Chapter 25: Preliminaries (1)
"It's so damn big!"
An excited shout echoed at the entrance of Indigo Plateau.
Ash had finally reached the pinnacle. His red eyes brimming with enthusiasm.
The raven-haired boy had changed since the start of his journey.
From a novice battler to a seasoned Trainer in his own right.
"This is a whole lot different from Gyms…" the boy muttered in awe.
His head turned left and right to soak in the sheer size of the place.
Pikachu then held the treasured silver locket from Ash's shoulder.
"Pikapi Pikachu," the electric mouse cooed.
"Yeah… Even if she's not watching…" the boy replied.
"She would want us to give our all!"
His fist that trembled in thrill then pointed towards the League's stadium.
"We're finally here, Pikachu! Let's aim for the top, buddy!" he declared in eagerness.
"Pika Pika!" Pikachu squeaked in agreement.
"You're too loud," a feminine voice called out from behind.
Ash turned to the source of the voice.
"Misty!" he exclaimed at the girl.
"Yo. Been a while, Re- Ash," Misty greeted, almost forgetting his actual name.
"You're still a bundle of energy, aren't you?"
"Pikachu-pi!" the electric mouse raised a paw towards the Gym Leader.
"How have you been, Pikachu~," the redhead cooed, scratching his neck.
Ash then looked at Misty, remembering her words from almost a year ago.
"Oh yeah, you did say you were participating back then."
"Yup," Misty answered.
Silence brewed between the two.
And Ash grinned.
"Looks we're rivals then."
"That's right."
The two sharing a determined stare towards each other. Before…
"Oh yeah, there's like… 5 minutes left for registration so better get moving," Misty nonchalantly said, looking at her watch.
"Oi! Tell me that earlier!" Ash shouted before speeding to the registration desk.
"Alright, Trainer. Please scan your Identification to the tablet," Nurse Joy instructed to Ash with a tender smile as she gestured to a black tablet.
A Pokémon Trainer's Identification was usually in a form of a license. Given only when they had registered as a Trainer. However, for some people, a PokéDex could also be used as a form of Identification as it is a sign that one had been endorsed by a Regional Professor.
Ash then placed his PokéDex on the tablet and a scan was emitted.
The screen beside it listed as followed:
Trainer Name: Red . . . Badges Obtained: 8
Pokémon Registered:
-Pikachu -Charizard -Marowak
-Lapras -Snorlax -Butterfree
Registration completed.
Welcome to the Indigo Grand League, aspiring Trainer!
Good luck!
"With that, once again, welcome to the Grand League, Red!" Nurse exclaimed enthusiastically.
"Thanks, Miss Joy!" Ash thanked.
"Here is your PrelimPass," Nurse Joy said as she handed him a red device resembling a thin smartphone.
"The PrelimPass will direct you to your Matches," she explained.
"There are 12 blocks in total, meaning there can only be 12 spots for the main event."
"The alphabet in front indicates the Block you have been assigned to. While the number behind indicates which field you will be battling in."
"And finally, the Round number indicates which round you will start at. Is there anything else that you need explaining?"
Ash shook his head.
"None at all. Thank you so much, Miss Joy," Ash thanked with a big grin.
"Glad to be of service. I'll be rooting for you, Red," the nurse said with a wave.
Outside, Ash gazed at the huge scoreboard that listed the Blocks that each contestant is assigned to.
'Holy… That's a lot of people,' Ash thought in surprise.
His red eyes then took notice of a contestant in Block B.
B-06 MATCH 4: GREEN VS JANINE
'He's here…' Ash thought with a smile.
'That's perfect. We're in different Blocks so we're gonna meet in the main event.'
'Wait, hold up… Isn't that Koga's daughter?'
"You got your first match?" Misty asked.
"Not yet," Ash replied.
"What about you? Your Match hasn't started yet?"
"Nah, I was seeded to Round 3 due to my Gym Leader status," Misty explained.
"Wha?! Oh right, you said something like that before," Ash said, a bit peeved.
"Meh, I don't need special privileges to get through the Prelims. I'm gonna be- ouch!" Ash continued before getting a chop from Misty.
The young Gym Leader frustrated at the boy's ignorance to the seriousness of the Grand League.
"You'll lose if you get ahead of yourself," she said seriously.
She was like an older sister lecturing her younger brother.
"Think about it. This is the Indigo Grand League."
"A prestigious event for Trainers around the world that only comes every 10 years. Everyone here collected 8 Badges with their skills."
"Not a single one of them is a newbie. Everyone here is on another level."
"And there's almost 200 of them here! And only 12 winners receive the right to even touch the starting line."
"This isn't a game, Red. This is a battlefield where everyone including you need to go all out!"
Ash stayed silent at her words and looked around.
Seeing Trainers from different walks of life.
Veterans. Tamers. Gym Leaders. Trainers from other regions. Ace Trainers. And many more.
All of them exuded an aura of power. Truly on a different level.
"I can feel it. You're right, Misty," Ash said to Misty, the latter taking a double take at his eyes that seemed to glow for a moment.
"And I'm no different," the redhead stated.
And Ash let out a soft laugh. Misty looking at him surprised.
"That's right."
"There's no meaning if I win easily. Nothing to prove."
"On another level?"
"Bring it on. That's exactly what I want!"
The boy adjusted his cap.
"Strong Trainers. Hard Battles. Let all come at me!"
"And I'll become the very best! Like no one ever was!"
A declaration of war.
Misty flinched at the boy's energy. And she recalled back to their first meeting.
"Welcome, Challenger. I'm the Cerulean Gym Leader, Misty Waterflower."
"My name is Ash Ketchum from Pallet Town. My dream is to become a Pokémon Master!"
Ash from a year ago, with the most captivating crimson red eyes she ever laid eyes upon.
Blinking to the present, she looked at the current Ash.
A bit older. But the flames in his eyes had only grown brighter.
And Misty smiled at the boy with a faint blush.
'Looks like he hasn't changed, huh…'
"Gengy, [Shadow Ball]!"
A Gengar was against a Nidorino.
The command was given, and the purple ghost formed a sphere of purple.
Releasing it onto its opponent.
Boom!
Nidorino had fainted.
Beep!
{ The winner is… }
{ Blue of Pallet Town! }
"We did it, Gengy!" Blue hi-fived her Pokémon.
From the stands of the battlefield, a voice called out.
"Good job, Blue!"
She turned to see Ash and Misty cheering for her.
"Red! You're here!" the girl exclaimed cheerfully.
"Yeah, nice fight! You were awesome," he replied in kind.
"Thanks!"
…
"Didja lose already?" she asked teasingly.
"No way! My match hasn't even started yet," the boy quickly refuted.
Soon after, the three were walking towards Indigo Plateau's PokéCentre.
Misty and Blue walked down the stairs…
"You did very well, Blue," Misty praised.
"Thanks. It was hard, keeping my Pokémon healthy," Blue replied gratefully.
While Ash slid down using the rails.
Pikachu was on top of him, imitating a surfer.
Bam!
"Yowch!"
"Will you cut that out?!" Misty scolded with a slap on Ash's back.
The pedestrians looked at him with a sweat drop.
Blue then skipped all the way down.
"Anyways, I feel like I'm at the top of my game now," she stated, now facing Ash.
"It's real nice that my rivals are here."
"I'm not gonna lose to you. Nor Green."
With a determined look, she looked at Ash in the eyes.
"…Because I'm also from Pallet Town, after all."
With that declaration, Ash gave her a toothy grin.
"Heh. That's my line."
Which prompted Misty to scoff.
"Aren't you the guy who almost didn't register on time? Pupupu~," Misty mocked.
"Lay off!"
And with that, the two girls headed to the PokéCentre. Misty called out again.
"Ash."
"What?"
"Don't you dare lose."
She then pointed to him.
"Since you are a Trainer that I have acknowledged!"
Blue then joined in.
"We'll come watch soon, so do your best, Red!"
Ash stared at the two girls before nodding and pumped his fist.
"Yeah! I got it!"
"Pika Pikachu!"
And his Pass vibrated. Seeing the screen, he grinned jovially.
{ L-07 MATCH 3: RED VS AKIRA }
Kalos Region. Pokémon Academy.
The principal, Professor Augustine Sycamore, was a fairly young man who started the Lumiose Pokémon Academy for the sake of teaching Pokémon to the youth. A very charitable man who loved watching Battles.
Which was the reason he decided to host a watch event of the prestigious Indigo Grand League for his students.
Every student was present in the hall. Their numbers around 100. A rather high number considering this was a recently established institute.
And among them sat Serena, her friends, and her mother in the middle.
Now that the countdown ended, live matches popped on the holographic screen. Its image incredibly detailed.
The HoloProjector as it was called, was an advanced equipment modelled after Kalos' newest holographic phone, the HoloCaster.
Since the screen could only show 1 match at a time, the professor asked the students which match they would like to see.
"Anyone has someone they know in the event that they would like to see?" the man asked the students.
Of course, no one in the crowd knew anyone from the names of contestants shown. All except one.
Before Sycamore could press the RANDOM button…
Crash!
A chair crashed. Pindrop silence.
The crowd turned towards someone standing. The Ice Queen.
The honey-blonde girl with blue eyes, staring in shock at a certain name.
A small tear fell slowly, taking its time to reach the bottom of the girl's porcelain skin.
"Professor…"
"Is th…at… per…son…?"
Her voice quivered as she pointed to Block L's list of names.
Sycamore looked confused at who was pointing at and scrolled through the names.
Landing on the one she pointed at.
{ RED OF PALLET TOWN }
"Red?" the man asked quizzingly.
Serena gasped as she realized she was not dreaming. Her cheeks now pink as she heard that name.
"C…can you… see hi…s pro…file, please?" the girl asked softly.
If this was a dream, it was a dream she did not want to wake from.
Now everyone in the hall was staring at the girl.
Students. Teachers. Parents.
The Ice Queen. The school's aloof idol.
Was shedding a tear. And were now curious of this mysterious person.
'Please.'
Her bright blue eyes looked expectantly at the LOADING screen.
'Please.'
The heartbeats quickened, threatening to burst from her chest.
'Please be him…'
It was the longest seconds of her life. And the next would be the best one.
Click!
A picture of the Trainer appeared for all to see.
Red cap. Unruly raven black hair. A toothy grin.
And her favourite crimson red eyes.
…*sniff*
With that, she burst into tears.
"Ah… ah… Uwaaaaaaaahhhh!"
The honey-blonde cried. Out of relief, out of happiness.
It was her Ash. The one who saved her. The one who helped her. The one whom she fell in love with.
Calem and Shauna could only stare in surprise. It was the same description as their friend had described the boy.
Grace shared the expression as her daughter and hugged her girl.
"Uwaaaahh!" she continued weeping, unable to contain her jubilance.
"Mom! Mom! It's him! It's him! He's there! Red's there!" she stuttered in a panic.
"Uwaaah!"
The tears refused to stop. A dam built over 6 years of separation, now broken.
Her mother now hugged her tighter.
"Yes, darling. It's Ash, dear."
It had been years since Serena looked so genuinely joyful. And Grace was so glad to the point where she too let out a tear of relief.
Holding her daughter for the first time in a while, the mother felt at peace.
Sycamore was flabbergasted at seeing the now retired Rhyhorn racer weeping alongside her daughter.
Before suddenly…
Beep! Beep!
L-07 MATCH 3: RED VS AKIRA
Would you like to watch this Match?
[YES] . . . NO
Sycamore then looked at the mother-daughter pair and smiled.
"Shall we? I'm quite interested in this friend of yours now, Serena," the professor said.
"Yes please!"
Serena shouted in jubilation with the biggest and loveliest smile she had ever shown since returning to Kalos.
A smile only reserved for Ash Ketchum.
The smile had everyone in the hall mesmerized. Now, they all focused onto the boy who made the Ice Queen melt.
LOADING…
Serena was giddy with excitement. Happy to see Ash again.
Even if it was not directly. It was enough for her.
The honey-blonde's eyelids that were now red from crying only served to enhance her beauty.
Although Serena's friends were amazed at the now permanent smile on the honey-blonde's face, they were more amazed of how an 11-year-old managed to enter such a high-level tournament such as the IGL.
"Professor, please hurry! I want to see him again!" Serena cried out to the professor with a pink blush present on her ears for all to see. As well as a loving smile and starry eyes.
The man had never seen his student this excited before. His curiosity of this 'Red' grew even more.
MATCH STARTING
And live footage of the Trainer was broadcasted.
The boy had grown up since she parted with him.
His raven black hair now slightly longer and his red and black themed clothes complimented him perfectly.
Finally, to complete the boy's look, an adorable Pikachu perched on his shoulder.
Serena could not stop blushing pinker as she absorbed the sight of her love.
Then, she noticed his gloved hands.
Clutching onto the silver locket she gave him in their youth.
She placed her palms on her cheeks, trying to contain herself.
'He remembers me!' she internally screamed in delight.
The honey-blonde was lovestruck beyond belief.
Kanto Region. Indigo Plateau.
Ash was facing his first opponent.
A Pokémon Tamer, Akira.
The blonde teen wore a black and yellow hoodie with a whip on his hip.
{ Each Trainer is allowed 2 Pokémon for this Match. }
{ Switching Pokémon is allowed but only for the 2 Pokémon used. }
{ If your last Pokémon faints, you are disqualified. }
{ Trainers, are you ready? }
The two nodded at the same time.
"Yes." / "Yeah!"
{ Then, Preliminary Match 3 of Block L shall now begin! }
Akira readied his PokéBall. While Ash kissed his locket.
{ TAMER AKIRA VS RED OF PALLET TOWN! }
Chapter 25: Preliminaries (1)
{ BATTLE START }