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"Scizor has lost its ability to battle! The winner is Chris, our new challenger from the Hoenn Region!"
The referee finally snapped out of his daze as applause thundered from the audience, announcing the match results. "Thank you to both trainers for delivering such an incredible battle!"
"Good match," Chris said politely, retrieving Kubfu in his Poké Ball before turning to leave the stage.
Keith remained frozen like a wilted plant.
He finally understood why the staff member had looked at him with such pity earlier, saying he wouldn't feel like celebrating tonight.
Defeated by someone using support Pokémon, and in such a crushing fashion at that.
Celebrate? More like I should be drowning my sorrows in alcohol.
Keith silently recalled Scizor to its Poké Ball and stumbled off the battlefield in a daze.
With each step, "beautiful memories" of his three-year training journey flashed through his mind.
For his championship dream, three years had passed like a single day. Every morning before dawn, before the roosters crowed, he'd risen for training.
When he encountered powerful wild Pokémon, he'd spend weeks camping and planning, racking his brain to capture them.
After defeats against strong opponents, he'd challenge them again and again until he succeeded.
Such grueling preparation was all for this moment - returning to the Ferrum region to challenge for the championship and become his hometown's champion.
But he'd been crushed in his very first match...
Keith suddenly clenched his fists and gritted his teeth.
"It's just one failure! I didn't give up three years ago - worst case, I'll train for another three years! I refuse to believe I can't beat him!"
The moment he finished speaking, the image of black wings flashed through his mind, tearing apart all his resolve with a single devastating swoop.
"Thud." Keith collapsed to his knees in the competitor tunnel.
Lugia...
That was actually Lugia!
How am I supposed to train to defeat a god like Lugia...
Tears streamed down Keith's face.
After a long while, all his thoughts condensed into a single phrase:
"Screw the championship dream!"
After the battle, Chris went to check how many points he'd earned, completely unaware that he'd just shattered someone's ten-year championship dream.
"Ten points? That seems rather low," Chris frowned.
He needed Resonance Stones, which cost 10,000 points each. At ten points per battle, he'd need a thousand victories to afford just one stone.
At the Ferrum Alliance's current scheduling pace, he'd have to stay here for three or four years to accumulate enough points.
"Sir, the points you earn increase based on your ranking," the staff member explained.
"What's my current ranking?"
"You're currently ranked 123,821st."
"Over 120,000?" Chris's eye twitched. "That's... quite low."
"You were outside the top 200,000 before defeating Keith."
"Going from unranked to 123,821st in one battle isn't bad progress," Chris reasoned. A few more victories should get him into the top 10,000. "Please schedule my next match."
"Certainly."
After booking his next battle, Chris put away his phone and decided to enjoy a relaxing dinner. Another match might come up soon.
However, Chris planned to retire Kubfu for future battles. The Ferrum Alliance's strength exceeded his expectations - this seemed like a training ground for elite and champion-level trainers. Better to be cautious and use his second or first-string teams going forward.
Setting down his phone, Chris noticed something peculiar happening on the beach.
Tyranitar, Tyrantrum, Aggron, and Garchomp sat in a neat row, collaboratively building sand sculptures while munching on minerals. They looked like bakers decorating cakes in a pastry shop.
Nearby, Arcanine and Haxorus watched with obvious envy.
"Can a hobby like eating dirt really be contagious?" Chris muttered helplessly.
"Gardevoir, please tell Arcanine and Haxorus they absolutely cannot eat dirt!"
Chris wasn't too worried about Haxorus, but Arcanine had the curiosity of a husky. Despite its incredible potential, its personality perfectly matched that troublesome breed - it would demolish things when bored.
"Garde~ (Understood)" Gardevoir immediately sent a telepathic "warning" to the two mischievous Pokémon.
Walking north along the coastline, Chris passed through a fruit orchard filled with training targets. These berry trees had been planted by Venusaur.
Blaziken, Kubfu, and Zeraora were training intensively there, sweat dripping as they practiced. Broken targets were quickly replaced by new ones created through Venusaur's Grass-type abilities.
Looking toward the ocean, Greninja and Gyarados were playing with Surf techniques on the water's surface. As for Lugia, it was probably resting somewhere on the ocean floor.
In the sky, Salamence and Aerodactyl were engaged in aerial chase games with Latias.
Heading downstairs, Chris found Togepi, Mewtwo, and Wobbuffet sitting together playing video games. Beside the sofa, Slaking dozed peacefully, providing a calming atmosphere for the group.
In the kitchen, Hariyama wore a chef's hat while preparing dinner.
In the backyard, Gengar grinned widely as it posed atop Steelix, serving as a model for Smeargle's artwork.
"This is wonderful," Chris sighed contentedly.
In the Pokémon world, if nothing else, as a trainer you'd never be lonely. With so many Pokémon, it was like having a huge family of children.
A warm, loving family.
"Ring ring..." Chris's phone suddenly buzzed.
He glanced at the notification - it was a call from Senior Roy.
"Hello, Senior. What's up?"
"The time and location for the Elite Four meeting have been confirmed - the day after the Lantern Festival, in the capital. Remember to arrive early," Senior Roy's voice came through the phone. "If you want to challenge for the championship, there isn't much time left to prepare."
"Got it, thank you Senior. I understand," Chris replied with a smile.
He hung up quickly - the call was brief and to the point. But Senior Roy didn't need to make this call personally, since the Trainer Association would send Chris an official notice soon anyway.
"It seems Senior Roy can't wait any longer," Chris mused to himself.
"Wait..."
"Could it be that Senior Roy is also preparing to challenge for the championship?"
"Then it looks like he'll be my rival at this Elite Four meeting!"