Chapter 147 (Patreon)

One thing that was rarely considered is what happens directly after a League battle.

The arena itself had a built-in Pokémon Center, but it was generally reserved for emergency use and quick, post-battle check-ups. My team didn’t have a pressing need to be there, no matter how much Ninetales moaned about her missing hair.

Instead, once everyone got a look-over to make sure everything was fine, we were placed in what was essentially a golf cart and driven to the main Pokémon Center. A few people recognized me along the way and pointed me out, but it wasn’t exactly like we could stop so we simply moved on.

After everyone was treated, I got a run down of their injuries. We didn’t beat Tobias for free, after all.

Gardevoir was exhausted. He could potentially still battle, but he wouldn’t be at full capacity for a day or two. The sheer amount of energy he expended to both avoid Darkrai and then use that final Misty Explosion meant he had pushed far past his usual limits, and thus, the nurses mandated that he was to not do anything too energy-intensive.

Altaria was essentially fine, just tired. His Mega Evolution had ensured he had the energy to do what he did, but he was in the same boat as Gardevoir; he needed to rest.

Mawile had a few ice packs strapped to her body to ensure all the heat from Entei’s attacks had properly left. Ninetales was devastated by her missing fur, but ointment was applied to ensure rapid hair growth.

Fun fact: that ointment was actually invented by trainers with Pokémon like Stufful and Wooloo on their team. It was moderately expensive, but as Pokémon with the Fluffy ability were vulnerable to Fire Type attacks, those Pokémon frequently needed to regrow their hair. Ninetales was now benefiting from their creation.

That left both Carbink and Azumarill, who had it the worst out of everyone.

Carbink was essentially out of the tournament. They had withstood Tobias’s Dragonite, but the sheer amount of damage their rocky body sustained meant they needed time to regrow. In the coming days, Carbink would need to frequently cycle Rock Type energy through their cracks and chips to ensure that the rock and crystal reformed, and since that wasn’t a fast process, the nurses said it was unlikely they’d be able to battle again by then.

My entire team saluted Carbink, who had proud tears in their eyes. I hugged the brave Rock Type and genuinely could not praise them enough. Carbink had been essential to our victory against Tobias. Anyone else would have struggled against Dragonite, and Azumarill wouldn’t have been able to faint both Dragonite and Entei.

As for Azumarill, she had burns across her whole body, and she was now wrapped in tight bandages with different ointments rubbed beneath. Her Water Type, her Thick Fat, and Aqua Ring, to an extent, had helped her withstand Entei’s attacks, but the Fire Type moves had still seared the surface of her body. She wasn’t as hurt as Carbink, but she was essentially banned from fighting until that healed.

Azumarill was a bit upset, but that didn’t stop her from being smug. Once all of my Pokémon had finished being treated, we were brought to an empty side room to wait just a bit longer while the nurses finished up, so that gave Azumarill time to be smug.

Azumarill approached Gardevoir, glee clear in her eyes. Gardevoir looked just as cocky, still holding his head high. They exchanged a few quick words, not even hiding how they were trying to brag about their respective victories over a Legendary Pokémon, but they were interrupted when someone cleared their throat.

The pair glanced over to Mawile, who looked just as smug as the two. She might not have won one-on-one, but her efforts contributed to not one, but two defeats of Legendary Pokémon.

And then Altaria squawked behind her. As he stared blankly at the three braggarts, their smugness seemed to fade.

Someone knocked on the door soon after.

“Alex? You have visitors,” the nurse called out.

My brow furrowed, and I shouted to ask who.

“...I don’t think I have the clearance to say?” she replied.

“Let them in.”

The door opened and two people stepped into the room. Not just Steven Stone, the soon-to-be-re-seated Champion of Hoenn, but Cynthia, the Champion of Sinnoh, appeared as well. They paused to scan my Pokémon’s injuries before walking over to sit on a pair of nearby chairs. They scooted to get a bit closer to me. Both of them had a serious expression on their face.

“What is it?” I asked.

The way they were looking at me made me nervous. I was still coming off the high of beating Tobias, but this situation was quickly changing that.

“I’d like to adjust the proposal I offered you,” Cynthia said.

My eyebrows rose. I hadn’t expected this topic to come up again until after the Conference.

Steven spoke up, beginning to explain upon noting my confusion.

“Not just any trainer can beat three Legendary Pokémon in a row as you did," Steven explained. "Trainers with such capacity are incredibly rare, especially one with such little experience as you.”

“I’m only aware of one trainer in a similar circumstance as you, but that’s all the way in Paldea,” Cynthia added. “Her guardians are leading the discussion, but there are also social workers on the case to make sure she isn’t being manipulated.”

“Wait, hold on? Social workers? Guardians? How old is she?”

“She just turned five,” Steven said.

The absurdity of that comment sent the room into a brief silence.

“Back to the point I was trying to make,” Cynthia spoke, “The rest of the offer still stands: full access to League-exclusive benefits such as free travel and private training halls. You’d also be able to contact others to assist you in obtaining rare Pokémon, and you’d be able to browse the League’s library of information not accessible to the public.”

“But,” Cynthia continued, her tone getting a bit more serious. “What I wish to state is that with your victory today, I might be able to convince the others to allow for an increase to your team size.”

I sent a quick side-eye to Steven. He pretended to adjust his tie while looking away.

“I thought even Champions had to abide by the six-Pokémon limit, outside of Pokémon that haven’t had their first battle,” I said slowly.

“That’s the thing, you would still be abiding by it,” Cynthia said. “It would be set up so that you would have up to eight Pokémon with you, but the catch is that it wouldn’t be eight Pokémon at your team’s current level of strength. Instead, you would be able to split your team into four and four: four Pokémon of your ten star team, and four Pokémon of lesser strength that you’re in the process of training up.”

“But not six and two?” I asked.

“Unfortunately not,” Cynthia replied. “Though, I suppose that with Dedenne, an argument could be made—”

“No. Dedenne is as strong as the rest of them. Implying he’s weaker is an insult to all the training he’s gone through.”

“Then that’s the adjustment I can give,” Cynthia finished.

I sat back and considered what she was saying, but I still had the same feelings as I had before. I wanted to get through the Conference, first. One last question lingered in my mind.

“And more money isn’t a possibility?”

At that, Steven sucked in a breath.

“Not for you, no. As it stands, your income would reach the upper limits of what the League pays its highest earning trainers.”

“You’re kidding,” I replied. “But aren’t both of you outrageously wealthy?”

Steven and Cynthia exchanged an awkward look, then turned back to me.

“Alex, I’m the heir to the Devon Corporation. My role in the company provides me with a large income outside of the League.”

“And my family is historically wealthy,” Cynthia added. “Most of my savings are tied up into real estate, and it’s the money I earn from that that lets me spend so much on historical artifacts and funding expeditions.”

“Real estate,” I deadpanned.

Cynthia coughed into her hand.

“I’m technically a princess,” she added quietly.

Steven and I both sent her a shocked look. Suddenly, Sinnoh’s strange fascination with noble titles made a bit more sense.

“What we’re trying to say,” Steven said to quickly change the topic, “is that while the League wouldn’t be able to pay you much more than what you’re earning from Sycamore’s sponsorship, you’re best off investing the money elsewhere. The true benefits of working for the League include access to businesses and services that are locked off to most else.”

“Exclusive training arenas, expert groomers, advice from dedicated specialists—not that you really need it—and even contacts with dedicated Pokémon breeders,” Cynthia said. “If you really wish, your employment could even enable you to put in a request with a Pokémon foundation that focuses on Eevee and the species’s evolutions. They have people who specialize in matching Eevee who wish to evolve into certain species with suitable trainers seeking such a thing. The foundation has assistants to help prevent accidental evolutions, and you’d almost certainly be able to obtain a Sylveon through them.”

“I’m still raising Togepi,” I said.

“We know, but we’re simply stating an option for the future.”

I sat back and crossed my arms. My team was still out around me, listening in. I glanced towards them to try to get an insight into their thoughts, but most seemed to be neutral about it, except for Ninetales. I could tell she had already made up her mind the second Cynthia mentioned “expert groomers.”

The two Champions in the room seemed oddly determined to get me to accept, which felt out of character for them to me.

“What’s the catch?” I said.

“There’s no catch,” Steven replied. “You would have the freedom to choose which region you wish to travel to after receiving proper Ace Trainer training, though you would be expected to help with any emergencies nearby—”

“Which I’d want to help with anyway,” I interjected.

"—But there's no other requirements," he finished.

My head fell back as I hummed, and I closed my eyes. So soon after the last battle, I desperately wanted to sleep, but this seemed important. Even more, I was starting to get suspicious.

“There’s something you’re not telling me,” I eventually said.

Both Cynthia’s and Steven’s faces were the picture of perfect neutrality. They didn’t respond.

"Tell me," I said.

"We can't."

I glared at both of them, hoping to see one of them relent, but the pair of Champion were far more experienced with negotiation than I. Well, it wasn't like giving someone a mean look even counted as negotiation, anyway.

“Then for now, my answer is the same. Let me think about this, and I’ll give you a response after the Conference,” I said.

When they both nodded in approval, I blinked. I half expected them to come clean with the added information when I pushed the decision off.

“Then, we will—”

A knock at the door interrupted Steven, and a nurse called out once more.

“We have Rhonda with Sinnoh Now stating you promised her a repeat interview?” the nurse stated, almost questioningly. “Would you like me to let her in?”

Both Steven and Cynthia stood up in response.

“Our arguments have been presented, and thus, we will be off,” Steven declared.

“Please take the time to properly consider our proposal. We don’t want to force you into anything,” Cynthia added.

I only had time to say a brief goodbye before Steven released Claydol, and the group Teleported off. Thus ended the strangest conversation I had with either of them—and I’d had some strange conversations with them in the past.

“Let her in,” I sighed, rubbing my forehead.

The reporter, Rhonda, burst into the room, already beginning to ask questions. I put on the best smile I could muster in response. I’d been frequently told I needed to manage my public appearance, and I figured that this was at least a start.

_________________________________________________________________________________________

The next day’s battle for a spot in the top eight went significantly smoother than the battle with Tobias, though that was expected.

My opponent used a rain-based team, and an extremely well built one at that. They had both Politoed and Pelipper to make use of their Drizzle ability, and their Ludicolo and Kingdra were especially speedy sweepers.

Unfortunately, once Florges used Pollen Puff to take out Ludicolo, the rest of the battle went quickly. Dedenne's Thunder exposed a weakness in the strategy, even with our opponent sending out an unexpected Seismitoad to try to counter. A switch into Whimsicott spelt a quick faint, and our opponent's final Pokémon, a surprise Scizor, didn't last long against Rapidash's Sunny Day and Mystical Fire.

In a way, I shouldn't have been surprised at the easy victory. It was a match in the Top 16, meaning that each and every trainer competing was one of the best to compete in Sinnoh this year. Yet, despite that, my team had gone above and beyond in preparation for Tobias. The match almost felt like a practice bout for what was to come.

I was talking about Ash, of course, as he had moved on as well. Paul was in too, but I doubted I would be the one to face him. I expected he and Ash had some things to settle.

That night, I decided to take a walk with Gardevoir. He hadn't even been on the team for a full year, yet he had taken out Darkrai one-on-one. The strategy might have been a sacrificial one, but the fact it had worked at all said much about the effort he had put in.

I wanted to reward him somehow, but he didn’t seem to want anything. Gardevoir just acted happy to be by my side and to continue to be a valued member of the team.

We walked by the stalls, the games, and the various food vendors, but he wasn’t interested in any of them. I think he appreciated being surrounded by so many happy people, since as he was a Gardevoir, he was especially attuned to such things.

Once we were done, I took a side path back to the Pokémon Center, not wanting to cause any fuss by entering through the main entrance. I was notable now, not just from the show battles and my position as the runner-up in the Grand Festival, but because my Pokémon had taken out an absolutely absurd team. It was getting late, and since we had yet another battle tomorrow, I wanted to get to sleep to be prepared for the match.

But then, Gardevoir suddenly reflexively teleported in front of me, and I immediately went on guard. I didn’t have my full team with me, but I at least had some of them in their balls. Ninetales’s Premier Ball was pulled up so I could send her out in a moment’s notice.

On the cobblestone path ahead of us, a wide shadow spread out. A single red eye emerged from its depths as a hulking Pokémon slowly rose from the floor.

A pair of thick arms were held out from the sides of its rotund body. A zig-zag pattern on its stomach hinted at the wide mouth hidden in plain sight. A menacing Dusknoir hovered in the air to block our path, and both Gardevoir and I readied ourselves for a fight.

“Hey!”

The unfortunately familiar voice clued me in to what was going on. A randomly appearing Ghost Type was threatening enough, especially a fully evolved specimen like Dusknoir, but it was now clear the ghost was a trainer’s Pokémon, not a wild encounter.

Behind Dusknoir, rapid footsteps echoed off the pavement, and the large creature shifted itself to sit off to the side. I could see a young man’s face coming closer to us in the dim light of the path. A small scowl appeared on my face when it was confirmed who it was.

Chance placed his hands on his knees and leaned over, panting after running to get to us. Both Gardevoir and I didn’t bother stopping our glare as he stood there and breathed.

“I’ve, hah, been trying, hah, to find you,” he said.

Gardevoir crossed his arms, and I narrowed my eyes.

“What for?”

My question came out harsh and vitriolic. Chance winced at my tone before pushing back to a straighter posture. He took a moment to steady himself before a small, almost guilty smile appeared on his face.

“I wanted to apologize,” he said.

What?

Gardevoir’s arms fell to his side.

“After our last battle at Lake Valor, y’know, where you beat me—”

“You mean where Azumarill swept you,” I interrupted.

“...Yeah, that one,” Chance said slowly. “After the match, we made a bet, but I never got the chance to follow up on my side—you beat me so handily that the promise completely slipped my mind!”

He laughed as if that was a joke, but I wasn’t laughing.

Chance sighed.

“Look, Gardevoir,” he said. “I know I need to apologize, but I’m not here to apologize just because I lost a bet. I... I’m genuinely sorry about how I treated you, Gardevoir. I unintentionally misled you back on Route 203, and I didn’t think my actions made you feel so bad.”

“You sure about that? Because saying ‘Sorry you got upset’ doesn’t really sound like an apology at all. Your actions were borderline abusive and definitely manipulative. If you’re being sorry, actually do it right.”

“I know. I’m trying,” Chance whined. “Gardevoir, please give me this chance.”

Chance shifted his stance to solely face Gardevoir rather than the both of us, and he took a deep breath. Gardevoir stared, as if waiting, but I could tell he was already mostly uninterested. Chance’s fists clenched into balls at his side, and the look on his face almost seemed genuine. There was a tense moment as we waited for Chance to work out what he wanted to say before he properly began.

“Gardevoir,” he started. “I’m sorry for everything I did to you. It was never my intention to hurt you so much, and if I could go back and change my actions, I would do it. You deserved better, you are better, and I want to make it up to you. I might have mistreated you in the past, but I promise I’ll never do that again. Let me do what I should have done in the past: say the word, and I’ll gladly accept you on my team.”

My mouth dropped open at the sheer boldness he was displaying here. For a moment, I almost believed him.

“...You’re kidding, right?” I asked incredulously.

Gardevoir’s arms dropped down to his sides. Just like Chance had been doing, his hands started to clench into fists. However, for Gardevoir, he was reacting in anger, not nerves. After all, even though Chance tried to hide it, he had just approached solely to try to poach Gardevoir from my team.

I don’t think Chance realized Gardevoir could sense emotions. With how Gardevoir’s eyes were now glowing with the threat of a Psychic Type assault, I doubted Chance actually felt anything other than greed.

"We're leaving," I said.

“What? Just like that?”

I placed a hand on Gardevoir’s shoulder, and the glow faded from his eyes. His body stopped being so tense as he closed his eyes and let out a breath to calm himself down. Across from him, the opposite reaction was going on. Chance looked both offended and annoyed. He still blocked our path, and his Dusknoir at his side made him seem even more threatening.

Chance opened his mouth to speak. I cut him off before he could.

“That wasn’t an apology. That was pure, unadulterated greed,” I began. “You saw Gardevoir beat Darkrai in the Conference, and that’s the only reason you came here at all. You’re here for Gardevoir’s power, not for who he is as a Pokémon.”

Chance stared at me, not even bothering to deny it.

“Not only that, but I bet if Gardevoir lost—which wouldn’t have happened—I doubt you would have shown up. All of your actions show that you only care about building a strong team, not truly connecting with your Pokémon. You want to get stronger right? Then treat what Pokémon you have as a team rather than a set of tools. Don’t go and try to manipulate others for your own gain.”

“I don’t do that! I—”

“Do you have a Crobat, or is it still a Golbat?” I asked.

Chance slammed his mouth closed, gritting his teeth. The way he glared at me with hatred in his eyes answered my question for me.

As Chance stood there, processing what I was saying, his angry face grew tight, and he threw forward a hand to point right at my chest.

“Then I challenge you to a battle!” he declared. “You might have beat that guy’s crazy team, but you had a Type advantage the whole time! Me and my team have got stronger in the past few months! If you want to back up your words, prove them to me in a Pokémon battle!”

He gained a smug expression on his face, one that made me sigh. I could practically feel Gardevoir roll his eyes next to me.

“No,” I said.

We had nothing to prove to Chance in the slightest.

And then Gardevoir used Teleport to bring us away, placing us right outside the side door of the Pokémon Center. We didn’t even hear Chance’s frustrated response.

"You know," I said as I opened the door,  "I’m pretty sure Chance was actually eliminated in the top 128 since I never saw him in the later rounds. I guess you can say there’s no chance we’ll ever battle here.”

Gardevoir sent me a look, and I gained a small smile on my face. My dumb joke broke the tension from what just happened with Chance, and Gardevoir began to laugh. Smiling to myself, I chuckled at the dumb pun as well, and we headed on inside to let us properly rest up.

There was still the rest of the Conference to get through, after all. We had some strong opponents waiting for us in the future.

====================================================
Author Note:

Pokémon mentioned in this chapter (contains spoilers):
Darkrai
Dragonite
Dusknoir
Entei
Golbat / Crobat
Kingdra
Ludicolo
Pelipper
Politoed
Scizor
Seismitoad
Stufful
Wooloo

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