Chapter 18 — The Lonely Deposed King
The stadium was alive with anticipation, the crowd murmuring excitedly as Serena stepped onto the battlefield. The weight of the moment pressed down on her shoulders, and though she tried her best to hide it, nervousness flickered behind her determined eyes. She knew that everyone important to her was watching, cheering her on from different corners of the region. Shauna was in the watchtower, her ever-enthusiastic support clear from the wide smile she flashed Serena's way. Tierno and Jude were watching from the Battle Chateau, eager to see her performance. And at home, her mother Grace sat in front of her TV set, waiting to see her daughter succeed.
Serena took a deep breath, glancing over at Viola, the famous Santalune City Gym Leader, who stood with calm assurance on the other side of the arena. Viola had the composure of a seasoned trainer, her experience in battle apparent in her every movement. This was going to be a tough brawl. But Serena knew she had to win. Her friends believed in her, her mother believed in her—now, she had to believe in herself.
The referee raised the flags, signaling the start of the match. "Trainers, release your first Pokémon !"
Serena's heart raced as she threw her first Poké Ball into the air. "Eevee, I choose you !" Her latest recruit appeared in a flash of light, landing nimbly on the battlefield with its ears perked and eyes gleaming with determination. Serena felt a surge of confidence seeing her partner ready to fight.
Viola responded by releasing her Surskit, the nimble blue insectoid Pokémon scuttling elegantly across the field. Serena had prepared for this sporting event, but she knew Viola was known for her clever strategies, especially when it came to using the environment to her advantage. As soon as the start was announced, the Gym Leader immediately took the helm of the duel. "Get the ball rolling with Ice Beam !" she commanded, her voice calm but firm.
Surskit wasted no time, unleashing a ray of freezing energy straight toward its challenger. Serena quickly reacted. "Eevee, stay alert and act like you did during our training session !" The little brown-coated Pokémon was quick, darting out of the way of the Ice Beam with impressive agility. Serena had drawn on her partner's balletic dance skills to help it develop a highly effective dodging style. However, as the shots missed their target, they hit the ground instead, freezing the floor beneath Eevee's feet.
A chilling realization hit Serena—Viola had gradually turned the battlefield into an ice rink. Eevee struggled to maintain its balance, its paws slipping on the now-frozen surface. Every attempt to move was met with a stumble, and its normally precise attacks were rendered useless. Surskit, however, moved effortlessly across the ice, skating gracefully as if it had been born for this environment.
"Damn, that old rink trick ! We should have seen it coming, it's a Viola trademark," Tierno snapped, barely holding on to his seat. "Even back in school, she used to give us a hard time with that tactic."
"Eevee, try Swift !" Serena called out, hoping the move's wide spread would make up for Eevee's lack of precision. Her Pokémon fired the barrage of glowing stars, but the tiny spider glided effortlessly around them, dodging every projectiles. In one brutal motion, Surskit launched itself at its adversary like a cannonball, knocking Serena's fighter off its feet and sending it skidding across the ice. Before Serena could react, the blue bug followed up with a Bubble Beam, this time landing a direct hit. The cold blast sent Eevee tumbling, and as it suddenly blacked out, the referee raised a flag.
"Eevee is unable to battle ! Surskit wins this clash !" Serena's heart sank. She could hear the gasps of disappointment from the audience, and she imagined Tierno, Jude, and her mother watching with bated breath. But this wasn't the time to let doubt creep in. She still had one more Pokémon.
"Courage Serena, don't give up !" shouted Tierno in front of the big screen. Despite not being physically present, he made a point of supporting his buddy loud and clear. "You can do it, I know you can !"
"It's okay, Eevee. It was your first time and you did what you could," Serena said softly, watching as her partner was gently carried to the building's medical section. She then reached for her second Poké Ball, her heart pounding but her resolve hardening. "Braixen, let's turn this around !" Serena called out, throwing the sphere into the air.
The foxlike creature emerged in a burst of fire, its staff already igniting with a bright flame. The spectators cheered at the sight of Serena's more experienced partner. She had trained hard with Braixen, and now it was time to show what they were made of. When the starting signal rang, it was her turn to step up to the plate. "Braixen, use Flamethrower !" Serena ordered, her voice filled with determination.
Braixen nodded and unleashed a powerful stream of blaze, the flames spreading across the frozen battlefield. Even if the blue spider ducked, the main aim of this maneuver was to get rid of this rink of woe. The ice melted rapidly, turning the slick surface into a normal battleground once again. Surskit, who had been relying on the ice for its benefit, found itself at a disadvantage. "Now, hit it with Fire Spin !" Serena commanded, seizing the moment.
Braixen spun its staff, conjuring a swirling vortex of fire that trapped Surskit. The insectoid Pokémon had no escape, and after a few moments of struggling, it was stunned by the intense heat. "Surskit is unable to continue ! Braixen wins this round !" the referee announced, leveling the score.
Viola, unfazed, left her soldier in the capable hands of the doctors and reached for her next Poké Ball. "You're doing well, Serena. But let's see how you handle this. Go, Spinarak !"
The tiny, agile spider scuttled onto the battlefield, its green body blending slightly with the arena floor. Despite its small size, Serena knew better than to underestimate it. Viola's Pokémon were always full of surprises. Once again, she took the initiative to initiate the duel. "Braixen, use Ember !" The orange fox unleashed a flurry of small flames, aiming directly at Spinarak. But the green bug was fast—much faster than Serena had anticipated. It jumped from side to side, dodging the flames with ease before retaliating with a Poison Sting.
The needle-like arrows struck their mark, and though it wasn't a heavy hit, the toxin began to take its toll. Braixen winced in pain, its movements slowing as the venom coursed through her body. "Hang in there, girl !" Serena urged, her heart pounding. "Strike back with Psybeam !" Braixen fired a pulse of psychic energy at the spider, who managed to evade once more, but this time just barely. The two warriors continued to exchange blows—Spinarak with its venom and speed, Braixen with its fiery attacks—but it became clear that both were reaching their limits.
Finally, in a climactic exchange, Braixen's final blast collided with Spinarak's Venoshock, and the explosion of energy sent both Pokémon crashing to the ground, unmoving. The stadium fell silent as the referee raised both flags. "Unbelievable, both Pokémon are unable to battle !"
The crowd whispered in impatience, knowing that a tie at the final round required careful review. The referee called for a slow-motion replay of the last moment to determine which Pokémon had been knocked out first. Serena's heart raced as the video played on the large screen, each frame agonizingly slow. The tension in the stadium was palpable. Shauna leaned forward against the glass, fidgeting anxiously with her fingers. She hated this kind of suspense, it made her particularly jumpy. Back at the Shabboneau castle, Tierno and Jude watched in silence, their eyes glued to the screen.
Finally, the replay showed it—Spinarak had fainted a split second before Braixen. The referee raised his flag towards Serena's side. "Braixen claims victory. Serena Gabena is the winner !" Serena's heart soared as the frenzied public erupted into applauds. She couldn't believe it—she had won her first Gym emblem. Overwhelmed with joy, she rushed to Braixen's side, hugging her exhausted but glorious partner. "We did it, we succeeded. You were wonderful !" she congratulated her, while helping her to lie down on a gurney that two stretcher bearers had just brought in. "Rest now, you've deserved it."
From the stands, Shauna clapped the loudest, her voice carrying over the throngs of supporters, while Tierno and Jude joined in the celebration by cheering at the monitor. Even miles away, Serena could imagine her mother's happy smile as she watched the triumph unfold on TV. As Viola approached Serena with a kind look, she handed her the Bug Badge. "You've earned this. Fantastique job, Serena. You've always been a diligent student, I'm very proud of you."
"Thank you, Miss Viola, for everything !" Serena beamed, holding the emblem up high for all to see. She had done it—she had won her first official Gym battle, and she knew this was just the beginning.
In the heart of one of the great forests of Kalos, where the trees towered like ancient sentinels and the air was thick with the scent of pine and earth, a lone figure trudged along the edge of a calm, meandering river. The sun kept rising slowly, casting long shadows that danced on the water's surface, rippling with the soft breeze that whispered through the trees.
The man moved slowly, with the weight of years pressing on his broad shoulders. He was abnormally tall, topping over two meters, perhaps closer to three, an imposing presence even in the vastness of the forest. His clothes were worn and tattered, frayed at the edges from countless years of wandering. A long, green scarf, faded from the sun, hung loosely around his neck, and a large, overstuffed backpack rested on his back, sagging with the weight of whatever possessions he still carried.
He paused by the riverbank, his tired eyes scanning the peaceful surroundings before he dropped his pack to the ground with a heavy thud. The quiet rush of the river was soothing, a rare moment of tranquility in his otherwise solitary and difficult existence.
Sitting down on the cool grass, the man removed a battered metal cup from his pack and leaned forward to collect some water from the source. He sipped slowly, savoring the coolness of the beverage as it eased his parched throat. Then, from a rolled-up rag, he pulled out a handful of fruit—berries and wild apples, which he had gathered earlier that day. His meal was meager, but it would sustain him. Fortunately, the forest was generous, providing enough to keep him nourished. It was a small mercy, as venturing too close to prosperous towns or cities was a risk he couldn't afford to take.
The government was looking for him—he knew that much. No official arrest warrant, but the higher-ups were still hunting him down, keen to put him under restricted surveillance. They had been for years, though they likely no longer remembered his face or even the full extent of his unfolding tale. His legend had faded into myth, into forgotten history, and only a few would still recognize him for who he truly was. But he couldn't take chances. Not now, not after all this time.
As he ate in silence, his eyes wandered across the river and the dense canopy beyond. Kalos. This land that had once been under his reign, now a vibrant and thriving kingdom under new rulers. He had walked its length and breadth for more years than he cared to count, watching it evolve, watching the world change without him.
There was a time when Kalos had been his. When he had stood as its king, its protector, its beacon in the night. The people had once looked to him for guidance, for wisdom, and he had tried—he had tried to lead them, to ensure their prosperity. But his failures weighed heavily on his soul. The bad decisions he had made, the regrets he carried… they haunted him still, a heavy burden he could never escape.
Now, Kalos flourished under the leadership of others—stronger, bolder, more inventive overlords. They had brought technology, progress, and strength to the region in ways he could never have imagined. And he was left behind, a relic of a bygone age. The man let out a deep sigh, the sound carried away by the wind. The truth was, he no longer knew what his place was in this world. He didn't belong anymore. Kalos had moved on without him, and he was little more than a wandering shadow, surviving from day to day, never certain of where he was headed.
A part of him longed to return to the civilization he had once known, to walk among the people again, to see the Megacities and conurbations that had sprung up under the new sovereigns' management. But another part of him recoiled at the thought. He didn't belong in that world anymore. He was no longer king, no longer a leader. He was a wanderer, forgotten by time, searching for a purpose that seemed to elude him. Moreover, coming back to human territory could threaten his life, as he would become easier to spot. Dangerous beings were after him, entities against which he would be very unlikely to fight. He had neither the force nor the will to confront them, never having succeeded before.
And so, he stayed on the fringes of society, walking the ancient paths of Kalos, staying hidden from the eyes of those who might recognize him, hidden from his enemies who had dislodged him from his own palace to settle there. The quiet of the forests and the solitude of the mountains had become his refuge, a place where he could think, reflect, and remember. But even here, in the wilderness, the weight of his past never left him. The memories of his long reign, of his defeats, pressed down on him like a heavy cloak. The centuries had stretched on endlessly, and he had lost track of the years, lost track of time.
He took another sip of water, his large hands trembling slightly. His mind drifted back to those early days, when he had been filled with hope, when he had believed he could make Kalos a paradise. How young and foolish he had been. And now, all that remained were the scars of those long-forgotten battles, the remnants of a life that had slipped away from him.
As the sun climbed higher in the sky, casting the forest in hues of gold and orange, the man finished his simple meal and leaned back, staring up at the canvas of trees above him. He had no plans, no destination. He would continue to wander, as he always had. For what else was there ? He was not part of this new world, but he was still here. For now, that was all he could be. The former king of Kalos, AZ, sat in the quiet of the forest, watching the river flow by, wondering if it would ever carry him to peace.
The bustling energy of the stadium still buzzed in the background as Shauna and Serena made their way down the familiar cobblestone avenues. The cheers of the crowd and the thrill of their first Gym victories still echoed in their hearts, but now, they were searching for a quieter way to celebrate. As the edifice faded behind them, they reached their destination : a small ice cream parlor they had stumbled upon during their student years. It wasn't far from their old high school, just down a few winding streets that Serena knew by heart.
The shop hadn't changed much since their last visit. The quaint little place had a charming exterior, with colorful awnings and the sweet smell of freshly made cones wafting out onto the street. Shauna's eyes lit up as she stepped inside, the cool air and vibrant flavors immediately taking her back to simpler times. The two buddies often sneaked off to that small, cozy ice cream house after a long day of classes. "It's great to be back here, I've missed it," Shauna said, grinning as she scanned the menu. "It feels like forever since we were just kids coming here after work."
Serena smiled, still riding the high of her hard-earned success against Viola. "I know, right ? It feels like the perfect spot to memorialize our first prize." Once seated by the window, with the early afternoon sun casting a golden tint over the city, the girls ordered their favorite ice creams. Serena went with vanilla and strawberry swirl, while Shauna eagerly got her usual triple scoop of chocolate, mint, and berry. They ate quietly for a moment, enjoying the sweet, cold treat as the warmth of the day settled around them. Then they mutually decided to call their families and share the good news.
First, Serena dialed her mother. The phone rang for only a moment before Grace answered, her tone bright and cheerful. "Sweetheart, I just saw your match on TV, you were amazing ! I'm so proud of you, honey, your first step in the competition ! You're on your way."
Serena's smile shined, her earlier anxiety easing as she spoke. "Thanks, Mom. I was really nervous, but Braixen and Eevee did their best. It wasn't easy, but we pulled through."
"I know you'll keep getting stronger," Grace encouraged, her voice filled with warmth. "You've got this, sweetie. Keep going, and I'll be cheering you on from here."
Serena felt a wave of comfort wash over her. Her mother's backing meant the world to her, and hearing those words gave her an extra boost of confidence. "Thanks a lot. I'll keep doing my best."
Meanwhile, Shauna chatted excitedly with her family. Her parents, who had consistently been supportive of her training career, were delighted to witness her first TV victory live. "You've grown so much, sport," her father affectionately congratulated her. "We always knew you had it in you. Keep chasing your dreams, and don't stop believing in yourself." Shauna's face softened, her jitteriness melting away as she thanked her precious relatives.
With their family calls done, Shauna and Serena dialed Jude and Tierno to share their achievement. The two boys answered almost immediately, their voices brimming with enthusiasm. "Hey, champions," Jude greeted them, his thrill for his friends evident. "We followed every second of your duels, you did great."
"Yeah, seriously !" Tierno chimed in. "You guys totally nailed it, welcome to the badge holders' club !"
Shauna beamed at the praise, her eyes shining with happiness. "Thanks dudes, it feels incredible. So, where are we all meeting up next ?" she asked, her mind already drifting to the next challenge ahead of them.
Jude paused for a moment before suggesting, "How about Ambrette Town ? It's by the beach, not too far from where we'll need to go for our next Gym challenge. We can relax a bit before heading into more fights."
"Sure, Ambrette Town sounds like a neat plan," Serena agreed, her buzz building again at the thought of their group reuniting. "Haven't been to the seaside in a long time, it's going to be fun. Okay, let's all try to meet there before tonight."
As they hung up the phone and settled back into their seats, Shauna and Serena shared a quiet moment of reflection. The excitement of their first victory still lingered in the air, but so did the weight of their journey ahead. It wasn't going to be easy—there were still many obstacles, many combats to come—but for the first time, they both felt like they belonged.
"I'll be honest," Serena admitted, staring down at her half-melted ice cream. "When I saw how impressive Roxie was, I really felt out of place in this tournament. She was so brave, and I was so doubtful... But now," she continued, her voice more assertive, "I proved to myself that I could do it too, and that feels good. Finally, maybe I've got what it takes."
Shauna nodded, understanding exactly how her pal felt. "I know, I had precisely the same reaction," she confessed, swirling the last bit of chocolate ice cream in her bowl. "Seeing her dominate her opponents so easily gave me the blues, I felt like I wasn't in the same league. But ultimately, Jude's right, surrendering to fear isn't the solution. If we want to reach the top, it's up to us and the efforts we're ready to invest to succeed."
Serena smiled softly, her heart swelling with the same sense of accomplishment. "Yeah, you're absolutely correct. We still have a lot to learn, but we're on the right track. We just need to keep pushing ourselves and trust in our Pokémon."
Shauna raised her cup of ice cream like a toast. "To our first badge—and to many more !"
Serena laughed, raising her own cone in return. "To many more."
They clinked their ice cream together with a playful cheer, savoring the moment of triumph and the frank camaraderie they shared. The road ahead would be challenging, but they were ready. Together, they could face whatever came next.
High above a vast, dimly lit indoor arena, Child stood on a stone balcony, her expression one of cold, calculating anticipation. The shadows of the vast chamber seemed to cling to her, the only light coming from the eerie flames that flickered within her Chandelure, who floated quietly by her side. The phantom Pokémon's blaze cast a faint, ghostly glow around them, adding to the ominous atmosphere of the scene below. The giant room was an imposing sight, with its cold metal walls and sparse illumination creating an aura of danger. In the center of the battleground, standing tall and imposing, was one of Child's most powerful Pokémon—an Electivire.
The yellow creature was a fearsome sight to behold. Its broad, muscular frame pulsed with barely contained energy, and the wicked grin on its face spoke of a deep-seated confidence, bordering on arrogance. Its coat crackled with electric surge, the currents dancing along its fur, and the two thick cables protruding from its back resembled the black tails of a monstrous serpent. Electivire's red eyes glowed with excitement, a reflection of its trainer's eagerness.
From her vantage point, Child observed her warrior with a twisted sense of pride. The prospect of the fight to come sent a thrill through her, and she couldn't wait to see Electivire's strength tested against the tough opponents she had prepared. With a slight motion of her hand, she focused her telekinetic abilities on a large lever positioned on the wall beside her. It slowly pulled down, its gears grinding in protest.
The heavy steel thing clanked into place, and a loud, resonant sound echoed through the whole place as the massive metal door opposite Electivire slowly began to rise. From the darkness beyond the portal, three formidable figures emerged, their heavy footsteps reverberating through the ground. It was a Pokémon trio, each one a titan in its own right—Nidoking, Rhydon, and Kangaskhan. These mighty creatures stepped into the battlefield, their eyes locked onto Electivire, assessing their lone adversary.
As the big door slammed shut behind them, they advanced on their pray with the confidence of experienced hunters, surrounding the Electric-type Pokémon on all sides. Electivire, however, showed no signs of fear or hesitation. On the contrary, its grin widened, and a spark of amusement flickered in its eyes. The presence of three such impressive Pokémon only seemed to excite it further. Its muscles tensed in anticipation, and the pent-up energy coursing through its body intensified, crackling loudly in the air.
From her perch above, Child watched with a devilish smirk, her heart racing with bloodthirsty. She didn't need to issue any commands—her soldier knew exactly what to do. This was a test of its own instincts, dominance and skill. There was no doubt in her mind that her Pokémon would be victorious. The three opposing bulky battlers roared as they charged at Electivire with a coordinated ferocity. Rhydon's horn whirled like a drill as it lunged forward, Nidoking's tail whipped through the air with devastating force, and Kangaskhan swung its claws savagely, ready to slash. But Electivire, despite its size, moved with a speed and agility that defied expectations.
With a quick backflip, Electivire dodged Nidoking's vicious tackle, leapt ahead to evade Rhydon's Megahorn with a lively somersault, then ducked under Kangaskhan's cross-clawed jab. In a blur of motion, Electivire grabbed one of the huge marsupial's arms and used his own strength to draw it to him, delivering a bone-crushing Thunder Punch right to the gut. The kangaroo Pokémon was violently thrown backwards, slightly stunned. Nidoking swung back to attack, its sharp fangs oozing a highly toxic poison. But his fatal bite didn't reach his opponent, who sidestepped just in time and retaliated with a brutal uppercut.
The towering purple dinosaur felt great pain in his jaw, but this didn't stop him and he responded with a circular sweep of his metallic-coated tail. The ecstatic yellow Pokémon blocked the blow with ease, then wrapped its wires around the reptilian monster to lift it off the ground and crash it hard into the battlefield. The impact was tremendous, creating a big crater with Nidoking's knocked-out form lying in the center. Electivire fought with precision and lethal efficiency, its movements a blur of electric energy and raw strength. Each strike was calculated, each dodge perfectly timed.
Despite the odds, Child's warrior seemed to relish the challenge, its smirk widening with every successful hit. It was clear that this was no ordinary battle for the Pokémon ; it was a game, a show of superiority that it was determined to win. Its trainer watched in silent admiration, her heart pounding with excitement as the primal showdown unfolded. She hadn't even needed to give Electivire any orders ; it fought with an instinctual understanding of combat, a natural-born predator reveling in the thrill of the hunt. Rhydon launched another offensive with his pointed horn, but his enemy was swifter, propelling himself above the onslaught using his cables as a spring.
Electivire swooped back and retaliated by smashing the rock-solid rhinoceros's head with a dazzling kick, instantly putting him out cold. Kangaskhan was the last to remain standing, its rage building as it charged at the yellow beast with a ferocious Focus Blast. But Electivire met the attack head-on, its grin never fading. It caught Kangaskhan's punch in its own powerful hand, the electricity surging through its core sending shocks through the marsupial's body, and with a mighty heave, Child's Pokémon hurled his last foe across the arena. The kangaroo collided head-on with a wall, distorting the solid metal of its rough contact. Then he slid limply to the ground, defeated.
The combat had lasted less than two minutes, and in that short time, Electivire had taken down all three opponents without sustaining a single scratch. It stood in the center of the battlefield, triumphant, its electrical heat still crackling around it, as if demanding more. Child revealed her sharp teeth with a smile, her dark eyes gleaming with vanity. Her soldier had surpassed even her highest hopes. This display of raw brawn and skill proved that it was a true force of nature, a Pokémon that could hold its own against any behemoth.
Child and Chandelure began to levitate, descending gracefully from the balcony to the arena floor below. The air around them shimmered with the residual sparkle of their telekinetic faculties, and as they touched down beside Electivire, Child's cold demeanor softened ever so slightly, replaced by a rare expression of genuine appreciation. The yellow creature bowed respectfully as its trainer approached, bending a knee to the floor.
"Well done," she said, her voice carrying a rare warmth as she placed a hand on the Pokémon's shoulder, feeling the rustle of energy beneath its fur. "You've proven yourself once again. You're even stronger than I imagined, a perfect weapon."
Chandelure floated closer, its flames burning brighter as if to echo her sentiment. Electivire straightened up and looked down at its trainer, delighted by her praise. Despite its master's diabolical nature, there was a bond between them, one built on mutual respect and a shared love for the thrill of battle. Child's Pokémon were her pride and joy, the only things in this world that she truly cared for.
The three of them stood together in the dim light of the giant room, a formidable trio bound by supremacy, prestige, and a collective thirst for conquest. As Child gazed down at the fallen titans scattered across the arena floor, a sense of fulfillment washed over her. She had shown a glimpse of her potency today, but there was so much more she was capable of—so much more that she would soon unleash on those who dared to stand in her way.
To be continued