Chapter 69: Indigo League
~Third POV~
[Kanto Region, Indigo Plateau]
Now, standing at the cusp of the Indigo League Tournament, memories flooded his mind. He remembered Brock's stoic strength, Misty's unwavering determination, Lt. Surge's electrifying power, Erika's serene grace, Janine's cunning tactics, Sabrina's psychic prowess, and finally, Blaine's fiery passion.
Each gym leader had tested him, pushing him to his limits and forcing him to grow as a trainer. He remembered the countless battles against Team Rocket, their insidious schemes, and relentless pursuit of Pokémon, always threatening the peace.
He remembered Giovanni, the ruthless leader, shrouded in shadows, his ambition as vast and dangerous as the darkness he commanded. These encounters had shaped him, forging a resilience within him that wouldn't be easily broken.
He took a deep breath, the crisp mountain air filling his lungs, a feeling of calm washing over him. The nerves were still there, a low thrum beneath the surface, but they were overshadowed by a sense of purpose.
He wasn't just fighting for himself anymore. He was fighting for his Pokémon, for the friends he had made along the way, and for the countless trainers who aspired to reach this very moment.
The days leading up to the tournament were a blur of strategic planning and rigorous training. He worked with each of his Pokémon, honing their strengths and developing synergistic strategies that would exploit their opponents' weaknesses.
He knew he wasn't the only one who had worked tirelessly for this opportunity. He saw the same determination in the eyes of the other trainers who had gathered at the Indigo Plateau. He knew that many of them had faced similar challenges, overcome similar obstacles, and forged equally powerful bonds with their Pokémon.
Walking around the Indigo Plateau, he couldn't help but be amazed as he muttered in an amazed tone with Pikachu over his shoulder and Eevee in his hoodie, "Oh… Woooow huge! So big! This is different from other tournaments in my old home… amazing!!"
However, he was let down as he heard a familiar voice turning to see Green criticize him harshly, "Shut up! You are full of energy as usual. How about you calm down a bit? Your drawing eyes, ya know?"
Azure turned, surprised as he muttered, "Green?!"
Eevee and Pikachu waved their paws at her, with Green replying as she waved back, "Heya! Long time no see!"
Playing with his Pokémon Azure couldn't help but ask curiously as he pointed at her, "What are you doing here? Wait… to cheer me on?"
That offended Green as she playfully says, informing him bluntly, "No! I'm entering the League too!"
Azure smiled slyly as he rubbed his head a bit, embarrassed as he replied, "Is that so? That means I have more than one rival here."
Green chuckled as she informed Azure of the news, startling as he froze in place, listening to her words, cheekily says, "That is right. It seemed like you arrived here. Did you register for the preliminary? The Registration will end in 5 minutes!"
*Zoooom*
Azure, alarmed, quickly ran to the registry room in an alert tone, "You should have said that first!! Damn it!!"
Green merely chuckled at his misfortune being played around. The long-awaited championship tournament has begun at the Indigo Plateau, and the Pokémon Fan Club Chairman excitedly makes his appearance as a fan and attempts to cut in line.
After being shoved back out, he spots a Spearow and picks it up, wondering where its owner is, as he said happily, "Eh?! Oooo! Now isn't this something! Where is the owner of this Pokémon?! The Pokémon Lovers Club will declare you an honorary member on the spot!"
That was when Spearow's trainer spoke up, "Please give that back! It's mine!"
*Poink*
The trainer pulls the Spearow out of his hands and heads over to the registration desk for the tournament, content upon noticing that Red, Blue, and Green have all signed up as well. Having seen it, Azure soon comes as he manages to sign up just in time, sighing a breath of relief.
After that, he soon sees a big bulletin board showing the brackets for the tournament as Azure responded in a stunned tone, "Wow! All these people are entering the preliminaries…?"
Green finally catches up to him as she replies cheekily, wanting to mess with him, "It's good that you made it in time, but you're so careless as usual."
Azure's face twitched with Pikachu and Eevee seeing the brackets as he said in an annoyed tone, "Get off."
Checking the brackets, Azure mutters to himself, checking the tournament bracket, "Hm… I'm in the B Block… third match at field number 18. Oh!"
It was when Azure noticed Red and Blue's names on the bracket. He smirked as he thought excitedly, 'Different block for the preliminary. Just as I wanted. I must battle the Dex Holders at the main competition.'
Snapping Azure back to reality, Green casually spoke, getting his attention as she said in a friendly tone, "You know you'll lose if you're so full of yourself. It's a battlefield where you must go all out."
Noticing the other Trainers eyeing each other along with various other Pokémon not native to the Kanto Region, Azure adjusted his cap as he replied calmly, "Yeah, I can feel it when I look around. At a different level. Every single one of them is."
Green smirked as she crossed her arms she saying smugly, "Yeah, I'm also one of them, so…"
But her words were caught in her mouth, seeing Azure's eyes. His eyes shone brightly as he grinned eagerly and adjusted his cap excitedly, "Haha… that's right. There is no meaning to the competition if I win easily. You can only see a special view by climbing to the top. That's exactly what I want. Strong Trainers, hard battles, let all come at me – ack!"
*Smack*
Pikachu smacked his trainer's head as he said, rubbing his head in a sheepish tone, "Sorry, was I going a bit too much there?"
Pikachu bobbed its head along with Eevee, agreeing. Green merely shook her head as she left him, as she thought, 'Man, what a kid… I almost thought he was competition with the look in his eyes. Bet he'll be kicked out in the preliminary round with him showing his Pokémon off… and me selling that info for a profit.'
Green chuckled mischievously at the idea going on about her business. With some time left, Azure decided to look around the Indigo Plateau, seeing the stalls opening, trying to see if he could find one that caught his fancy.
That was when his eyes landed on a Pokémon Manic selling items. A Poké Maniac, formatted PokéManiac in Generations I to III, is a type of Pokémon Trainer that first debuted in the Generation I games.
They were originally presented as strange boys with long hair wearing trench coats. In Generation III, they were changed to cosplayers dressing up in Pokémon-like costumes. In Generation VII, Poké Maniacs cosplay as Slowpoke and, when defeated, imitate Slowpoke with their faces.
But what caught Azure's attention were the items he was selling. Making his way forward, he asked the vendor curiously, "Yo! I see you're selling some stones here… can you tell me how much they are for these stones?"
The Poke Manic grinned as he explained happily to Azure a set of 9 stones that caught Azure's interest, "Sure, you can have these 9 for about… 9,000 Poke Dollars in total, a 1000 each. Of course – "
*Smack*
Before he could finish, Azure paid for the 9000 Poke Dollars at the Poke Manic's hand, taking the stones. He blinked before grinning, waving his hand as he said in a friendly tone, as he whispered in the end, "It was a pleasure doing business with ya, kid! Although I have no idea why he wants those useless stones but I made a grand profit!"
Unaware of what the Poke Manic had, Azure grinned as he thought, holding 9 Mega Stones happily, 'I did recall that in the Pokémon Let's Go! Games that there would be a Pokémon Manic selling Mega Stones in the game. Guess that guy didn't know what these stones truly were, and I made a grand getaway instead of paying 30,000 per stone; I got 1000 per stone instead!"
Checking with [Observe], Azure grinned, seeing that the Poke Manic didn't have the exact items as suggested in the games. Which made it perfect for him to complete the Kanto Trio Set of Mega Stones as he clenched the stones in a happy tone, "Shame I only have two Pokémon that can Mega Evolve, but this will give me the chance to make room for my future team."
[Item: Beedrillite
Rarity Item: S
Type: Held Item
Description: One variety of the mysterious Mega Stones. Have Beedrill hold it, and this stone will enable it to Mega Evolve during battle.]
[Item: Alakazite
Rarity Item: S
Type: Held Item
Description: One variety of the mysterious Mega Stones. Have Alakazam hold it, and this stone will enable it to Mega Evolve during battle.]
[Item: Gengarite
Rarity Item: S
Type: Held Item
Description: One variety of the mysterious Mega Stones. Have Gengar hold it, and this stone will enable it to Mega Evolve during battle.]
[Item: Aerodactylite
Rarity Item: S
Type: Held Item
Description: One variety of the mysterious Mega Stones. Have Aerodactyl hold it, and this stone will enable it to Mega Evolve during battle.]
[Item: Pidgeotite
Rarity Item: S
Type: Held Item
Description: One variety of the mysterious Mega Stones. Have Pidgeot hold it, and this stone will enable it to Mega Evolve during battle.]
[Item: Kangaskhanite
Rarity Item: S
Type: Held Item
Description: One variety of the mysterious Mega Stones. Have Kangaskhan hold it, and this stone will enable it to Mega Evolve during battle.]
[Item: Gyaradosite
Rarity Item: S
Type: Held Item
Description: One variety of the mysterious Mega Stones. Have Gyarados hold it, and this stone will enable it to Mega Evolve during battle.]
[Item: Blastoisnite
Rarity Item: S
Type: Held Item
Description: One variety of the mysterious Mega Stones. Have Blastoise hold it, and this stone will enable it to Mega Evolve during battle.]
[Item: Venusaurite
Rarity Item: S
Type: Held Item
Description: One variety of the mysterious Mega Stones. Have Venusaur hold it, and this stone will enable it to Mega Evolve during battle.]
Putting the Mega Stones into his Sub-Space, he grins as he prepares for the challenges ahead. And eventually, time passed on till Azure's first preliminary match…
/////
[Kanto Region, Later, Indigo Plateau – Court Field No.18]
Finally, Azure was on the stage of the preliminary rounds, beginning with the first round, where he had to win past the multiple rounds of trainers. The announcer's voice boomed through the court, calling the trainers to the battlefield.
Azure took his position on one side of the field, facing his opponent. He didn't recognize the trainer, but he could see the fire in their eyes, the hunger for victory. Standing across from him was an Ace Trainer, as he eyed him.
The Referee began to announce the rules in a loud tone, getting the participants' attention, listening intently, "Each trainer is allowed to use up to 2 Pokémon. You may exchange your Pokémon freely during the battle, but only between the two Pokémon that are being used. You lose if both Pokémon faint first. Are you ready?"
Both replied sternly, "Yes."
*Zip*
A large screen on the board turned on as the Referee announced the challengers in a loud tone, waving both red and green flags up, "Then the third match of the B Block, the first round of the preliminary will now begin! Azure Sky of Viridian City VS Ace Trainer Tyler Grove of Cherrygrove City!"
*Pop*
Both immediately tossed their Poke Balls as they each brought out their Pokémon, "Go! Pikachu/Dolphan!"
Both Pokémon were out as the Referee said, "Start!"