DemonChildRobin18

Staying in Celadon City for four days sounded like an ideal mini-vacation for anybody. But, to those that had as important of a title as “Johto League Champion”— or in this case, just Ritsu— it was considerably less fun when the purpose was to attend the conference taking place on the third day. And the day she was currently stuck on? The first, after stepping off a two-hour flight from Johto to Kanto. Easier as it would have been asking Louie to fly her like he normally would on day trips for a shorter trip, making a Noctowl carry her and luggage both was not something she could do in good conscience. Now that she’d at least had a decent nap and the day was still fairly young, Ritsu supposed she could make the best of her free time while she still had it. But, what to do in Celadon? For Kanto’s most gorgeous, most populated city, not much piqued her interest. Stopping by the Gym and having milk tea with Erika again was a decent option, but she could likely have her own things to take

“And, it’s just outside the Safari Zone, too!” Ethan added, sliding his finger up the brochure advertising a new glamping village open for business. Beautiful lighting, chic cabins with plush bedding and refreshments, a small patio, and best of all— clean plumbing and water galore. “That way, we not only get the full camping experience, but we could also catch some new friends just a few steps upward!” “I thought you didn’t have an interest in training Pokémon?” Ritsu reminded him. “Training? No. Breeding them? Yes. Azumarill and Marill are the lights of my life, but if I’m ever gonna be ready for the day my grandfolks retire or… you know, then I’ve gotta know the ins and outs of how to successfully nurture all kinds of Pokémon, not just them.” “Well, it would be good for you because you’re not allowed to actually battle the Safari Zone Pokémon to catch them, but I’m just going to stick with camping. Especially when it’s far, far, far away from the caves…” “Reason number three

“Merida, give Gyarados a nice old Discharge attack!” Ritsu exclaimed, currently in the middle of a Double Battle between her and Nico against former Champion Lance and his cousin, Gym Leader Clair. “Gyarados, Ice Fang!” Lance shouted. “Dragonair, Dragon Rush on the impudent one’s Gengar!” Clair commanded. “Gengar, use Confuse Ray!” Nico ordered, first watching Merida power up her red orb and release a flurry of electricity at Gyarados with everything she had, the Water-type falling in just a single hit after opening its mouth full of frozen teeth. “Ha. No wonder you’re not the Champion anymore.” “A title only a girl like Ritsu could take from me so honorably,” Lance praised, sending Gyarados back to its Poké Ball. “Is that an invitation to do it again?” Ritsu giggled. “Oh, no, once is plenty, thank you. You’re in charge, and I couldn’t be prouder.” Clair’s Dragonair turned completely blue and flew at Gengar without wings, cutting through its glowing orb of confusion and

“Thanks a lot for taking us out here, Ritsu!” Kris cheered, sitting in one of the occupied plush chairs while employees scrubbed their scalps and hair clean of dirt. “I’ve always wanted to check out Salon Linda myself, but just couldn’t find the time.” “You and me both,” Ritsu sighed, feeling a tad guilty while also soothed by the gentle scrubs of manicured nails. “I knew I’d be busier than a Combee after becoming Champion, but I guess I didn’t do enough overestimating on that. This is my only free day this week; can you believe that?” “With great fame comes even greater responsibility, pumpkin,” Ritsu’s mother, Kristen, commented. “You’re not going to have nearly as much freedom as you did before. That’s not to say ‘never’, but just… ‘less’, so balance your time well.” “And, if it gets to be too much, don’t wait until you crack under pressure to reach out and talk to us,” Ethan said, leaning back and letting the salon worker rinse the suds from his dark blue locks whilst

The day had come, and I was dressed for the job since the normal weather was already getting a bit chillier, anyway. Gone were my jean overall shorts and red sneakers, and in went a red-orange knit sweater with navy blue snowsuit overalls, brown boots lined with false fur at the top, and cream winter gloves. To cover the first two before I set off on Louie, a thick salmon snow coat with a fuzzy brown lining around the hood, perfect for protecting my head despite my normal hat doing a great job. Ready to get going, we took off through the December skies and reached the League Gate, moving to the base of Mt. Silver after showing my exclusive pass to the reception guards. There was a convenient Pokémon Center seated at the base, so I went into it to give my team a little rest. “Here you go, Champion Ritsu,” the Nurse Joy said, returning my fully healed Pokémon to me. “But… are you sure you’d like to past this point? It’s very rare for those who enter to return at all.” “I’ll be fine,”

Four and a half whole weeks passed since my coronation as League Champion until the 15th of November rolled around. I’d spent that time doing nothing but scheduling rigorous training sessions between days off reserved for resting and maintaining my sanity and the team’s both. Whether my foes were Pokémon roaming the wild of Kanto’s routes and seas, local Trainers in those same areas itching for a friendly (or not) fight, or familiar faces in the Fighting Dojo, I needed anything and everything to prepare me for my battles against the Indigo League’s Gym Leaders, and subsequently, the restless ghost of a very destructive little boy. I may have still had a bit over a month left until my date with destiny (or demise, but I couldn’t afford that one), but the sooner I ended things, the better. Currently, I was about to receive my eighth (technically sixteenth) and final Badge from Blue Oak of the Viridian City Gym, Lady facing off against his Rhydon after mauling his Arcanine. Though two

It hadn’t felt like that long, but the rest of the week went by in a flash and brought the first day of the grand weekend. Another half an hour needed to pass before it was time for the ceremony, but I’d just gotten out of the shower following a rough wake-up call a few minutes earlier. That was what happened when you fly all over Johto looking for a decent shop waiting to sell you the perfect coronation dress with reasonable pricing, then didn’t come back until well past bedtime. I wound up coming back having bought a calf-length cream gown with puffed orange sleeves that didn’t go past my biceps, dark tangerine vines curling all across the roomy skirt with yellow glitter that made it twinkle nicely in the light. The bodice had small flowers on it of the same color, each with a colorless rhinestone for nectar. I pulled the dress up, but couldn’t reach the back zipper until Lady used her magic from the Pokémon Center room’s bathtub to help me out. “Thank you, Lady,” I exhaled. “I

As expected of Lance’s position, his room was embroidered with the same shiny gold coating as his door, the six Dratini statues and tall pillars (which were a paler shade of the color without losing any bit of the sheen) included. Freshly waxed tiles were better described as bronze, but it did nothing to detract from the room’s beauty. The only part of the room that wasn’t gold or a similar hue was a burgundy carpet leading right to the battlefield of the same color and material. I healed my injured Pokémon with some Hyper Potions, following the honored red carpet through the room and all the way up to the platform. Turning around on the other end of it was my final opponent and the man of my dreams: Champion Lance. “Seems I was right not having a doubt in my mind about you,” Lance said with a very proud, very dashing smile that came unbelievably close to knocking me right over. “After all the challenges I’ve seen you conquer, it’s only natural that you’d be able to beat Will, Koga

Lava. Pools of red hot, boiling lava kept at bay by protective barriers while two tall, silo-like tubes only contained more of it to keep the flow going. I shuddered, reminded far, far too much of the Blackthorn City Gym and everything that’d transpired there. With a gulp, I kept going, still feeling highly wary about the lava in the room as I tried my hardest not to think about the awful memories. I approached a muscular man with dark blue hair in a spiky low ponytail wearing only white karate gi pants with a black belt tied around them and no shoes or socks. Scars littered his shoulders and pectorals, jagged and sharp as if cut with a blade. He was sitting, legs crossed and his left fist supporting his chin while he contemplated something with both eyes shut. Nothing happened for the first few moments of watching him, so I decided to break the ice. “Hello,” I greeted, approaching the man. “You must be—” “KU-WAAAAAAGH! HA!” he roared, jumping up and assuming a battle pose.

From the moment I laid eyes on the face of the Indigo Plateau Castle, I felt as though I couldn’t breathe. Although the somewhat cooled autumn atmosphere had weakened what would otherwise be fully-blossomed tulips planted upon each hill and turned green leaves of the trees beside each gate many beautiful shades of orange, nothing could damper such beauty or my exhilaration as I repeatedly realized my labor’s fruits the longer I gazed. Were my childhood self able to see me now, she’d be just as exhilarated. This place was everything I had ever dreamed, and here I was about to participate for the title of Champion. “We’re here, Rose,” I breathed to my speechless Togetic, whom I hugged like my childhood teddy bear without taking my starry eyes off the sights. “We’re finally at the Pokémon League. And to think you were just a tiny little egg when I first started my journey in August.” “I know…” she agreed. “But, now look at me! I’m a big strong Togetic, and I’m ready to fight!” We