The grand stadium of the Indigo Plateau shimmered like a beacon beneath the morning sun. Thousands of trainers filled the stands, the air vibrating with excitement, banners fluttering high bearing the emblems of their favorite regions and trainers. The League Opening Ceremony was nothing short of breathtaking — a spectacle of Pokémon from all over the world, fireworks bursting into radiant shapes of Gyarados, Charizard, and Gardevoir. The crowd's cheer echoed like thunder, a storm of dreams and ambition.
Tharion stood among the chosen competitors, his jacket whipping lightly in the mountain breeze. His gaze was calm — serene even — though his aura radiated quiet power. He had trained for months without rest, his team evolving and mastering their abilities. Now, the time had come to show the world the strength that forged under pressure.
As the announcer's voice boomed, calling out names and regions, Tharion adjusted his gloves and scanned the faces around him. His mind wasn't on the crowd, but on something else. Someone.
A soft voice caught his attention. "You're Tharion, right?"
He turned. Standing beside him was a girl with sleek black hair, glasses perched lightly on her nose, and a silver necklace shaped like a crescent moon. Her presence was calm, elegant — but it was that necklace that made him pause. Something about it sparked a flicker of recognition deep in his mind.
"Yeah," Tharion said slowly, studying her features. "And you are…?"
She smiled faintly. "You'll remember soon enough."
Before he could ask more, the ceremonial trumpets blared, signaling the start of the League. The crowd erupted once again as trainers were led to their respective stages for their first qualifying rounds. The mysterious girl gave him a knowing look before turning to walk away toward her assigned field.
Tharion frowned slightly, that strange sense of déjà vu lingering like a whisper.
That necklace… why does it feel so familiar?
"Ladies and gentlemen!" the announcer's voice roared over the sound system. "Next up — Tharion from Pallet Town, facing off against Marcus from the Celadon Advanced Academy!"
The digital wheel on the massive screen spun rapidly — Grass, Earth, Water, Ice flashing one after another before slowing to a stop.
→ EARTH ARENA SELECTED ←
The field transformed before their eyes — the metallic floor shifting and reshaping into a rugged battlefield of rocks, dust, and plateaus.
Marcus, Tharion's opponent, was a tall young man with spiked red hair and a confident smirk. His uniform bore the Academy insignia, and his three Pokéballs gleamed on his belt.
"I've heard about you, Tharion," Marcus said, his tone oozing arrogance. "You might've done well in the lower circuits, but this is the Indigo League. I've trained under the Celadon Masters — my Pokémon are raised by experts, not luck."
Tharion simply smiled, eyes narrowing slightly. "Then show me what that training's worth."
The referee raised the flags. "Three-on-three match! Begin!"
Marcus threw his first Pokéball. "Go, Tyranitar!"
The ground trembled as the pseudo-legendary beast roared to life, sand whipping across the arena in a violent storm.
Tharion, calm as always, pulled out a single Pokéball. "One will be enough."
He tossed it high. "Charizard, let's fly."
A burst of light erupted as Charizard emerged, flames blazing from its tail, eyes burning with unmatched ferocity. The very air rippled with heat as it spread its wings wide.
The crowd gasped.
Marcus scoffed. "Overconfidence will cost you."
"Tyranitar, Stone Edge!"
Spikes of stone erupted from the ground, aiming straight for Charizard. But Tharion's eyes gleamed. "Fly, ascend — now."
In an instant, Charizard shot upward, leaving behind an afterimage that disintegrated as the stones collided.
Marcus clenched his teeth. "Rock Slide!"
Massive boulders launched skyward, but Tharion raised his hand calmly. "Counter it with Flamethrower."
Charizard inhaled deeply — and unleashed a searing inferno. The flames melted through the stones midair, molten fragments raining down like fiery meteors. The crowd roared at the sight.
Tyranitar growled and charged forward through the debris.
Tharion's voice echoed coolly. "Now, Charizard — use Dragon Claw."
With a blinding flash, Charizard dove like a meteor, claws glowing neon-green as it slammed Tyranitar across the chest. The giant Pokémon skidded backward, dazed, before collapsing in a cloud of dust.
"Tyranitar is unable to battle!" the referee called.
Marcus gritted his teeth. "Fine! Go, Garchomp!"
The dragon roared as it emerged, eyes burning.
Tharion's expression didn't change. "Ready for round two?"
"Earthquake!" Marcus shouted.
The ground cracked violently. But Tharion's calm voice sliced through the noise. "Take to the skies."
Charizard soared upward, the tremors missing entirely.
"Now… let's end this. Flare Blitz!"
Charizard's body ignited in golden flames as it dove. The impact exploded like a sunburst — the shockwave shaking even the audience stands. When the smoke cleared, Garchomp lay defeated.
Two down. One left.
Marcus's face was pale now, his arrogance shattered. He fumbled for his last Pokéball. "Sceptile, go!"
Tharion smiled faintly. "Good choice — but it won't matter."
The battle lasted less than a minute. A single Blast Burn from Charizard reduced the field to ash.
The crowd went wild as the referee raised the flag. "Winner — Tharion!"
As the cheers echoed through the stadium, Tharion exhaled slowly, gazing at Charizard as it landed beside him. The flame on its tail burned brighter than ever, and their auras pulsed in perfect sync — proof of the bond they'd forged.
He glanced up at the stands. Among the thousands of faces, he spotted her — the black-haired girl with the glasses, smiling faintly, her fingers brushing that strange crescent necklace again.
For just a moment, the world blurred around him.
That necklace… where have I seen it before?
And deep in his chest, something stirred — a faint flicker of memory, waiting to awaken.
The roar of the crowd had barely quieted before Tharion's name flashed across the massive holo-screen once again — "Second Qualifier: Tharion vs. Darius of Cinnabar."
He exhaled slowly, adjusting his gloves, the faint flicker of orange reflected in his eyes from the still-smoking battlefield he'd just left behind. Charizard stood beside him, wings folded, tail flame swaying with calm dominance.
In the front rows of the competitor section, Nina sat quietly on the bench behind the reserved area for Tharion's next match. Her Luxray's Pokéball rested beside her hand, and her Haunter hovered invisibly just above her shoulder — invisible to the human eye, but ever watchful. Though she wasn't yet registered as a League Trainer, she'd earned her place here — the system had allowed her a temporary observer's seat due to Tharion's recommendation.
She smiled faintly as she watched him step onto the field again. He doesn't stop to rest… that's Tharion for you.
The massive digital wheel appeared again in midair, its colors cycling through the four terrains — Grass, Earth, Water, Ice.
The announcer's voice boomed through the stadium. "Trainer Tharion has chosen to spin for his next battlefield! Let's see what fate decides this time!"
The wheel spun with a mechanical hum, faster and faster before slowing gradually — flickering through each element before coming to a glowing stop.
→ WATER ARENA SELECTED ←
The battlefield shimmered. The ground panels sank, replaced by wide pools and flowing platforms of solid light that drifted above the rippling surface. Geysers erupted from vents below, spraying mist that glimmered under the sunlight.
Nina leaned forward, a hint of concern flickering across her face. Water-type field… he'll be at a disadvantage if he uses Charizard.
But she knew better. Tharion didn't care about advantage or disadvantage — he only saw opportunity.
Darius, his opponent, stepped onto the opposite platform — lean, confident, and draped in a Cinnabar-blue coat with an insignia of the volcano stitched on the shoulder. His hair was silver, tied back neatly, and he gave Tharion a smirk.
"You again? The crowd's already calling you the one-man army," Darius said. "But this is a water field. My Pokémon thrive here. Let's see if your fiery friend can handle that."
Tharion gave a faint smile. "You'll find out soon enough."
He reached for a single Pokéball — the same one.
"Charizard. Let's go."
The Pokéball burst open, and the infernal dragon roared into the misty air. The water below rippled violently as its heat distorted the battlefield, the very air sizzling around them.
Nina felt her pulse quicken — not from worry, but awe. The flame on Charizard's tail burned blue for a heartbeat before returning to its deep orange glow.
The Second Qualifier Begins
Darius threw his first Pokéball. "Go, Swampert!"
The powerful Water-Ground type emerged, landing with a heavy splash.
"Swampert, Muddy Water!"
The surface erupted as waves surged toward Charizard, thick with sediment.
Tharion's voice was low, composed. "Charizard. Flamethrower, at full burst."
The audience gasped as the dragon opened its jaws, releasing a jet of fire so hot it vaporized the incoming water before it could even reach him. Steam exploded outward, blanketing the arena.
Darius blinked, trying to regain sight. "Swampert, dive and attack from below!"
The Pokémon sank beneath the steaming surface.
Tharion closed his eyes. "Heighten aura. Sense its movement."
Charizard's eyes flashed gold for a moment, its aura linking with Tharion's. They moved as one.
"Now," Tharion murmured, his hand slicing through the air. "Seismic Toss."
Charizard's claws plunged into the water, catching Swampert the instant it rose for attack. With a single mighty flap, Charizard hurled the massive Pokémon upward into the open sky — and then dove after it, dragging it higher still before slamming it down into the platform below.
The shockwave rippled across the arena. Swampert was down.
Darius growled. "You're not human."
"Not your concern," Tharion replied coolly.
Darius threw his second ball. "Lapras! Ice Beam, now!"
The gentle giant emerged, immediately firing a brilliant blue beam toward Charizard. The attack sliced through the mist — but Charizard twisted midair, flames igniting around its wings.
"Counter with Fire Spin!"
A spiral of fire clashed with the Ice Beam, both energies hissing and bursting into vapor. The heat intensified, forming a fog so thick it hid both Pokémon.
"Now, Charizard — Dragon Rush!"
From within the fog, a roar erupted. Charizard burst out like a comet of azure energy, slamming straight into Lapras and sending it crashing into the water.
The referee raised the flag. "Lapras is unable to battle!"
Darius was sweating now. "Fine! Let's see how you handle this! Go, Milotic!"
The serpent emerged gracefully, its scales glistening like jewels. Its eyes were calm — confident.
"Hydro Pump!"
The stream shot forward with incredible pressure.
Tharion didn't flinch. "Rise high and use Sunny Day."
Charizard soared above the attack, flapping once as a brilliant orb of sunlight formed overhead. The entire arena blazed under the sudden radiance, and steam curled from the surface of the pools.
"Now… Blast Burn."
Even Nina felt her breath catch.
Charizard inhaled deeply — then unleashed a massive burst of flame so bright and hot it illuminated the entire stadium. The inferno consumed the Hydro Pump, ignited the mist, and engulfed Milotic in a pillar of fire.
When the blaze faded, the serpent lay unconscious in the water, its elegant form drifting gently on the surface.
The referee raised the flag. "Milotic is unable to battle! The winner — Tharion from Pallet Town!"
The audience went wild again — chanting his name, their voices merging into a thunderous chorus. Tharion turned slightly, meeting Nina's eyes in the crowd. She smiled softly and gave him a small thumbs-up.
He returned a faint nod.
Nina whispered under her breath, "You really don't know when to stop holding back, do you?"
Charizard landed beside Tharion, lowering its head slightly as he placed his hand on its snout. The two shared a brief, silent exchange — a promise of greater challenges ahead.
From across the arena, Darius stood in stunned silence, unable to speak as the field reset.
As Tharion walked back toward the exit tunnel, his aura still faintly glowing, his gaze drifted upward — to the audience seats where he had last seen the mysterious girl with black hair and glasses.
But she was gone.
Only a faint shimmer of silver remained where she had been sitting, glinting under the sunlight — a reflection from her necklace.
The crescent moon pendant.
Tharion's expression darkened slightly. That necklace again… why does it feel like it's connected to me?
And with that lingering thought, he disappeared into the tunnel, the crowd still roaring behind him — unaware that the true storm was only beginning.