[1] Professor Kukui's Daughter

Indigo League: Opening Ceremony

After the whole situation with Mewtwo, the gang had finally arrived at the Indigo Plateau.

"So Ember, how far do you think you'll get in the Indigo League?" Mairin asked.

"Well I would like to win it," Ember replied, "But I do know that trying to win the league isn't going to be easy. So I just hope I can at least make it through the Preliminary rounds."

"I think you'll do great, Ember." Alain smiled.

Just then they approached a large fanfare and people with flags who soon passed by them.

Zoey blinked, "Erm...what was that?"

"They must be waiting for the torch bearer." Alain replied.

"Torchbearer?" Cilan asked. 

"That's someone who runs to the Indigo League stadium, with a flaming torch, and lights up a huge flame that burns during the entire Pokémon League Competition, correct?" Ember said.

"That's right and the flame is supposed to be a form of inspiration for the competitors. They also say that the flame is supposed to be of a Moltres." Alain explained.

"Moltres?" Mairin asked.

"The Legendary Bird of Fire; Moltres," Alain stated, "Moltres is also known as one of the Legendary Birds of Kanto."

Rotom looked up Moltres, "Moltres, the flame Pokémon. When Moltres is injured, it is said to dip its body in the molten magma of a volcano to burn and heal itself."

"What an amazing Pokémon." Ember commented, "I wish that I could be the torch bearer."

"It would be kind of fun." Alain admitted.

"Yeah." Mairin agreed.

"Hey, I think I see the runner now." Cilan pointed to the front.

Sure enough, someone was indeed running with the torch in hand. He was being escorted by an Officer Jenny. The Torch Bearer waved to the crowd as he ran past them with a goodhearted smile on his face. The crowd waved back at him, Ember and the gang included in that wave.

"Once the Torch Bearer lights up the flame the league will begin." Ember won't deny that she was feeling excited right now.

"You're really fired up about this aren't you, Ember?" Alain teased.

Ember smiled and nodded, "I am."

CRASH!

The gang's eyes automatically looked over at where they heard the noise from. Obviously worried, they ran to the scene and saw that not only was the Torch Bearer injured, but both Officer Jenny and another vehicle were stuck in what appears to be a pitfall trap.

Ember's eyebrow twitched, "Don't tell me..."

"Ahahaha!"

"Yep." Alain rubbed his temples.

Team Rocket showed their annoying faces yet again, and once again being a bunch of annoying trio of idiots.

"Found you twerps!" Cassidy pointed at the gang.

"Thought that we wouldn't show up, huh?" Sneasel taunted.

"Now hand over the Torch and your Pokémon." Butch smirked.

Alain, Mairin, Zoey and Cilan prepared to send their own Pokémon out, "We're not gonna let you guys ruin this competition!"

Ember placed her arm out, stopping them, "I've got this. Nova, let's go!" Nova jumped in front of Ember.