Here's my first "somewhat normal" chapter now that I got around making sure you readers have understood the basis of the Champions League. Things will go on a bit slow just to build up some suspense and a few other things just to be ready, but the events that take place in between should be satisfactory. That's just my style, or the style I'm working out with for now. But by now, most of you readers are probably familiar with the Pokémon mechanics, mainly from the anime and some from the games.
One more thing. June 4, 2013 is actually the third-year anniversary since my brother, MisterP, announced his retirement from fan fiction, at least according to when he last updated his bio page. I know it's not something one would go around celebrating, but I found it coincidental while exploring the site and finishing up this chapter. So I thought that this day has some significance where one of the first main AbilityShipping authors finishes, more authors rise and take the place. Interesting, no?
"Alright, if there aren't any more questions to be openly discussed, I declare this meeting to be over," Scott announced, clapping twice. "Dismissed. Let's go celebrate this opportunity. Follow me to the main dining room in an orderly fashion."
"We're not little kids, you know," Dahlia spoke out jokingly as the other Frontier Brains pulled themselves out of their seats. "Well, three-fourths of us aren't anyway."
"What's that supposed to mean?" Thorton shot back at his Sinnoh colleague.
"Now there, no need to worry," Dahlia replied, albeit in singsong and throwing quick dance poses for fun. "There's nothing wrong with being as young as you. Life's fortune smiles at your progress here."
"That better not be your 'special' way of making fun of my age. It takes a genius at my age to even make in the Battle Frontier, mind you."
The Sinnoh Factory Head continued to argue alongside Dahlia, who simply appeared to take it in all in stride. Most of the other Frontier Brains ignored them and went about their own business, either taking off from Headquarters or accepting Scott's offer for a free grand meal. Tailing the back of the traveling group were Anabel and Greta, consumed within their own conversation while the rest, save it for Thorton and Dahlia, walked silently onward to the dining hall.
"Can you believe that we're going to compete in a League tournament that is said to rival Elite Four challenges?!" Greta exclaimed. "We didn't even have to go out and get Gym Badges and compete in Conferences. Although that was before we joined the Battle Frontier."
"I have to agree with you there, Greta," Anabel said, though not showing the same level of enthusiasm she bore on with a gracious smile. "I know that it's been a while for me since I was a roaming Pokémon Trainer. I don't think I even remember all the rules for Conferences like these."
"Ah, they're practically the same as the way you do things in the Battle Tower, Anabel," the Arena Tycoon replied, shrugging. "Only this time, you will need to rely on six Pokémon once you advance into the later rounds, which I'm confident that you, Brandon, Palmer, and Argenta have a shot in making."
"Oh, stop. While I don't completely doubt your claims and that in overall ranking I fall under Brandon and Palmer, competing in a large environment with many Pokémon fans shouting all around is kind of overwhelming to me. I'm not as used to it as before I joined the Battle Frontier."
"We just need to prepare in the coming month before we leave to New Island. It'll be so exciting that I can already taste the adrenaline rushes! Oish!"
"Well, you're certainly optimistic," Anabel commented with a slight laugh.
The Salon Maiden turned away from her Frontier colleague and slightly leaned her head down as they continued walking through the long hallway to the dining area. This was the first time she would debut in a large crowd of people and Pokémon since she last competed in her first League Conference many years back and before Scott invited her to become a member of the Kanto Battle Frontier. Anabel always kept to herself and desired peace and quiet more than anything else. That was who she was. Unlike some of the Frontier Brains in their proper Battle Facilities, she never invited crowds to the Battle Tower whenever challengers came for the Ability Symbol. Not even close acquaintances or old friends. It was just her, her hired referee Maron, and the challenger. There was one time her older brother came to visit when…
"Hey, earth to Anabel!"
"H-Huh?"
"Finally got your attention," Greta muttered with a quiet groan. "You seemed to have spaced out for a bit. Thinking about someone?"
"Well, in a sense, I was," Anabel replied, tapping her fingers together. "Just someone I hope to battle or at least see there."
"Oh? Thinking about Lucian?"
"Huh…? Yeah… He's definitely a powerful Trainer that I do hope to surpass one day," Anabel said, sounding somewhat uncertain. Greta took careful note of it.
"I know how much you confided in me about yourself, Anabel. I know you'll break out of his shadow someday and make a name for yourself without others referring to you as the 'little crybaby sister of an Elite Four' and stuff like that."
"Gee… thanks for that," Anabel replied through her teeth, self-consciously aware of the interjected and despised title Greta unconsciously imposed on her.
"Anyway, this Champions League is going to be fun!" Greta declared. She then took up a pondering pose with a hand under her chin. "I wonder who else is going to compete… Hmm…"
"Um, Greta? Let's save the excitement for later, okay?"
"I know! I remember that fiery Trainer a long ways back who was one of the first few to claim the Guts Symbol. Hey, Anabel, do you remember Ash of Pallet Town?"
"Greta, do we have to go through this now?" Anabel pleaded, starting to get annoyed with her friend's consistent rambling. It certainly didn't help when she had to bring him into the conversation. And about Ash too…? *sigh*
"That guy certainly would have the makings to make it far since he managed to be Brandon. He and his Pokémon were pretty strong back then. I wonder what he's like now. I wonder if he's still even a scrawny kid now or a buffed-out beefcake from all that training he's done since he challenged us. What do you think, Anabel?"
The Salon Maiden gave her friend and colleague a deadpan look while trying to control her inner thoughts and emotions from Greta's statements of that Trainer.
"… Greta… please shut up."
Outside Saffron City, Kanto region
"Wow, Piplup! Great work!"
"Piplup! Pip-Piplup!"
Dawn was impressed the recent combination of moves she and her Piplup have worked on in preparation for the Saffron City Contest. The route in between Cerulean City and Saffron City held precious space to practice in. Kanto Contests were certainly different from Sinnoh Contests, in which she wasn't even required to dress herself up. Nonetheless, she was impressed with the intensity of the competition she received since she came to the Kanto region. Though she could say that she had another motive for traveling to Kanto aside from competing in its Grand Festival.
"Hey, Dee Dee!" a young boyish voice called out, much to Dawn's irritation.
"Will you stop calling me that?!" Dawn shouted back. Her friendly rival merely chuckled back to her response.
"Sorry, but it's still too good to pass up, even though you did overcome your Plusle and Minun phobia," Kenny replied with a grin. "Anyway, are you training for the Saffron Contest?"
"You bet! We're not going to lose to you this time around!"
"Pip-Piplup!" Piplup chirped in agreement.
"Well, looks like that gang's all here," another familiar voice said.
Both Dawn and Kenny noticed their other rival, Zoey, walking in on them with a friendly wave. It was coincidental enough for the Twinleaf Town Coordinators to meet up with each other in the Kanto region. But the current Sinnoh Top Coordinator made the gathering feel like a crowd.
"Zoey! What brings you by here?" Dawn asked.
"Hey, just because I may be reigning Top Coordinator in Sinnoh doesn't mean that I'm not allowed to become Top Coordinator anywhere else," Zoey replied, amused with Dawn's astonished expression. "I've been training hard to protect my title so far and to give you guys some fair competition."
"You just enjoy humiliating us, don't you?" Kenny shot back jokingly.
"If that's how you feel, you probably need to focus on your weak areas," Zoey said with a smirk of her own. "Anyway, have you guys heard about the news?"
"What news?" Dawn and Kenny asked simultaneously and in surprise.
"I figured it might interest you at first, Dawn, but the Pokémon League has announced that they will be holding the Champions League this year in the coming month at New Island."
"I heard about the Champions League," Kenny interjected. "Barry told me about it and mentioned that his dad competed in the first one ten years ago."
"Hold the phone," Dawn interrupted this time. "What's this 'Champions League' all about? And Palmer got to compete in it?"
"The Champions League is where the best Trainers from around the world, in a sense, are invited and given a chance to battle against Gym Leaders, Elite Four members, and even the Champions themselves from the regions set apart by the Pokémon League," Kenny continued off. "I also heard from Barry recently that his dad's going to compete once more with the rest of the Battle Frontier Brains from Sinnoh along with the Brains from Kanto."
"Trainer qualification is also very steep," Zoey added. "Not many Trainers who simply compete in a League Conference would be admitted. The Pokémon League, with input from Elite Four members, who receive their recommendations from Gym Leaders like Ms. Senior, critically selects them out."
"Who's 'Ms. Senior'?"
"Candice, the Snowpoint City Gym Leader. Long story short, it's something between us as best friends since preschool."
"So that means…," Dawn drew out as the inevitable realization occurred in her mind for the reason Zoey had said would interest her. Her mood became somber.
"There's a chance that he could be seen competing in it," Zoey vocalized her thought. "Even though…"
"You're still bummed out about it, Dawn?" Kenny asked, half-concerned and half-annoyed. "It's not like he was discovered 'dead' or anything like… that…" He stopped halfway upon receiving a very vicious glare from Dawn for his unique choice of words. "Uh… Sorry?"
"Chances are that he found an exclusive and unknown spot to train for the past year," Zoey said in an attempt to console her usually optimistic friend. "On the plus side, with the possibility of seeing him again, there are also other attractions established on New Island such as a few unofficial Pokémon Contests, with the last one being official to go along with the final rounds of the Champions League. Ms. Senior also told me that they also just built up a small branch of the Unova region's Pokéstar Studios there, so we can attempt to make some flicks ourselves. Sounds like fun, doesn't it?"
Dawn gave a brief nod in acknowledgement to Zoey's efforts on cheering her up. No matter what will happen, whether she would ever see the one that helped her begin her journey or not, she resolved to stay strong and firm. After all, it was in her nature to ultimately determine that there is really no need to worry. Speaking of such…
"No need to worry, guys!" Dawn suddenly declared, pulling herself out of her brief depression. "New Island's going to be our next stop after the Saffron City Contest. So let's make the best of this situation and carry on!"
"Right on," Kenny agreed.
"Couldn't have said it better myself," Zoey remarked.
"Pip-Piplup!" Piplup cheered on.
Striaton City, Unova region
"Cilan, you really think he'll come back?"
"Hmm? What's got you down now?"
"You, of all people, should know by now! That kid just ditched us to who-knows-where and hasn't even tried to stay in contact with us!"
"Now Iris, you know that's not really true," Cilan said, hands held up gawkily in front in an attempt to calm the hysteria of the Dragon Trainer. It was already bad enough that Iris's current tantrum threw her Axew out of her large hair. "Although Ash's sudden departure did leave a bitter taste in my mouth, he probably needed another ingredient for another powerful battle recipe."
"Maybe, but did he really have to leave us behind just to find a way to become stronger?" Iris replied meekly.
Since their friend's departure over a year ago, Iris and Cilan still traveled around together to explore the world and learn for their respective elements. They originally had plans with their missing friend to tour around the Kanto region and see what made it different from the Unova region aside from the ongoing rumors and opinions. The two of them still went for it, just without Ash. While their journey around Kanto wasn't necessarily in naught, they still felt a missing presence without his personality brightening up their path.
"We're still young and fresh from the kitchen to explore the world outside of Unova," Cilan said, suddenly pulling out a recently torn letter from the side of his backpack. "And I can bet that we'll see him at the Champions League. After all, even the Gym Leaders here, including my brothers, were invited to participate with the Leaders from Kanto, Johto, Hoenn, and Sinnoh."
"He'd better be there," Iris grumbled, much to Axew's fear. "Doesn't he know how many of his friends have been worried sick over him the past year?! It sure didn't help that his past companions kept contacting us and demanding us where he went off to. And then the Champions League happens to come around the corner to invite all the strongest Pokémon Trainers around to compete in it. Gah! That little kid is so frustrating!"
"Maybe's because he wanted to get away from a more troublesome little kid like you," a new, snide voice interrupted, much to Cilan's shock and Iris's increasing aggression. "Smart move, I'd say and I'd definitely commend him for it."
"Nobody asked you, Buster!"
"That's 'Dragon Buster Georgia' to you, Dragon Trainee," Georgia responded coolly. "It's been a year and that's how you planned on greeting me?"
"Hey there, Georgia!" Cilan quickly greeted amiably. "What brings you by to the fair and delectable Striaton City?"
"Oh, you know, busting Dragons left and right, worthwhile Dragons at least."
Iris visibly seethed from the emphasis Georgia made, but before she could fire back, Cilan managed to jump in to prevent a miniature war between the two rivals.
"I see, and so your journey led you back here?"
"Obviously. That, and I've been meaning to try out that restaurant you and your brothers are in charge of."
"Well, you certainly have good taste."
"Don't flatter her, Cilan," Iris intervened, taking up a condescending stance. "Anyone with a rational brain can see that you and your brothers serve up some of the best meals anywhere."
"Typical on how the baby Dragoness has to suck up to her superior just to feel good about herself," Georgia responded back with a casual shrug. However, she was careful to note how aggressive Iris has gotten in comparison to previous encounters. What's her problem anyway?
"I was only stating truth," Iris countered back calmly with increasing venom. "After all, for you to have grown a rational brain towards Cilan's cooking, you probably had to forego licking the sweat from your feet for nutrition while surviving in the wild."
"Why, you little! How dare you!" Georgia hissed, outraged by her rival's successful and rather grotesque insult. "I ought to make you lick the sweat from my feet, you pathetic little loony lizard!"
"Who are you calling 'loony lizard,' ice queen?!" Iris shot back, fired up as well.
"Ladies, please!" Cilan cried out.
The Pokémon Connoisseur had immediately jumped between the two to keep them at safe distance from punching, kicking, or scratching each other. Though the odds of an actual brawl happening between the two young girls were still slim, there was no point in letting it escalate any further than it already had. In a few seconds, Georgia was the first to back off from Cilan from her attempt at attacking Iris.
"You know what? It's not worth it," Georgia muttered.
"Big talk from a little kid," Iris quickly retaliated back.
"Well this 'little kid' doesn't even see you fit to lick the sweat off her feet, so don't even try anymore," Georgia concluded with a victorious smirk. Iris fumed briefly before turning in a huff as well.
"Whatever you say."
"Boy, this little concoction of fiery aggression and cold indifference left my stomach upset," Cilan sighed.
"Cilan, what's that in your hand?" Georgia asked offhandedly.
"This? Oh, it's my invitation to compete in the upcoming Champions League. It's the perfect chance for me and my brothers to sample the many spices, flavors, and blends of every competing Pokémon Trainer at New Island, which also happens to be back in Kanto."
"Interesting…"
"How is it 'interesting' to you?" Iris asked. "You're not even qualified to enter, nor do you even care about it."
"I wouldn't jump to such conclusions if I were you. True I'm not eligible to compete in it, but that doesn't mean I can't scope out strong Dragon-type Pokémon and their Trainers competing in it. I'd learn from their examples as well if I were you, Iris."
"She does bring up a flavorful point," Cilan said. "I know that potent Dragon Masters such as Champion Lance, Elite Four Drake, and Gym Leader Clair have been added to this grand feast. And then there's the extra sprinkle of Cynthia and her Garchomp appearing as well. There's no telling what other kinds of Pokémon have been mixed into this already mouthwatering recipe of power and skill."
"I wonder if that means Drayden will be competing as well," Iris pondered, mimicked by Axew with his own thinking pose.
"Either way, I'm checking it out for myself," Georgia openly declared. "That way, I'll have formulated new strategies on taking down strong Dragon-type Pokémon."
"Please, you can't even hope to surpass me at this point."
"Things have been different since you two left for Kanto a year ago, so don't try to think that you're the only one who's improved. If anything, does Dragonite even bother listening to you nowadays or what?"
"Well… there goes my weekend," Cilan sighed, unable to prevent another flaring argument against the two seemingly natural-born rivals. "Maybe Ash did have the right idea of withholding himself from this sour moment."
"Xew Ax-ew…," Axew sighed alongside the Pokémon Connoisseur.
Elsewhere…
"Pidgeo! Pidgeo-toh!"
The shrill, powerful cry of a Pidgeot pierced through the air as it flew at an incredible rate towards the treacherous Mt. Silver. Flying over the bustling Silver Town at its pace, it climbed up altitude by altitude. It maintained a steady climb, even as the temperature around it started to drop and the air around it became thinner. Human civilization had already ceased after passing the line. It had passed a small area of evergreen trees planted on the higher levels, to the point where snow had become a prominent element in place of the usual sunshine for this season.
The Pidgeot didn't bat an eye, but kept its course towards the highest peak. Not even the oncoming Hail stones could prevent it from reaching its desired destination. The Bird Pokémon saw a being standing at the top, covered completely in a large brown cloak and hood as a means to keep warm, though that never stopped the person in the past in keeping warm. Why now to wear that silly cloth, the Bird Pokémon knew not. Regardless, the Pidgeot flew over the covered individual and dropped a letter it had been carrying in its beak to him. The person extended a quick hand to snatch the letter once it reached his level. The Pidgeot had then flown down the peak, obviously not interested in staying in the cold longer than it desired.
The individual still had the hand held out, gazing steely from underneath the large hood upon the rather peculiar letter he received. With a free hand, he slightly lifted the tip of the hood for a better look, a glaring dark eye contrasting against the falling white snow and hail around him.
He was the only human within miles upon miles on the dreadful peak he chose to reside on. As far as anyone was concerned at this point, he considered himself a nonentity. A nobody, essentially, for the past year since his decision to break free and do what he was supposed to do. With swift examination of the letter just from its cover, it became obvious to him that it's all about to change, starting in the next month and at a place he last visited almost over seven years ago.
He showed no weakness in regards to battling the strongest currently in the world, even hoping to find the Trainers that had knocked him out of past Conferences. If anything, he was ready for a return… if he hadn't overlooked one little detail:
Having been declared MIA for about a year with no attempt to reaching out to society, nor having much human contact at all while at Mt. Silver, how was he going to face the inevitable reunion of past faces once close to him?
"… … … … … … …"
Either he had turned a cold shoulder to them completely or was completely speechless over handling the prospect itself, only time will tell.
Yep, as you may or may not have already guessed, I gave our main star the rather played-out introduction of the great Master Red on Mt. Silver. If he wants to become a Pokémon Master, then he might as well follow the path of one preceded by his game counterpart, at least that's what I'm going on anyway. Ah, yes, the classic "Red Approach" for our Ash. Not the most original of ideas, but if it isn't broken, don't fix it. Don't worry though, he won't be too overpowered, but just enough to last against and possibly triumph over an Elite Four member at this moment of time.
Speaking of which, he will have three additional new Pokémon at this point, two having been already decided by me and the third slot left to suggestions. As for his backstory on why he's been in Mt. Silver, it'll come piece by piece as I don't intend on having it take up much space here. I might as well make it a prequel if you want to know what happened to him (my take on Ash upon concluding the Decolora Archipelago), but I'll give enough story for it as we progress forward.
I also might as well include on how Dawn, Iris, and Cilan have been doing since they were Ash's traveling companions, aside from Misty, Brock, May, and Max. Though I detest how the anime portrayed Iris, some things are necessary in order to expand the story, aka the eventual reunion with Ash and all of his companions and other significant characters at the tournament.
And I also made Anabel and Lucian siblings as many others here have done, just like my brother had started, as far as I know. I know in canon that they most likely have never met or are actually related, but such a barrier has been destroyed thanks to fan fiction. I'm just going to keep it like that, just to honor my brother and give some character development for Anabel because let's face it. The Anabel from canon barely gives any real depth on her personality aside from outside emotions and behavior.
One more thing: Don't get too used to my somewhat frequent updates. I've been lucky so far…
Well, it's time to measure up how my writing skills are. Please review!
L-ater!