Part Two: Champion
Chapter 1
"Would you like a coffee, miss?" The train attendant asked cheerfully.
"No thank you," Leaf replied. She'd tasted coffee before and didn't like the bitterness. Mom used to work as a barista, so she doubted she'd been given bad coffee.
"You should try the coffee," President Ken said, in his usual silky voice. Even though Leaf had heard it everyday for over a week, it gave her a slight chill. "It was imported from Paldea. They make the best coffee in the world."
"OK," Leaf mumbled.
President Ken looked up at the attendant. "Two coffees, please. One black, one with milk and sugar."
The attendant prepared the coffee and set them on the table. As she did so, President Ken thanked her, smiling softly. She blushed, squeaked, "You're welcome," and left.
President Ken blew at his coffee and sipped it. Somehow, everything he did was elegant. Maybe he was just good-looking.
"Be careful drinking that. It's hot," he said.
Leaf looked down at her coffee: dirt-colored liquid, steam swirling above. She had no interest in trying it, but she didn't want to disappoint President Ken. She picked up her mug, blew at the coffee a few times, and drank a tiny sip.
Even with the milk and sugar, it was too bitter. Leaf put the mug down and gave President Ken a small smile. "Too hot."
President Ken nodded, regarding her with his storm gray eyes. They seemed to see right through her. It was slightly unsettling.
But that was just how President Ken looked. He'd been this way the moment Leaf met him, and every moment since.
For the past eight days, Leaf and President Ken had been going on a Victory Tour. The new Champion had to visit every city with a Gym in both Kanto and Johto and "introduce" themselves. Red had done it and so had Blue, the first time he became Champion. He didn't do a Victory Tour the second time around.
The Kanto portion of the tour was a bit like a recreation of her journey. She hadn't stepped foot in any of the cities in a year. She'd almost forgotten about Celadon's beauty, Saffron's high energy. But visiting as Champion was very different from visiting as a regular, no-name trainer. For starters, instead of trekking through the wilderness to get to her destination, Leaf rode over the highways in President Ken's luxury car. A trip that had taken Leaf a few hours to make became up to thirty minutes.
There wasn't much freedom, either. They followed a strict schedule: wake up and drive to the next city, eat brunch at a fancy restaurant, give her speech at the Gym, visit a landmark, eat dinner at a fancy restaurant with some fancy people, who she had to spend the rest of the night with until bedtime. Leaf wasn't allowed to go anywhere without a bodyguard, even though her Pokemon were more than capable of protecting her. At Pewter City, they visited the museum, which was closed to the public that day just for her. The fossils were cool, but the museum's emptiness was sort of strange, especially with security watching her every movement.
Leaf understood why it had to be this way, though. Whenever they were outside, they were swarmed by reporters and civilians. Everyone wanted to get a closer look at their new Champion, a teenage girl out of all people. One man had even grabbed her and it made Leaf appreciate the security team more.
Touring Kanto triggered many great memories: meeting all of her Pokemon, winning all eight Gym Badges, meeting Bill McIntyre, exploring the S.S. Anne, the Safari Zone. But it also triggered some unpleasant memories: her first loss against Blue, Team Rocket's hideout, Silph Co., the Pokemon Mansion, Red refusing to battle her. There was a sense of relief when they concluded, in Viridian City, last night.
Now, they were on their way to Johto. The high-speed rail that connected Saffron to Johto's capital, Goldenrod City, had started running a few months ago. Naturally, Leaf and President Ken had a private train. The trip would take a couple hours in total.
Leaf had never been to Johto before. She had no idea what it was like, other than it being less urban than Kanto. A part of her was excited to be in a new region, but another part was uneasy. The Kanto-Johto War was still fresh in people's minds. Many had lost loved ones. It wasn't uncommon to hear someone refer to Johtoans as dogs or pigs or some other animal.
She wouldn't be surprised if Johtoans felt similarly about Kantonians. After all, it had been Johotans who started the war by destroying the Pokemon Mansion. Whatever they were trying to acquire, Leaf was certain it would've been used to destroy much more than a mansion.
Leaf snuck a peek at President Ken, who was reading now. She wished she had the courage to ask him about the Pokemon Mansion. Specifically, the journal entries she'd discovered in the secret lab. Leaf tried to accept that she would never fully understand what happened, but sometimes, her curiosity flared up. President Ken might not even know what she was talking about. She just hoped that he would know something that would complete the puzzle.
"Something wrong?" President Ken asked, not looking up from his book.
Leaf was taken aback. "Uh, nothing, I––" Wanted to ask you about a Pokemon called Mewtwo. "I was wondering what your book was about?"
President Ken looked up. Leaf internally cursed at herself, though she wasn't sure if it was for how awkward she sounded, or for chickening out.
"Ah," President Ken said. "It's about a poor man who becomes extremely wealthy. As he adjusts to his new life, he wonders if it was a result of hard work and skill, or sheer luck. And if it was luck, why did it happen to him of all people?"
For some reason, Leaf felt goosebumps on her arms. "What's the answer?"
President Ken smiled. "That's what I'm about to find out."
Why did everything he said seem to be laden with meaning? Not knowing how to respond, Leaf simply nodded and began to study the interior of the train. She'd never been in one before, but since this specific train was built for President Ken, she figured it was much nicer than the average one. Fine leather seats that could recline and had temperature adjustment, polished tables, velvet carpeting. She wondered if the other sections, where most of the security team and other personnel were, resembled theirs. The only ones who were worthy enough to share a section with them were June Maslow, President Ken's secretary, Gary Shepard, President Ken's most trusted bodyguard, and Tasha Jipson, Leaf's PR manager.
President Ken tapped on the window. "Look, we're in Johto now."
Leaf's head immediately shot up and turned.
Kanto, everyone always said, was crowded. Several big cities, situated near each other. Even outside civilization, with all the densely packed forests, it didn't feel as if there was enough space.
Johto was the opposite. Johto was space. Grassy, open fields that seemed to stretch on and on and on. In the distance, Leaf could see trees and mountains, but they didn't look like things that took up space. Rather, they were consumed by it.
Leaf turned her gaze east, where they came from. Mount Silver, which separated the two regions, looked huge even though they were already miles away from it. It really hit Leaf then that she was no longer in Kanto and found herself growing increasingly excited.
Leaf leaned back and rubbed her nose. She hadn't realized her face was so close to the window, her nose had pressed against it. There was a foggy spot on the window now, begging to be drawn on. Not wanting to appear childish in front of President Ken, Leaf swiped it away.
"It's a beautiful region, isn't it?" President Ken asked.
Leaf rested her head against the window, watching the rolling hills pass by. "Yes, it is."
Occasionally, there were towns even smaller than Pallet Town, next to sprawling fields where men toiled. But otherwise, Leaf was seeing a region untouched by people. So when they arrived at Goldenrod City, Leaf was taken aback.
Goldenrod City, the capital of Johto, was home to the third Gym in the Johto circuit. They had to get to Violet City, where the first Gym was, so they couldn't explore the capital just yet. But the little that Leaf saw of Goldenrod from the train window showed her enough. It wasn't as big as Saffron, but it was still a city someone could get lost in.
When they stepped off the train, they were greeted by a middle-aged man wearing a suit and clear-framed glasses. Everything about him was…long. Long face, long nose, long limbs. Even his hair was long enough to be tied into a small ponytail.
He shook President Ken's hand. "Welcome, Thomas. I hope the journey here was smooth."
President Ken smiled. "The Magnet Train keeps proving itself to be very reliable."
"Very reliable, indeed." The man turned to Leaf and shook her hand. "It's an honor to meet you, Champion Leaf. I'm––"
Sebastian Jeffries, President of Johto. "It's an honor to meet you, too," Leaf replied.
"Your battle against Blue Oak was one of the best I've ever seen," President Jeffries said. "You definitely deserve the title. My wife and daughter were elated to see a girl become Champion."
"She's an inspiration to girls everywhere," President Ken agreed.
Leaf was in awe watching the two men converse. Everyone knew that President Jeffries hadn't been happy to sign the peace treaty. It was a huge shock that he was allowed to remain president, even if it was just in name.
Now, President Ken and Jeffries were so cordial that, had Leaf not taken a history class, she wouldn't have suspected that they used to be sworn enemies. The one thing that she did notice was that even though President Jeffries was taller, he felt smaller than President Ken.
But then again, everyone seemed small next to President Ken.
"Our cars are right outside," President Jeffries said. Leaf noticed then that the train station was rather empty. The area must've been closed off for her and President Ken. "It'll take a couple hours to drive over, so the sooner we leave the better. Do any of you need anything before we go?"
President Ken shook his head. "I'm all set. Leaf?"
Leaf shook her head. She couldn't wait to see all of Johto.
They were led outside, where multiple black luxury cars were lined up. Leaf, President Ken, June, Gary, and Tasha got in one of them. As they drove through Goldenrod, Leaf saw civilians gawking at them from the sidewalks. In a couple days, Leaf would see them from a podium.
Soon enough, they were out of the city and in the countryside. There was a lake; Leaf spotted some teenagers swimming in it. She wished she could join them. This summer was hotter than the last, and she knew a couple of her Pokemon would love to get in the water.
Then, something in the distance caught Leaf's eye. It stuck out so much that it would've been impossible for her not to notice: a massive white dome, the top of which was composed of glass panels. There were three torch-like protrusions on the glass top and a gold arch over the entrance. At the center of the arch was an engraving of a PokeBall with a fist coming out of it.
"That's the Pokeathlon Dome," President Ken explained. "It hosts sports competitions for trainers and their Pokemon."
"They're fun to watch," Gary added. The security guard had intimidated Leaf when she first met him, with his strong build, bald head, and tattoo sleeves. But the first time she heard him speak, she realized he was actually quite friendly. "I'm a big fan of the power tournaments. Watching Pokemon smash stone never gets old."
Leaf noticed June roll her eyes. Unlike Gary, June's personality matched her appearance. She always wore a crisp blazer and skirt, high heels, and red lipstick. Her permed blonde hair never had a strand out of place. She didn't talk much. Instead, she silently judged everyone with her ice blue eyes.
"I like the racing ones," Tasha squeaked. Everything about her reminded Leaf of a mouse: her voice, her face, her thin brown hair, her anxiety. She was always scurrying about, making sure Leaf's public image was as impeccable as possible.
"How do you compete in them?" Leaf asked. Already, she was wondering what type of sports her Pokemon would excel in.
"You have to register," President Ken answered. "Technically, anyone can, but most Pokeathletes have trained for years. It's a different skill set from battling."
"Can't be that much different."
"It is different. And besides, you won't have the proper time for it. Your Champion responsibilities will keep you more than occupied."
Leaf didn't know how to reply.
After some time, President Ken pointed at the window. "Up there is the National Park. You can't see much from here, but it's a lovely place to walk. You can catch a lot of bug Pokemon, too."
He was right about not being able to see much. Leaf saw what appeared to be a forest. She wondered if it was like the Viridian Forest. Probably nicer, if it was called a park.
The remainder of the drive was quiet. They weren't passing anything of note, so Leaf just stared blankly out the window, letting her mind rest for a bit. Interacting with people all day everyday while on the road was exhausting.
Eventually, Leaf noticed their surroundings had changed. Instead of open fields, they were driving through a forest. Sunlight filtered through the trees in a way that made Leaf feel at peace.
"We're here," President Ken said.
Violet City was closer to what Leaf expected from Johto.
It looked more like an ancient village rather than a city. Most of the buildings, which had violet roofs, were of the simple, traditional Eastern architecture. The streets were made of cobblestone; Leaf didn't think she saw any cars other than her cohorts'. It was a quiet place, and all the surrounding trees seemed to isolate it from the rest of the world.
"Look over there," President Ken said.
But Leaf had already spotted it. In the northern part of the city was a lake. On the other side of the lake was a three-tiered wooden pagoda that was at least a hundred feet tall.
"Sprout Tower. It's where monks live and study. By far the most important place in Violet City. President Jeffries has kindly arranged for us to eat lunch there."
They pulled up in front of the lake, where two men were standing. President Jeffries introduced them to Leaf. The mayor of Violet City, who looked like the standard small town mayor. And Elder Li, the leader of Sprout Tower, a bald old man with thick white eyebrows and beard. He wore a violet yukata with a gold pattern down the front.
Elder Li bowed. "Sprout Tower is honored to host our new Champion." He had the deep, soft voice that only a man of wisdom had.
They ate lunch, a spread of vegetarian dishes served by monks and Bellsprouts, on the top floor. Since there wasn't enough room, Leaf's Pokemon were outside, by the garden. She tried not to look at them too frequently from the window. Most of the conversation was Elder Li sharing Sprout Tower's history and teachings. It was interesting at first, learning about how the tower was built with swaying pillars so that it would withstand earthquakes (legend had it that a hundred-foot-tall Bellsprout created them) and how the monks studied the coexistence of humans and Pokemon. It reminded Leaf of Professor Oak's research, though the monks took a spiritual approach. But something about Elder Li's soft voice and the tower's dim lighting made it tough for her to concentrate.
Her nerves woke her up after the meal. Tasha had the makeup team touch-up Leaf's face (at Leaf's insistence, they were minimal with their application) before they made their way to the Violet Gym, where the city's residents had gathered. Leaf was surprised that it looked exactly the same as the Kanto Gyms. A stage had been set up in front of it. Falkner, the Gym Leader who specialized in flying-type Pokemon, was already seated. Half of his face was covered by his shaggy blue hair. He wore a blue shirt and shorts, tied with a white sash, and a lighter blue jacket with two white circles at the chest. Despite the temperature, he wore long socks with his sandals. He stood and shook Leaf's hand briskly.
Leaf sat down at her spot, near the podium. Her team horizontally lined up, with Venusaur directly behind her. President Jeffries introduced President Ken, who gave his usual speech on what the Indigo League represented and how thrilling Leaf's battle against Blue was, even though he hadn't actually watched it live. He normally made an effort to attend every Champion match, but business kept him away from Leaf's, which he deeply regretted.
"And with that said, it's now time for all of you to meet our new Champion, Leaf Green," President Ken finished and gestured for Leaf to come up.
Everyone clapped politely as Leaf stood and stepped forward. Even though lunch had been light, her stomach was in a knot that tightened when she reached the podium and gazed at the people of Violet City. She'd given this speech eight times, in front of crowds much larger than this one. But now, Leaf felt as if she was in one of those nightmares where she showed up to school in her underwear. She was in an unfamiliar region with unfamiliar people, who didn't seem particularly excited to see her.
Leaf cleared her throat and leaned into the microphone. "Hi everyo––" The mic screeched, making her wince. "S-Sorry about that. Anyways, it's a huge honor being here. Violet City is lovely. All the trees surrounding us make me feel like I'm in this mythical village."
"There were a lot more trees before the Kanto army burned them down!" A man shouted.
Leaf's face burned while the rest of her body seemed frozen. She always started by saying what she liked about the city and received positive reactions. At worst, she'd expected to get no response. There were a lot more trees before the Kanto army burned them down? Was she supposed to acknowledge that?
She waited a moment to see if President Ken or Jeffries would say something. When they didn't, she took that as a cue to ignore the heckler and continue. "Um, I'm from a place called Pallet Town. It's so small that we don't even have our own grocery store. A lot of people who were born there never leave, but that never stopped me from dreaming big."
Tasha had helped her write this speech. Even if it was the truth, Leaf found it almost embarrassingly cheesy. But people liked cheesy, so what could she do about it?
"I was lucky to know Professor Oak. He gave me my first Pokemon, Bulbasaur. Like me, Bulbasaur had not seen much of the world. He wasn't someone you'd expect great things from, but he had a fire that couldn't be extinguished. Not just him, all my Pokemon. Together, we traveled through forests, caves, and mountains. We trained day and night. One by one, we challenged all eight Gyms––"
"Oh really? I don't think I've ever seen you at the Violet Gym!" A different man exclaimed.
"She must've meant the Kanto Gyms," Another howled. "The only ones that matter, obviously."
"Settle down now, everyone!" The Violet City mayor ordered, face redder than a tomato.
But by then, the crowd had been worked up. More and more people were shouting things, some more vulgar than others. Leaf heard a bang against the stage and realized that someone had thrown their drink.
Leaf felt a hand on her shoulder and jumped. It was President Ken. "We should leave," he said in a low voice. "Return your Pokemon."
Leaf wasn't sure if returning her Pokemon was the best idea, but she listened. Her team looked distressed, including Gengar. With Gary between them and the crowd, they fled the scene. The mayor was apologizing profusely to President Ken, who graciously insisted it wasn't his fault. From the corner of her eye, she saw the security team closing in on Violet City's residents. Had a fight broken out? It was hard to tell over the screaming. She thought she heard President Jeffries trying to quell them, and someone accusing him of being a coward.
"I told you yesterday to specify that you challenged the Kanto Gyms!" Tasha wailed.
The mayor led them to the hotel they were staying at. It was so small that Leaf was certain they were occupying most if not all the rooms. She felt significantly safer once she was in hers, but her heart was still racing.
"Don't worry," President Ken assured her. "Things like this can happen. We left as a precaution, but it was unlikely that we were in actual danger."
Leaf nodded, though she wasn't sure how much she believed him. From her room, she could see Sprout Tower. Until an apologetic President Jeffries came in and said it was safe to go out for dinner, she stared at the tower, wondering if she could see it sway.
First chapter of part 2! It took me almost a month to write it because I've been busy. It was also a bit tough to write bc it's not 100% like previous chapters, but that made it fun too.
Leaf's first day in Johto was rocky. How will the rest of the Victory Tour go?
Thanks for reading and I appreciate any feedback!
