a better judgment as to how to beat other trainers.
But after the battle finished and everyone applauded the winner, the gym instructor walked to the front of the class with a clipboard. "…Alright guys, we all know that the tournament to go to Kanto is this Friday night, so at the end of the week. It's only Monday so we still have time to get in some last minute training…some of you need it. It will be opened to the Slateport City Public, but they must be a beginner. The Pokémon cannot be higher than Level 15, but Level 15 is accepted. After everyone is signed in, we will set up the brackets. Afterward, ONE WINNER will be claimed the winner of the tournament and will win the all expenses paid trip to Kanto. So, I hope I'll see you there!"
"Hey, Skylark." Celia silently said. Skylark broke his concentration on the tournament and turned around to see Celia. His stomach got butterflies (or, since this is Pokémon, Butterfrees? **ba dum ch**) and he quickly stood up.
"Hi!" He said too enthusiastic, looking like a moron.
"Can we talk?" Celia asked, grabbing Skylark's hand and leading him outside. His heart raced, his head pounded. He was freaking out. "I…I want to talk to you."
"About?" His heart raced more. "Oh my God, she's going to ask me out. We're going to date. Oh my God."
"I'm impressed to see that Bulbasaur has gotten so strong so fast…" Celia complimented, but Skylark's soul was slowly crushed inside.
"Oh. Thanks. It's been a lot of work, but we're here now!"
"Yeah, well…" She leaned in closer. Skylark blushed redder than blood. "I think I'm starting to like you." That was the killer. His crushed soul now burst forward with life.
"Rea-Really?!" Skylark's voice was shaky. For a moment everything else just dropped from his mind. All his mind was now was Celia.
"Yeah." She smiled lightly, and Skylark blushed even more. "So, I guess I'll be seeing you at the tournament, right?" She began to walk away. "Bye Skylark!" That was the first time she used his first name.
"Bye!" Skylark was dumbfounded, star struck, all that lovey dovey crap. He walked back inside, Bulbasaur following behind. His mind had checked out for the rest of the day.
Later that week, roughly 8 P.M. on Thursday
Celia had flirted with him all week. He was so infatuated with her that he barely trained Bulbasaur that week. It was only on Wednesday that they trained because that was the day Celia would often be out training too. But now it was Thursday night, and Skylark was barely prepared. He could barely think about anything other than Celia now.
Skylark received a call reminding him of the tournament tomorrow, and soon after he jumped on the computer and mindlessly browsed the internet. He was so compelled with Celia that he had barely thought about his dreams of reaching Kanto and defeating her in battle. Tomorrow was an all-day training at the academy, so he would be forced to train his Bulbasaur.
The next day, Skylark woke up, immediately thinking of Celia and the tournament that night. He quickly did his morning routine and bolted out the door, down the dirt path toward the academy. He was going to train all day, eat a nice dinner and then head off to the tournament. He was prepared…or so he thought.
Even though he trained Bulbasaur all day, his heart wasn't in the battle. His heart was focused on Celia. She had his heart, soul and mind in her hands…and she intended to use it.