"Let`s have some rest, Reaper. We will need all the strength you can offer." I said to my pokemon and returned back after his positive buzz.
Now I paid attention to the valley I`m heading into. The northern part of Route 23, the last steps before Pokemon League. Damn, I`m so worried and also so excited!
As I proceed slowly to the end of valley, I was observing the large square before it. This place was totally filled with statues of some people… I guess, all of them are champions of the Pokemon League. Wow… And there is even one statue in process, yet unrecognizable.
Damn… Douchebag would really like this place. But… I guess, he will not get there soon, not until the Viridian Gym is restored. This may take years – he will not wait for that and possibly just give up. But I will not!
Just now I noticed that the weather actually changed. For nearly a month or even more it was a total disastrous drought, but now the sky is pitch black and it's raining like hell. The loud thunder storms up above me and makes feel uneasy. Such weather always predicts some bad events coming up… I should get inside the building quicker.
Despite the damn rain I just had to stop and look up the building standing before me. High in the mountains, the lair of strongest pokemon trainers lies… As they call it, "The top challenge of all.". I guess, this WILL be the top challenge for me. As for now, I met most pokemon of Kanto region so I am familiar with them. Battling the Courier from Kalos with kalossian pokemon was a completely different thing. Those were unknown pokemon, unknown moves… I expect to meet kantonian pokemon in the League and just hope I have enough knowledge not to fall in dirt now. Not after everything I had to experience.
But I still fear that I can attract attention there. I got used to work and live in the shadows, never getting on sight because I know there is always someone watching me. And I always, damn, right! I was right about Leaf – who knows if there is her assistant or someone like him? Maybe I`m doing a big mistake…
I looked up at the storming sky. The weather gets even worse, and I`m not sure flying Dumpling is safe now. So… I have nowhere to go anymore but forward.
Returning my eyesight at the huge entrance into the building I frowned and squeezed my fists with determination.
No more fear! Nowhere to retreat - only the blocked cave is behind.
I made a step inside the Pokemon League and was immediately blinded by the amount of lights in the building. This place looks too awesome for me… Long red carpet roads, rich decorations, people walking around and talking, pokemon chilling in the corner… The real high life! I`m gonna get sick from it…
Of course, right in front of wet angry me was a counter with several pretty women that invite people to the Pokemon League.
"Welcome to the Pokemon League, young man!" The closest one to me exclaimed. "How may I serve you?"
"Hello. I`m here to challenge the Pokemon League." I smiled and took out my badge case and trainer ID, already knowing she will ask for them. With my words she immediately brightened and began take out my badges, one-by-one.
"Please wait until I finish all checks." The woman asked me nicely and grabbed some sort of a scanning device.
I decided to take a quick look around. I had been in such places, but never liked them – the high aristocracy always pisses me off. I immediately suspect them in robbing someone and want to steal something just to restore the order and justice. From my experience, no man ever got incredibly rich through legal means. This thing… looks like a robbery made legal.
This place actually has everything we need, as a very expensive and luxury Pokemon Center. The right part of this hall is all filled with seats and monitors for people to watch the show. On the left, there is a row of vendors on the right and even a nurse corner where all participants can get their treatment. The very end of corridor is closed by a big gate that, I guess, leads to the field. Or fields – Misty said there are even a different battlefield for each trainer of the Pokemon League, five in total. I just want to see what are they exactly?
"Everything is checked, mister Vengeance." The nice voice of registration woman distracted me from the observation. "Would you please answer some questions for compiling your personal info?"
"If this is not too personal…" I winked her flirting and took the badge case back.
"Well… let`s start then." She replied, a bit embarrassed. "Where are you from?"
Ugh, I feel I have to lie quite a lot…
"I`m from Kanto, Pallet Town."
"Oh! The Pallet Town really stands out recently, yeah?" She said and smiled. To be honest, I didn`t get that jest of her. "Now… How long have you been a trainer?"
"To tell the truth…" I guiltily scratched my head. "I am trainer for several months. Maybe, half a year, a bit more."
"Wow! So, talented trainers keep coming to us, that is wonderful." She made a comment and entered the info in her computer.
For some more minutes she kept asking me some questions – good and bad, and I kept answering with truth and not. After all that she registered my pokemon and finally returned me back my trainer ID.
"Your registration to Pokemon League is now complete. Your challenge will be held the day after tomorrow, at 10 A.M. Be sure to make all preparations and come to the gates over there in time." She quickly instructed me and handed over a key. "As a participant, you may take a room in our hotel for free to get rested and prepared. For giving a complete treatment, you may contact our nurse over there and purchase all items you need in the shop over here. If you wish to book viewer seats for your family or friends, please do it until tomorrow evening. Do you wish to get the details about the challenge itself?"
"Yeah, that would be nice." I nodded positively. Misty explained me the challenge earlier, but I would like to learn everything about it before the beginning.
"Okay. As you know, when the challenge starts, you will not be able to turn back until the total victory or a complete defeat. There are no healing machines on the fields, so you sure want to stock up on medicine while you have the chance. If you will be late more than hour or do not appear at all, this will be an automatic lose. You will have the chance to challenge the League again just next year, so give everything you`ve got! Do you agree?"
Yep, this is pretty much I needed to know. The toughest and roughest challenge of them all… This is going to be a disaster, right?
"Yes, I do!" I made my final decision.
"Then it`s done. Congratulations and good luck! See you the day after tomorrow!"
I made a step away and loudly sighed. I could never imagine being here… doing this. But here I am, in the Pokemon League. Earned eight gym badges, already one of the strongest pokemon trainers. I have gathered the team of bandits that trust me and are ready to fight for me. The team of those I raised like children…
No, not children. Brothers! We are the brotherhood that stands united, ready for all challenges the fate throws at us!
I threw a look at the gates from the left, leading straight to the first field.
Just you wait, Pokemon League…
At the end of day I was lying on bed in my room, staring at the ceiling. This waiting really pushes on my nerves, I can`t just lay here and do nothing! My pokemon are getting a complete treatment in the local Pokemon Center-like corner, and tomorrow I will give them one more check just to make sure no one smears my pokemon with stuff again.
I can`t believe that I even got here… And can`t imagine how the League challenge will go. This just CAN`T go smoothly, without any set ups and other evil crap, I don`t believe this! The must be something to stop me from success… Snipers shooting, terrorists attacking, Articuno rampaging, meteorites falling, some ancient order resurrecting – anything!
Damn, I need to cool down and have a rest. Maybe, there is one way to give my mind what it deserves.
I slowly took the hotel phone and made a call.
"Hello, Misty!" I greeted my cute red-headed friend.
"Hey, Ven!" She exclaimed surprised and glad. "I was worried, you were gone for too long. Where are you?"
"There were some… troubles on my way, but I`m finally here, at the Pokemon League! And I take the challenge the day after tomorrow!"
"Wow, this is so awesome!" She shouted loudly into my ear through the phone. "I will definitely come to see it!"
The thought of Misty actually coming to see me fighting the Pokemon League really inspired me. And she will definitely be the first person to calm me down if I lose… When I lose. I don`t have much hope for beating the Pokemon League, actually. But, well, I can at least try. We have defeated eight gym leaders, this has to mean something…
"I will be glad to see you there…"
The second day on the Indigo Plateau went pretty quiet – I stayed in the hotel to watch TV. Sometimes it was broadcasting some strange news like the anomaly weather changes and missing pokemon trainers somewhere near Cerulean, but the main attraction is the League challenge in progress. The League takes only one participant per day and broadcasts the whole thing on the special channel. I watched it trying to get some info on what awaits for me tomorrow.
The first Elite Four member called Lorelei is a trainer specializing on ice-type pokemon. She started with Dewgong, but the today`s challenger destroyed him pretty quickly with his Electabuzz. After that… his luck ended. The next pokemon – a defensive Cloyster – literally wore out his pokemon and destroyed him. All consequent pokemon were damaged right from the beginning for some reason, and four more pokemon were needed to destroy that damn thing. But the next pokemon after him – Slowbro – quickly finished the challenge for poor guy, eliminating the rest of team.
That looked quite brutal… That looked REALLY hardcore! How am I supposed to beat that? Starting with Dewgong she has a water/ice type since the very beginning! To counter the water type I could use Harry, but the ice type counters him! I could counter the ice instead and start with Dumpling, but he is countered by water! So I have to start with someone without advantage.
After the show`s sad ending I spent some time thinking about my strategy for the upcoming battle and checked what maneuvers could become useful there. How can I destroy the fat Dewgong, hard Cloyster, tough Slowbro and all the rest… And this is only the beginning! I will have to improvise tomorrow quite a LOT.
Then I took my pokemon back and checked carefully each one of them. They seem to be all right, no complaints. All are pumped up to start the battle right away, ready to fight any foe needed. I barely stopped them from start training with each other – Reaper is always eager to take a fight, whoever his opponent is. So I had to calm them down and take a short personal briefing to each one of them.
I tried to teach Reaper patience and make him keep his full potential until tomorrow. To success, we still need discipline, and that`s what Reaper is all about. NO discipline. But in the battle he obeys me in everything I say.
Then I cheered Lei Sheng before the fight. He is actually the one pokemon that had NO losses until now. I hope him to continue this way.
Moment is a pokemon that has some special bond with me – bond by blood, no less. He may not like it, but this is a thing he really needs to live. So until I feed him with… myself, he can keep fighting. Just to make sure, we had another 'feeding' session.
Among all my pokemon Harry was always the most troublesome. I always worry about him the most. The horrible events he had to experience changed him, hardened him. But he knows that I`m not like Giovanni, and my goals let him actually… live. Become stronger. Make everything he will need to return home someday and become its protector from any threat.
Loser is something else. The nasty ghost pokemon always tried to play a trick on me or others. He just likes to have fun, not fight. But he is one good pokemon to have on my team, and I have faith in him. We will have fun in the upcoming event, that`s definitely.
Finally, only Dumpling remained before me. The big orange monster with huge creepy smile on his face. But I`m not scared. I`m excited. Among every living creature – people and pokemon – he understands and feels me better than anyone. Maybe, this is what people call… best friend? I never had one. The feelings inside me literally exploded from these thoughts.
"Come here, big guy!" I said him and spread my hands. "Give me a bro hug!"
"Rawwr…" Dumpling replied quietly, very touched by my jest, and hugged in return.
Suddenly a doorbell behind me distracted us, two big men, from emotionally hugging each other.
"Do you expect someone?" I asked confusedly.
"Warglr…" He growled suspiciously and walked back, preparing his claws for the possible attack.
I headed to the door and looked into a peephole. Suddenly, it was Misty.
"All-clear, Dumpling, that`s our girl!" I calmed Charizard down and opened the door to let my guest in. "Didn`t expect you to see here today!" She went inside, keeping a bottle of vine in her hand. "You don`t want to get me drunk before tomorrow, do you?"
"Of course! I always wanted to see you battling drunk!" She giggled and fell into a couch after placing the vine in table.
"You know I don`t like it." I replied her and sat on the opposite chair. "Do you want me to book you a seat for tomorrow or something?"
"No, as a gym leader I always have a place reserved for me!" Misty answered, a bit offended. "Actually, I`m a part of League too. Or you are so proud that don`t count us miserable gym leaders worthy anymore?"
"Hey, I`m a new to this system! I just barely started my training, girl!"
"Nevertheless, you sleep today in the hotel of Pokemon League, with a case full of badges. This should mean something, right?"
I looked down, suddenly remembering how actually tough my battle with Lonso was. Everything about him was new to me… this is the advantage he could actually use to defeat me. Maybe, I got out of there just thanks to pure luck. Even with eight gym badges I still feel myself like a newbie.
"It doesn`t." I answered her seriously. "Each day I learn more about pokemon and understand how little I know of them."
"Ah, don`t worry. You`ll make it." Misty stretched her hand to touch mine. "You always could improvise better than anyone. And if you don`t know all the rules – you create your own! Isn`t this awesome?"
"Yeah, I suppose…"
She was partly right. I`m pretty good at bypassing rules. All my maneuvers bypass them in one way or another. My methods of interacting with opposing trainers during the battle sometimes bypass rules too. I still remember how I defeated Sabrina, and each time when I think about it, I could not let myself but smile.
"You have something on your mind, don`t you?" Misty found two glasses somewhere and suddenly noticed me evilly grinning.
"Me? Oh, no, I was just thinking of all those money I could win if I bet against myself…" I quickly lied.
"Come on, don`t be such an ass!" She frowned and quickly poured me some vine and handed over. "Drink, this will make you feel better."
"Misty!" I disappointedly shook my head.
"Drink, I said!" The Scarlet Fury strictly ordered me and grabbed her own glass of vine.
I had to obey and put the glass to my lips, but when Misty began to drink, I quickly poured out this crap into a small gap in chair`s pillow.
"I heard that!" The girl said to me angrily after finishing her vine and poured one more glass. "Now drink it so I can see it!"
"Misty, I don`t want to drink it!" I tried to persuade her as much as I can. "I want to keep my head fresh before tomorrow!"
"And I want you to get rested and kick out all crap out of your silly head! So close your mouth and drink!" She literally pushed the glass into me, nearly spilling it out.
"I wonder how can you imagine drinking with your mouth shut…" I grumbled displeased and slowly finished my vine. "Ugh… It`s disgusting! Dumpling, this woman wants to poison me! Use Flamethrower!"
Charizard playfully growled, stating his wish to stay away from us now. Maybe, he is still under the effect of my small event with Leaf…
"You understand nothing in vine, Ven." She scolded me. "It`s a really expensive and exclusive sort, you should know…"
"Made of the violently killed Gloom`s piss, brewed for ten years in an inappropriately warm place under the light of ultra-moon?"
Misty stared at me with a really brutal look, silently frowning.
"What? Please, don`t tell me I guessed right…" I asked her scared.
"No! That was a very bad joke!" She exclaimed.
"Dumpling liked it, huh, Dumpling?" I smiled, looking at my Charizard. He roared quietly, agreeing with me despite he definitely didn`t get it.
"Oh, boys…"
We had a pretty nice evening, drinking and talking. Well, Misty was drinking and I was getting rid of this damn vine with any possible means, even pouring one glass into Dumpling`s mouth while she doesn`t look. In the end, we returned again to talking about the tomorrow`s challenge.
"I guess… you already have a plan?" Misty asked me quietly.
"Of course, I do! This will be my secret weapon… At least, in the beginning." I nodded and stretched over the couch, yawning. "Who knows – maybe this will help me do the impossible."
"I know that you can do the impossible." The girl supported me. "Your pokemon can do the impossible! Remember that battle we had before attack on Saffron? Dumpling managed to withstand against the strongest of my pokemon without any damage at all! Aren`t you a cool boy, Dumply?"
Misty gently scratched Charizard`s chin, making him purr from pleasure. I didn`t even know he likes that. But this somehow pissed me off.
"He doesn`t like being called like that, yes, Dumpling?"
"Grawwlr…" The mighty Charizard kept on purring.
"I said – you don`t like being called like that! You`re a big and brutal Dumpling! No Dumplys for you, miss."
After that I got up and grabbed my partner`s pokemon to point at him.
"Get back here and think about your behavior. You`re not yet ready to deal with drunk women." I slightly scolded him and returned back. Left without her play toy, the drunk Misty had to switch her attention to me…
But the sudden doorbell took the attention away from me again.
"Are you waiting for someone?" I carefully asked Misty.
"Erm… No…" She replied, a bit confused and unsure.
I headed to the door, looking around for something I could use as a weapon.
"Did you tell anyone where I am?" Another question grew up in my head.
"Well… Just the other gym leaders." Misty timidly admitted just before I opened the door to see Erika.
"Heya, Ven!" She approached me and kissed in cheek. "I think you would want to have some cultural rest before the challenge…" Erika winked flirty, showing me the bottle of vine. Possibly the same one Misty brought – I didn`t care. Her intentions for tonight just couldn`t be hidden.
This is becoming pretty awkward. I didn`t say a thing, but invited her inside. Maybe, I can get rid of both these bothersome girls. Erika was surprised to see Misty here, but this didn`t stop them from having a nice chat.
But then this became even more awkward as suddenly we had another guest in the face of Sabrina. As a really serious person she would not like anyone know about her visit to me, but… she failed in this. So she joined others in drinking and talking. Misty`s face was even more surprised when she appeared, but Scarlet Fury tried not to show it.
The situation got out of control when suddenly I had the final guest. The most strange girl I`ve ever seen.
"Hello, Ven!" Leaf timidly greeted me in the doors. "Heard you made it to the Pokemon League, so I came to cheer you on!"
I couldn`t hide my obvious fatigue from this sudden party, but I let her in too. Other girls greeted her cheerfully, but then Misty threw a really brutal look on me. I suppose, she guessed everything.
I let them to have some fun for a while, but the time was late and I had to do something about it. Misty really stopped enjoying this evening – she didn`t expect this to happen. Her plan of creating an intimate atmosphere and seducing me failed terribly. That is good.
"Okay, girls, listen here." I stood up and took a glass of vine to make a speech. "I`m really touched that you all came here. We have been through a lot, we together faced a very serious threat and emerged victorious in the end!"
The girls listened to me very carefully, remembering all our misadventures.
"For the last months my life changed drastically. And, I guess, the four of you influenced me the most. Made me what I am now. A pokemon trainer." With my left hand I took Dumpling`s pokeball and looked at it. "This is what unites us. And tomorrow I have to show everything you taught me. Everything we have learned together. You were my teachers on this path, so my final exam will be important for you too. So all I would want to say… Thank you! For you and for us!"
"FOR US!" The girls replied and emptied their glasses. I drank mine too, put it away for now and collided with Misty`s hard glance on me.
"I was really glad to see you all. But tow, if you excuse me, I have a night to plan my strategy and get the last preparations while I have the chance."
They got my a bit rude hint, looked at me disappointed, but obediently got up. Leaf`s look was the most sad of them all. I guess, she expected to live in my room during the challenge. So I stopped Erika to solve this problem.
"I guess, you all have your special places in the League? Can you please take Leaf into your room while we are here?" I asked her.
"Sure, no problem!" Erika nodded with smile and headed to Leaf. The girls quickly left me and scattered to their rooms.
Damn, that was really awkward. The hell knows what could happen if they find out another thing that unites us…
"Did you sleep with all of them?"
I turned back to see Misty still sitting on the couch and frowning. She did understand everything.
"Well, sort of…" I honestly had no idea what to say in such situation. Scarlet Fury just bowed her head and shook it in disappoint.
"I don`t know what to say…" She literally repeated my thoughts. "Maybe our past… is in the past, but I still feel there is still something in me that connects us."
I approached her and sat right near her.
"Listen, Misty, I know this may look wrong. It actually is, I don`t argue, but…" I tried to explain myself, but the girl did it instead of me.
"The Red Contract, yes? This is what you`re trying to tell me?"
I was surprised she remembered about it. Actually, I already mentioned it slightly before, never explaining the cause. I never will.
"Well… You see, Misty… This is a thing I can`t actually control." I had to finally admit it. I really felt that Misty deserves to know at least a bit of this mystery. "You could call it curse and be right. After some years I realized this is much more than curse. This is some sort of… an instinct. Some stuff that happens to me… and I react to this subconsciously, never thinking. And I had a lot of problems with this, trust me. And… the worst thing that victims almost always reciprocate."
Misty had to think this through, but she didn`t seem to be angered or pissed off. Maybe she stopped surprising too.
"Heh…" She suddenly giggled. "But not me… I`m special, right?"
Wow… Definitely didn`t expect such reaction from her. Instead of conflicting with me somehow she tried to find her place near me.
"Of course, you`re special, Misty. You were my first victim." I replied evilly and smiled, hugging her shoulder.
"You scare me now, Ven…"
"I do, Misty, I do. But also now I want to be alone. To pull myself together, pull my thought together, pull my strategies together. Tomorrow is the very big day." I moved a bit back, freeing the girl from my grip. She understood that I`m actually sending her out too, but didn`t mind.
"Tomorrow will be the best day, because you`ll win, I`m sure!" She got up from the couch and kissed me in cheek.
"Maybe, maybe… But too bad Douchebag is wandering somewhere and won`t see my triumph." I suddenly remembered about my old rival. "I haven`t seen him since Cinnabar Island. I wonder where he is now."
"I haven`t seen him too for a while." Misty replied, getting dressed. "But the rumors spread quickly – I`m sure he will be there tomorrow too to cheer for you!"
"Of course, he just can`t miss my terrific shame when I lose, just to mock me even more than usual!" I said, having no doubts in my words.
"Yeah, that`s our Douchebag, all right…" Misty agreed with me quietly. "So… you have yet another reason to beat their asses tomorrow!"
"Hah! The only reason I need for this!" I laughed and hugged the girl once more. "Thank you for everything. I`ll make you proud. In the end, you`re my Teacher number two!"
Misty smiled and headed outside the room, but then my words reached her mind, making her stop and turn around, looking offended.
"Who the heck is number one?!"
"Brock, obviously! He was and always will be my first one!" I honestly said.
Misty snorted and walked away, still offended by something. What did I say wrong?
Ah, it doesn`t matter. Finally, I am all alone. I have the whole long night to set myself for the horror that awaits for me tomorrow. This is unbelievable. Just. Unbelievable.
So, this is it. The day X has come. The big finale, the conclusion, the Zero Hour, the end of all things.
I am standing right before the entrance to the first stadium, prepared physically and mentally. All my fans have already taken their places on the tribunes and wait for my entrance.
I am so damn excited about all this… Anything can happen today.
Okay, Pokemon League… Here I go!