The Kalos Conspiracy

Chapter 5 - The Weight of Legacy

Chapter 5

Shortly after this formal agreement was sealed like a signature at the bottom of a business contract, Clemont had to leave his friend to return to his own obligations. As a skilled mechanic and notorious inventor, Clemont was naturally chosen to head up the stadium's technical control department. He had to make sure that everything was up to standard and safe to welcome the roughly sixty thousand spectators who would soon flock to watch the many Pokémon combats to come. Clemont was hard at work and rarely had any free time, but this didn't seem to bother him - quite the opposite, in fact.

"Sorry man, but I have to go," he said, gesturing to his Helioptile, which immediately leapt from Jude's shoulder to land on his arm. "The trumpets of duty are calling and I'm already late."

Jude nodded, understanding the demands of Clemont's new position. "I get it, guess you've got your hands full with the tournament and preparations. Say hi to your sister for me and keep pushing forward."

Clemont's gaze turned serious, "You too, Jude. Practice well and meet us in the arena." With that, his footsteps led him off where his many tasks awaited him. Once Clemont was out of sight, Jude retraced his path to his old school's hospital section. His heart felt lighter after reconnecting with his old friend, but now it was time to check on his other friends.

As he entered the healing area, a wave of comfort washed over him at the sight that greeted him. His four fellow travelers were gathered together, their worried expressions replaced with smiles of relief. The atmosphere was a stark contrast to earlier, and it felt like a weight had been lifted from their shoulders. Jude approached them, his own smile widening as he saw his friends' Pokémon in much better spirits. They felt vibrant and energetic again, their injuries mere memories. It was as if they were saying : we're back and ready for action !

"Jude, you're here at last," Shauna enthused as she walked over to him, her trusty Chespin perched on her shoulder. "You were right, everything turned out fine."

Serena's gaze turned fondly to her beloved Pokémon, who seemed to sense her emotions and nuzzled her affectionately. "I'm so sorry, Fennekin, for putting you in such a dangerous situation. I should have listened to Tierno and refused this wild showdown. You deserve better."

To her surprise, the fire fox nestled against Serena's cheek, offering reassurance and forgiveness. Serena smiled softly, her bond with her Pokémon stronger than ever. "Fennekin, you're amazing. I promise I'll be a better trainer for you." Fennekin let out an excited yip, as if agreeing with her sentiment and even suggesting a rematch in the future.

Tierno's concern shifted to a more practical matter, his Squirtle cozily propped up on his head. "Sorry to interrupt such a touching scene, but I'm a bit worried about the cost of medical care. I suppose it's not cheap, and since we're not rolling in money..." This also applied to Jude, for although his father was obscenely wealthy, he wasn't someone to be generous with allowance.

Trevor quickly reassured him, his usually timid demeanor replaced with confidence. "Don't worry, medical care for Pokémon participants in the Kalos League is completely covered as long as they remain in the fray," he explained with a pedagogical flourish, his index finger held aloft. "This allows less well-off people to compete without cutting corners. That way, everyone starts with the same odds."

The Bunnelby trainer showed them how to proceed by placing his Pokédex in front of the machine normally used to debit credit cards. A beep sounded to confirm that the monetary transaction had been carried out via the Pokémon League's dedicated bank account. His pals then imitated him in turn, reproducing the same operation with their own Pokédexes.

"Helpful hints, it's one less thing to stress about," Shauna mused reassuringly. She too was troubled by this question, but Tierno had pre-empted her by asking it directly. Then she looked around the group, her eyes alight with curiosity. "So, what's our next move ?"