January 24th, Sunday, Clear Skies
Two days later, at Indigo Plateau.
Dark gray stone steps stretched straight up the mountainside, leading to the silver brazier blazing at the summit.
The Pokémon League's Poké Ball emblem glittered under the clear blue sky.
Natsume climbed the final steps, a single-strap bag slung over his shoulder, and gazed up at the soaring Pidgeot cutting across the horizon.
Boom! Boom! Boom!
Vibrant fireworks exploded above the League grounds.
Trainers of all ages wore expressions ranging from awe to tearful joy.
"Mom, I finally made it to the Indigo Plateau Conference!" One trainer sobbed into his sleeve, overcome.
A ten-year-old boy brandished his bug net with heroic flair.
"One day, my Caterpie army will conquer the League!"
Before the majestic Pokémon League headquarters, countless trainers realized their childhood dreams—collecting eight badges to stand here.
"Quite the crowd," Natsume mused, scanning the surroundings.
Gengar emerged halfway from his shadow, arms spread tauntingly.
"Gengar~︿(￣︶￣)︿" (This is it?)
"Don't get cocky. What if a legendary trainer pops up?"
Sylveon trotted beside him, its ribbon coiled around Natsume's arm.
"Sylveon~o(｀^｀)o"
Its pink ears twitched happily as they entered the bustling festival square.
Natsume handed his bag to Gengar and flipped through the Event Handbook.
"Hmm... We need to register at the Pokémon Center first."
Professor Oak had already handled the paperwork; now it was just formalities.
The conference spanned four zones:
Main Stadium (opening ceremony/finals, sacred flame site)
Battle Arenas (rock/water/ice/grass terrain)
Contestant Village (free lodging at Budew Hotel)
Festival Plaza (food, merch, games)
"James and the others should arrive soon."
Eyeing the lively plaza, Natsume queued for ice cream.
"Want some, Gengar?"
"Gengar..." It pondered deeply, mimicking Calm Mind focus.
"Togepi doo-ee~" Togepi nearly dove into the freezer before Natsume snatched it back.
The vendor's eyes widened.
"Y-you're...!"
"Huh?"
"Natsume-sensei!" He whispered excitedly, "No charge! My daughter loves your streams—I even got a trainer card!"
Fans everywhere...
Natsume paid anyway. He and Gengar licked their cones in sync: (￣～￣)
Togepi trailed obediently, making splat-splat noises with its ice cream.
No worries about losing it—Aura Sense tracked location and body heat like a parenting hack.
Besides, few here could defeat Togepi anyway...
"Is that Natsume-sensei?!"
"Even hotter in person!"
"If I face him... it's over!"
With looks rivaling Steven and Lance, Natsume drew stares but few dared approach.
"Sylveon! (〝▼皿▼)"
"Gengar! (〝▼皿▼)"
"...Tone it down," Natsume sighed. "People will think we're here to stomp rookies!"
Can you call it stomping when everyone has eight badges?
He was slightly stronger—that's all.
His real goal? Spreading joy through battles (while minimizing injuries).
The Main Stadium's Pokémon Center had hour-long lines, so Natsume headed to the quieter Contestant Village branch.
"Chansey~" A pink nurse led him to the counter.
"Just hand me your Pokédex, Natsume-sensei," Nurse Joy smiled.
"You know me?"
"I'm from Saffron City—we met last week." She winked.
How am I supposed to tell them apart?!
"Transferred here?" he deflected.
"Yes. Extra security and medical staff are mobilized for the League," she explained.
The highest-profile event demanded top-tier support.
Wait... with so many Joys and Jennys...
This place must be Brock's paradise!
Compared to the anime, this timeline's Brock was subtler but still had [Observation: MAX].
The man was a true connoisseur...
"Gengar~" It hopped up, offering the special Pokédex.
Moments later, Joy returned it.
"Registration complete! Here's your upgraded Pokédex."
"Gengar!(`^`)"
Natsume glanced at the overhead screen.
"Matches start this afternoon? That's fast."
"Yes. The opening ceremony begins in one hour," Joy said. "President Goodshow and Champion Lance will attend."
Charles Goodshow—the jovial, white-bearded League chairman.
And Champion Lance...
The tournament committee has insiders?
Well then.
"Thanks," Natsume nodded, heading for the ceremony.
"Good luck competing!"
...
Natsume stood with his fiercely determined Gengar levitating beside him.
Just as he was about to step outside, a sleazy little old man with thick glasses blocked his way.
"Hey there, customer~," the old man chuckled, holding an Abra in his arms with a mysterious grin. "If you wanna drop out now, just say the word. Abra can teleport you away, y'know?"
Natsume raised an eyebrow.
Wait, they're offering that?
Too bad… This time, I've already decided to crush it.
Natsume said, "Green, drop the act. It's me."
The 'little old man' froze for a long moment before the Ditto covering him slowly melted away.
Revealing a young, beautiful girl in a sleek black dress.
"Natsume-sensei! How did you see through it?!" Green gasped. "Even Red couldn't see past my disguise!"
Because I've read the special editions…
Natsume coughed lightly. "Gold mentioned something about this before. I just guessed it was you."
Her disguise exposed, the utterly dejected scammer Green clenched her fists. "Damn you, Gold!!"
Natsume glanced skyward, silently marking one less strike against Gold in his mind.
Next time, I won't mute you!
After some questioning, it turned out Green was here early to set up her vendor stall.
Hearing that Natsume-sensei was at the Pokémon Center, she disguised herself to mess around.
But… getting spotted instantly? Zero fun.
"So, what's the merchandise this time?" Natsume asked curiously.
"Contestant intel and custom merch!" Green's eyes sparkled. "Right? Gonna make a killing!"
Natsume: "Good luck with that."
"Huh?"
"Let's head to the opening ceremony first."
Natsume checked the chat group on his phone. "Anyone else coming to Indigo Plateau today?"
Being a major event for the Kanto League, plenty of people wanted in on the action.
Green thought for a moment. "Mr. Brock's handling security for the sub-arenas."
"Some familiar faces from Johto too. The bullet train goes straight to Indigo Plateau now."
Natsume paused.
Back in the day, Red's Snorlax once stopped that bullet train with its bare hands.
After all these years…
That level 90+ Snorlax could probably wrestle Groudon by now.
In the chat group:
Natsume-sensei: "@Gold, on your way?"
"Almost there! Just about to reach Indigo Plateau!" Gold replied, goggles on, riding his Typhlosion.
Silver: "You took the wrong turn earlier."
Gold looked around—Silver and Whitney were already gone.
"Dammit!! Why didn't you say something?!"
Whitney, riding her Miltank, grinned. "Hehe~."
"I-I made it to Indigo Plateau…" Yellow panted, adjusting her straw hat. "The stairs… so tiring…"
"Where's Red?" Green asked, surprised.
"He said he'll show up for the finals… to give Natsume-sensei the trophy." Yellow answered honestly.
Natsume blinked.
Good guy. Flag +1 from The Battler himself!*
Blue Oak said coolly: "I'll be with him."
Flag +2 from the Kanto Champion!*
"@Natsume-sensei, which arena are you picking for the first round?" Lance, the "Just Messenger", asked. "Rock, water, grass, ice… I can pull some strings for you."
Lorelei complained: "Oh, come ON!"
"Tch. Doesn't matter either way." Lance smirked. "Might as well give you a bye round. Save the other contestants the trauma—"
Natsume was taken aback.
This is the 'Hero of Justice'?
Never change, Lance.
After the merger of Kanto and Johto, the Indigo Plateau Conference became a grand event for both regions.
The opening ceremony gathered skilled trainers from all over.
Rare and powerful Pokémon filled the stadium—an unprecedented spectacle.
Natsume and Green arrived at the arena just as the ceremonial flames ignited.
Whoosh!
With Moltres' sacred fire lighting up the sky…
The Kanto League's Indigo Plateau Conference officially began!
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