CHAPTER EIGHTY ONE
Amy opened her eyes. She had made it. She was finally on top.
Getting out of bed, she pushed the covers aside and stretched as she glanced out at the morning vista through the floor-to-ceiling windows of the apartment suite. After her victory, she had packed her suitcase and moved to the highest tier of the stadium - the penthouse level where Lance once resided. It was minimalist and sparse, but furnished with all the latest gadgetry; food processor and dishwasher, washing machine and dryer, rain shower and jacuzzi bath tub.
Lance had apparently not spent much time here, preferring accommodation abroad as he trained his powerful Pokemon for the tournament in which he lost to Amy. Amy could barely believe it herself. She - a self-centred, sheltered girl from Celadon City - had left her family and life behind to pursue a wild adventure around Kanto with her Pokemon, during which she met several new friends, challenged Gym Leaders and rose to the top of the Indigo League.
After the showdown with Lance, Amy had retired to her apartment suite after healing her Pokemon only to be told that her new quarters were much better suited for her position. Numbly, she had followed the entrance examination attendant who had been so cursory when she was one among a number; yet was sycophantic to be the one to introduce the new Champion to her private quarters. If there's anything you need, don't hesitate to ask, she had smiled.
Amy's ears bled at the bleating of hangers-on. She would never forget how people treated her when she had nothing and marked the change now that all of Kanto knew her name. She was more suspicious now than she used to be, but it was a wise choice. Plenty would try to take advantage of her new fame, of which she had nothing to gain by doing so. She had tried her hardest on this journey and her achievements were proof of her potential. She did not yet feel she was done, though.
Amy glanced around the sparkling-new, spread out apartment which paid homage atop Indigo Plateau with three bedrooms, two en suite bathrooms and a guest, well-equipped kitchen and designer-decorated lounge, among other amenities. It could scarcely be called a home, more a temporary residence for when the tournament was in session.
Amy did not want to stay here, isolated and cut off from the rest of the world in a luxury penthouse suite. She realised how famous people must feel sometimes, when they are unable to blend in with 'normal people' and society without triggering a "look who it is!" response from the community.
Now that the morning had arrived at last, Amy poured milk into her bowl of cereal and watched as the apartment became flooded with light, illuminating the scar on her Arcanine, the spikes of her Nidorina and the spilled Pokefood Marowak was surreptitiously trying to eat before his Trainer noticed. Her attendance was mandatory at an awards ceremony to be held live, during which Lance would formally hand over the mantle of Champion before departing with his dragons. Amy nervously stirred the spoon in her cereal and wondered what her mother would think now that she had become a free woman.
" - and here to induct Amy into the Hall of Fame is Kanto's former Champion, Lance!"
Roars and cheers shook the stadium as Amy stood upon the podium beside the announcer, heart thudding as Lance strode towards her with a smile. She thought back to when she had stood on this very podium, one among sixty-four battling to reach the top, alongside Natalie and Daniel.
"Congratulations," Lance shook her hand warmly, smiling for the cameras. Amy managed a smile she did not feel, then Lance's touch left her.
Upon the large screen where once the tournament bracket had been displayed for the audience, now there was a picture of Amy - the one that had been taken when she first registered for her Trainer Card upon reaching Indigo League - alongside images of her Arcanine, Nidorina and Marowak. Her name would forever be stored within the records of the Hall of Fame history. Amy, Champion of Kanto.
"Lance, would you like to say any words as departing Champion?" the announcer hastened to catch Lance before he stepped off screen. Notoriously private, Lance surprised the announcer with a smile.
"I do have some small items of mention, actually."
Lance accepted the microphone from the announcer, receiving appreciative laughs and applause from the crowd in the stadium. He stood centre stage, more for effect than to boost his own self-image. Amy stood back, glad to dispel the attention off of her for once. She was transfixed by Lance's gravitas and manner. His cape waved in the breeze as he stared with fierce determination upon the people of Kanto who loved him so.
"I congratulate Amy for her prowess not only in defeating me but in her trials to reach the Indigo League. Few Trainers make it so far as to challenge the Champion. Today, I relinquish my title, proud to present to you a worthy successor."
Amy blushed. She did not think that at all was true. Compared with Lance's Dragon-type might and mystery, she was just a girl from Celadon.
Don't downplay your successes, Amy harshly rebuked herself. This is your moment to feel proud!
" - grateful to all of Kanto who have helped maintain and participate in this tournament. The Indigo League would not have happened without your effort and support."
Polite applause rang out as Amy snapped back to reality, forcing herself to focus.
"However, I regret to inform you that Indigo Plateau will not be hosting Kanto's next tournament," Lance paused for effect, hearing cries and confusion in the crowd that stopped as he continued. "Instead, we will be forming a partnership with the region of Johto, who as we speak are undergoing negotiations to hold their Johto League at Kanto's very own Indigo Plateau!"
There was a stunned silence, more from lack of knowledge than dissent. Johto was west of Kanto, a sprawling mass of cities and towns and forests that Amy had only briefly learned about at her private prep school. She did not know the inner workings of government or fully understand why Johto needed to come here, to her native Kanto to hold their tournament, but her inquiries were shared by the people of Kanto as Lance continued.
"As Kanto will be playing host to the Johto League here at Indigo Plateau, I am excited to share several additional developments with you,"
"Firstly, there will be a Magnet Train built to connect Goldenrod City in Johto with Saffron City in our Kanto."
"Secondly, Johto's flagship vessel - the S.S. Aqua - will leave the port of Olivine City in Johto and arrive in Vermilion City. Reservations may be made at any local Pokemon Centre, subject to availability."
"Thirdly, just like our Kanto, Johto has eight certified Gym Leaders who hand out Badges to Pokemon Trainers who challenge and defeat them. All eight Badges will grant a Pokemon Trainer the right to enter Victory Road and register with the Johto League, held here at Indigo Plateau."
"Finally, the region of Johto is known as the home for a number of new Pokemon species which have yet to adapt to the Kanto wild. Johto's scientists and explorers have been a great help in cross-referencing data between Johto and Kanto in an ongoing pursuit to follow up these investigations."
Wild, ear-deafening cheers and applause met Lance's ears at the conclusion of his speech. Amy was bowled over, not just by the charisma Lance exuded but by the shocking, new information he had revealed.
Magnet Train? S.S Aqua? More Gym Leaders? Another tournament? New Pokemon?
"I will hand the microphone over to Amy," Lance smiled as he met her eyes. "Your Champion!"
Roars of approval and shouting followed his words. Amy watched him turn to leave, but she couldn't help calling out, "Lance!"
Her words were picked up on the microphone and broadcast to the entire stadium. Hesitant, she hadn't meant to call him out in public. Lance hesitated, unsure as he remained on her periphery of the steps. Desperately, Amy tried to revise her statement so that it would be appropriate for national TV. Everyone was watching, after all - she didn't want to stutter or misspeak.
"Will you be entering the Johto League, Lance?" Amy asked tentatively, realising that she sounded like a reporter and was asking the question that was on everyone's minds. "I-I don't mean to pry."
Amy was the only one close enough to see the searching gaze Lance gave her, as though he regretted that she had asked the question. Numbly, she began to back off but he turned to the stadium as Amy leapt to helpfully provide the microphone so that his words were amplified,
"Stay tuned over live coverage of the Johto League to find out!" Lance embellished, promoting the Indigo League brand further as the crowds went wild once more, cheering.
Lance shot Amy a swift nod before departing the podium, as Amy stood speechless with the microphone in her hand. She was aware of the buzzing in her ears that was all of Kanto cheering and the movement out of the corner of her eye as the announcer, who relieved her of the microphone to her relief so that he could take up the thread of his announcement, not wanting a spare moment to escape the public eye.
Amy accepted the congratulations of Kanto and stayed strong as she faced the cameras and cheering stands. She was used to maintaining the customer-service friendly smile that had been the cornerstone of her upbringing, although she did not have to work a part-time job in retail to undergo the harsh treatment by customers in order to learn how it was done. Hers was continual, repetitive "don't frown, Amy" hour after hour of interminable family dinners.
As the day grew to a close, Amy returned to the penthouse quarters atop Indigo Plateau and closed the door behind her, kicking off her heels and rubbing her aching feet. She released her three Pokemon from their Pokeballs, fed them an extra serving of Pokefood since she had been too busy with the day-long celebration fanfare that had consumed her time and entered the bathroom, tiled sparkling white and ran a bath, lighting vanilla scented candles around the edges.
Grateful that her public appearances were done, Amy had one thing to thank about her family and that was how to remain stoic and cool in front of other people, even beyond one's psychological breaking point. Amy knew the actions off by heart, but had learned by now how to monitor the signals and be more self-aware of the dangers that being emotionally closed off would do to her if she let it run rampant.
The phone rang from somewhere within the reaches of the apartment suite, and Amy stood up from where she had collapsed on the living room couch in a fit of exhaustion. If that slimy announcer wanted another interview, he could forget it. Reaching for the phone, she answered in her most frosty tone,
"Good evening, Amy speaking."
"Amy. It's Lance," came the familiar tone. "Am I calling at an inconvenient time?"
"Not at all," Amy replied, startled and twisting the phone cord around her finger. "Listen, I want to apologise about today's - "
"There's no need to apologise, Amy," Lance's voice was cool and even, sounding surreal on the phone. "I've thought long and hard about it, and I've come to the decision it's best to tell you before the news network reports on it live."
"What is it?"
"It's about the Johto League, Amy," Lance hesitated for a fraction of a second. "I'm the Champion."
Her world seemed to sink beneath her. No wonder Lance was so calm handing over his title! He already had one from Johto - timed perfectly to coincide with her becoming Champion.
"I didn't want to make a public statement on the day of your ceremony and overshadow the proceedings," Lance continued, voice still calm.
"No - no, I understand," Amy swallowed, her throat dry. Her anger began to recede now that Lance had admitted the precarious situation with which he had to manoeuvre. "But Lance - how long have you been Johto's Champion for? And how come it's not public knowledge?"
"In order for Johto to host a tournament, they enlisted the services of four prominent Pokemon Trainers to serve as their Elite Four to whittle down the competition," Lance took a deep breath. "Having witnessed the success with which Kanto's Indigo League has managed to attract Pokemon Trainers, Johto wanted the same."
Amy held tightly onto the phone, silent on her end but for her Pokemon munching Pokefood and the bath tub filling with water.
"You see, Johto's economy can reap massive gains if Pokemon Trainers come to visit with the hopes of battling their Gym Leaders and returning to Kanto's Indigo League. The costs involved with constructing the Magnet Train rail line are shared between the regions but Johto would benefit if Pokemon Trainers attended in their thousands just as they have done every time I have continued to remain Champion here in Kanto."
"So, the Johto League offered the position to me before entering into negotiations with Indigo Plateau to host their tournament in Kanto. At the time, I had just defeated Gary Oak with my Dragonite. Unlike Johto, Kanto has limited knowledge of Dragon-type Pokemon which only added to the 'mystique' for which draws Trainers to traverse Kanto in the hopes of challenging me."
"Behind closed doors, I challenged and defeated Johto's eight Gym Leaders and their newly instated Elite Four to earn my role. When the Johto League is held, I will be standing where you are now."
Amy jumped in fright as Marowak's bone club tapped against the kitchen tiles near where she stood, waiting for more Pokefood.
"I think I understand," Amy willed her composure. "The Johto League wanted you because you're so well known in Kanto, and since their tournament will be held at Indigo Plateau, you'll be staying here -
"It is important to note, Amy," Lance interrupted. "You are still Kanto's Champion. Indigo League may be playing host to a new tournament, a widespread media campaign in which my name will hold prominence above yours, but make no mistake - you are the only Trainer to have defeated me, publicly."
Amy smiled a little at this concession. She liked Lance, most of all for how private he was and how he seemed to hold up under pressure. It was precisely how she had wanted to appear all her life; indeed, she had given that impression while stuck in her stuck-up, vain phase; but Lance radiated such calmness that unlike hers which had been forced upon her, his was borne of experience and entirely genuine.
"I never wanted the fame," Amy whispered into the phone. "I can understand why you prefer to stay out of the limelight. I don't mind slipping into obscurity."
Amused, Lance replied, "I should hope to see you when I return to Indigo League, Amy."
Spirits soaring, Amy replied with a breathless, "Y-you do? Why?"
"I will look forward to battling you again," Lance smiled down the phone. "Of all people, Amy, I cannot imagine you doing nothing with your time. I expect to see you at the Johto League - Champion vs. Champion."
"Of course," Amy replied, rather mechanically to hide her hurt feelings which had been brought on by obsessive daydreaming and of the awe that came from speaking to the Dragon-type Trainer. "I have never visited Johto before, but you gave many compelling reasons up on that stage, not the least of which was that there are new Pokemon to catch and Gyms to challenge. I will see you there."
"Goodnight, Amy."
She hung up the phone before she could say something stupid, ran into the bathroom and turned off the tap just before the water overfilled. Fragrant bubbles floated on the surface of the piping hot water. It was just what she needed.