The Very Best

Chapter 9

After the raven-haired boy had just explained himself, the five had all went their separate ways, with the Aether Siblings and Hau going to one way with Red and Kukui on the other.

"Hey, Ash." Kukui mentioned, making Red reply with a look of question.

"Why did they give you an ultimatum?" Kukui asked, making the champion shrug.

"They had found out on how great I was doing for the last few years." Ash said. "I guess they weren't doing as great."

"Say, what are going to do to them once you beat them in the tournament?" Kukui asked.

"I'll forgive them." Red replied. "They may have done all those deeds, killed my mother, made my life a living hell after robbing me off my Pokémon and money."

"But, really, they're just human, they probably struggled and didn't know what else to do."

"You never change cousin." Kukui chuckled, making the champion roll his eyes.

After a few more minutes of walking, a voice was heard calling out to the champion.

"Hey, Red!"

The champion turned back to see a spiky-haired boy running up to him.

"Blue?"

"Hey, Ashy-boy, the others just booked hotel rooms for today, you wanna come?" Blue asked.

"Not interested." Red replied, to Blue's annoyance.

"Come on!" Blue persuaded. "You've been living in that mountain for almost 5 years now!"

"Are you trying to persuade me?" Red asked. "Because it's not working." Blue sweatdropped.

"Cousin, you should probably enjoy the tournament for as long as you can." Kukui agreed. "We have great hotel rooms on Melemele."

Blue smirked at Kukui's answer while Red just made a bored face.

"Fine." Red said. "But only because you said so."

"Great!" Blue exclaimed. "Thank you, Professor Kukui!"

Kukui just tipped his cap as Red and Blue walked away.

-

It was the next day of the tournament, the spectators were sitting down at the bleachers, others were buying food and beverages, while the competitors are readying up their team for the second batch.

"So, when do they show our opponents?" Gold asked.

"In a few minutes." Zinnia nonchalantly replied.

Red then took a look around him, he saw trainers looking over other trainers' profiles while the rest were resting, encouraging their Pokemon and some were even standing there waiting for their opponents to pop out of the TV.

"They all seem to be in great shape." Zinnia said, with Gold nodding in agreement.

Suddenly, the intercom beamed as everyone was alerted by the sudden sound.

"The matches will be now posted on the TV screen!" The announcer said, as everyone turned their looks on the screen.

As everyone took a view of the screen, Red smirked upon seeing who his opponent was, while Gold, Zinnia and Agatha were all keeping the same mood, not affected by their opponents.

"Hey, where's Silver?" Gold asked.

"No clue, he's probably watching or something." Zinnia replied. "Hey tiger! What's with your look?" She asked Red.

"An old rival." Was all Red said before he was tapped on the shoulder by a random figure.

"Ketchum." The figure muttered.

"Gladion." The raven-haired boy replied.

"We'll finally be able to settle our rematch." Gladion said, with a smirk and a fire in his eyes.

Red nodded as Lillie and Hau were behind Gladion, waving at him as he waved back.

"Miss Blondie and Sir Blondie!" Zinnia approached them and placed her right shoulder around Red's neck. "You know them?"

"That's Gladion and Hau." Pointing his finger at the two of them. "Gladion is Lillie's brother and a rival of mine." Red started. "And Hau's a fellow rival as well."

Red then pointed at Lillie.

"That's Lillie, a former travelling companion of mine and Gladion's sister."

Gladion reached out his hand to Zinnia, to her shaking his hand.

"I'm Zinnia, Red's acquaintance and Indigo Plateau Elite Four member!" Zinnia said. "Nice to meet you!" She said as she continuously shakes Gladion's hand, who just utterly sweat dropped by the Lorekeeper's actions.

"She's just like that." Gold nonchalantly said as he walked up to the trio, with Agatha and Silver behind.

"I'm Gold! The current Johto Champion!" The boy smiled as he fistbumped the air.

"Silver Lunar." Silver said. "And I'm Agatha Lunar, his grandmother." Agatha followed.

"Nice to meet you all!" Hau exclaimed.

"Say, Gold, I have one question." Lillie stated, Gold nodding allowing her to ask the question.

"If you're the Johto Champion, then why is Lance in your spot?" Lillie asked.

"I beat Lance a few years ago, I'm not really that type of person where I just stand in one area." Gold answered. "Lance is filling in for me."

The two groups were enjoying each other's company until the intercom beamed out a sound, to everyone's attention.

"Attention! May Zinnia and May Maple come to the battlefield!" The announcer said as the intercom went back to being mute.

"Well, it's time!" Zinnia said. "I'll see you guys later!" She waved as she walked away.

"May Maple.." Agatha started.

"It's her against Zinnia huh?" Red muttered as he smirked.

-

The two opponents arrive at the battlefield as they stare each other down.

"You!" May started. "You're friends with that trainer who humiliated my little brother!" She pulled out her Pokéball

"Go, Blaziken!" May shouted as a capsule open up with a beam of light to show a Blaziken who cried out its name.

"Hmm?" Zinnia questioned. "Come out, Ninetales!" She called out as a yellow-streaked fox came out of the capsule.

"Blaziken, use Swords Dance!" May yelled as the Pokémon sent out a streak of swords, increasing its Attack.

"Alright, Ninetales, use Encore!" Zinnia shouted as the fox Pokémon started clapping for the Blaziken, forcing it to use the same move over and over.

"Drats!" May muttered, "Blaziken, listen to me, you have to break through this encore!" She shouted.

"There's no point in doing that!" Zinnia shouted back. "Ninetales, use Dig!"

The Ninetales then dug underground, to the Blaziken's horror as it continues increasing its Attack stat.

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