Hard Enough

The morning passed without any further incidents. I once more ordered a meal to be brought up to my room before changing clothes and heading to the gym to work up a light sweat. I tried to make it as close to my normal routine as possible.

Before a light lunch, I called home. The family was fine. Honestly, they were more than fine. With my going away to battle Lance, they had all set up in the lounge room with a whole plan for the day leading up to the match. I couldn’t help but laugh. They couldn’t demonstrate this level of planning while I was there; remove me and they had a three-act series of games before the match. I was impressed but was also realistic enough to know they’d start the first game and forget about all the other acts with some kids wanting to do other things or becoming hyper-focused on the first game. Rematches would surely be demanded. Forrest just didn’t understand how little kids were.

The match was scheduled for early in the evening, which gave me just enough time to worry over my team choice. I had six pokemon line up with how I expected the match to play out. Now I could only worry over small details that could determine so much. Titan, Sanchez, Don, Shin, Bertha, and Selene. Each of them had a role to play. I didn’t pull any of them out of their pokeball due to the chances of them being spotted. Anyone that was competent would be able to review my history of pokemon battles and expect certain pokemon on my roster. Some of them would no doubt be hard to find but there were videos in circulation for most of them. Sanchez, Shin and Don were going to debut in the eyes of the battle scene for actual televised events though. Titan and Bertha both had experience, while Selene had her own debut during gym matches.

As it reached three, I decided to go and familiarise myself with the arena. While I walked, I did so with a focus on the stadium that loomed over everything else in the region. Part of the stadium housed the Champion’s office. I could almost imagine him sitting in his tower, looking down at me as I approached.

Lots of people noticed me. I could feel a great weight of focus settle on me. If anyone called out, I didn’t notice. I kept walking forward to the stadium. On arrival, I wondered if they might turn me away as a ploy to mess with my mental state. The guards nodded, however, and waved me through. I was led to a prep area that was for me and a ‘team’ of other specialists. I had left all of them in Pewter. The room itself was large enough to house even the largest of pokémon. It served as a final checking area but it was also painted in flat, neutral colours that were likely meant to calm people down. It was a very neutral appearance with the walls having a few posters of ‘Place your best foot forward!’ and ‘Bowing out results in less injuries! Consider your pokemon’s long term health!’. I blanked it out. I’d had something similar when I’d matched up against Lindsay in the Orange islands

In the corner, a small computer rested with a transfer station on offer for those that wanted to perform any last-minute changes. Off to the side, a lounge and a basic television rested. I headed for that. Outside, parades were in action with lots of people being wowed by their daring displays of skill. Today wasn’t a day for the competitors to fight but rather for shows to be put on. People were prowling around and enjoying a festival-like atmosphere. I couldn’t allow myself to slip into that mindset; I’m here to win. I didn’t need something loud that would have me reflexively looking around for my siblings out of habit. I needed quiet relaxation where I wouldn’t be hassled.

I turned on the television to watch some daytime tv. The perfect, everyday normal event to set me at ease. Perfect to while away a few hours. I ended up leaving it for the computer area where I idly ran through some last-minute research on moves and pokemon that Lance might be able to call on. I was almost certain I knew which ones he would use, but it still niggled at me.

Half an hour before the starting ceremony began, an official entered with a very serious looking Officer Jenny. They both gave me their identification badges before Jenny stepped away to offer me some privacy. She remained in the room though as the League official spoke with me.

“Gym Leader Brock, we received your payment earlier.” He had a list that he was ticking things off from. His pen fell to the next item on the list.

“I am here to lodge the six pokemon that you will be using to battle. As both yourself and the Champion have extended carrying capacities, you must lodge your claims. Do not ask what pokemon the Champion has lodged, I do not know and I cannot tell you. The team list is protected and placed in view of our team of security experts.” He offered a humourless smile while glancing towards the stern Jenny. “Please record your pokemon, the order you release them is entirely up to you but you must not deviate from the six you record.” I’d expected this, having been talked through the process with Surge.

I looked the form over, the question of ‘what if you had more than one type of pokemon’ dying as I saw a line next to pokemon name with registration numbers. I nodded. This was fairly standard for high stakes exhibition, championship or tournament matches. If others didn’t have the license for a larger pokémon roster like myself, I would have an advantage over others that were maxed out at six pokemon. For fairness’ sake, I had to pre-record my team roster.

Sanchez, Selene, Don, Shin, Bertha, and lastly Titan. These were the pokémon that were my strongest for this match. As I was representing Pewter City, I needed to do so with Rock-type pokemon. Otherwise, that list might have included some very different names.

When that was done, I was directed onto the actual battlefield, or rather, just off to the side of it to await the Opening ceremony. I sat to the side of the main battlefield in a shaded bunker waiting for the ceremony to be over and the match to be called for. I was very much out of the sun but on display. The people that had come for their seats early noticed me. I waved at a few but otherwise settled in to wait.

There was the usual Growlithe and Ponyta show first however, with people and pokémon from all over the Kanto and Indigo regions appearing. When they entered, they did so with abundant pomp and flare. Growlithe leapt through rings, or hopped along on their hind legs for the crowds' entertainment. Ladies and men in skimpy clothing rode forth on various mounts, most of them Ponyta and Rapidash. People cried out or cheered at each pass. Particularly pretty pokemon or people got some catcalls and there was an air of cheer in the air as the performers worked their magic.

Others came in demonstrating skills such as the flying pokemon who performed synchronised aerial acrobatics to get things underway. The people and pokémon representing the various types marched forth with a variety of fashion displays on show. I happened to know — thanks to Yolanda’s keen interest — that each year a variety of different local fashion designers were selected. They did it for the honour while also boosting their brand’s exposure. Watching from the sidelines as they paraded, sashayed and galavanted in, I was suddenly much more thankful to Erika, Surge, and Sabrina for helping me update my wardrobe.

I got to watch a few large blimps, looking like balloons of various pokemon, be paraded forth. Pikachu was always a strong favourite but Jigglypuff also drew some cheers this year.

Thankfully, no Jigglypuff with their notorious sing ability actually appeared. I considered that a small mercy, or a sign of the Jenny’s and other police personnel’s dedication in patrolling the stadium grounds. Rare and shiny pokémon trotted along, their trainers smiling widely. Most of them I recognised as travellers from Hoenn so they weren’t all that unfamiliar to me.

Fire pokemon paired up with fire acrobats and breathers in breathtaking synchronicity as they danced their way in, gouts of flame artfully unleashed at key intervals. A drummer marching in their centre made the entire stadium feel the beat as he pounded in time with particularly large tongues of fire.

A number of key League officials marched after them and waved as people applauded and thanked them for their efforts in contributing to the League and the conference. And then an announcer called for the competing pokemon trainers to enter.

It reminded me of the Opening ceremony for the Olympics to a degree but I knew it didn’t have the same breadth. That would be saved for the World Championships, which was a tighter, more exclusive field. Still, the trainers, much like the Olympic athletes of my previous life, marched forward.

They didn’t do it in city-states or even previous nations but as a single large cohesive unit. In the stands, people were crowded in. Normally there wouldn’t be this many due to only being the opening ceremony. An event that was more a formality than actual entertainment.

The League’s announcement of the exhibition match with Lance had resulted in more interest, which was probably their intention, but I had since learnt that my actions had made the exhibition match tickets one of the most in-demand items. Hawkers congregated out the front of the stadium and were even now selling their tickets in live bidding wars. There would be a lot of people watching through their televisions though, so the League and tv companies stood to gain the most from this event.

Now the match seemed to loom over the actual conference. Everyone shifted and I could tell there was more desire to simply get the ceremony over and done with. I eyed the assembled trainers and was amused how they had found exactly two hundred and fifty-two trainers.

Typically the best trainers were those that went on the journey to collect badges. It was the cheapest path to become a trainer but also offered the best experience. In the Indigo League, you could journey through either Kanto or Johto before competing at the joint tournament. People that completed the entire Indigo ‘set’ for big eight badges, from either Kanto or Johto, held a lot of prestige that served them well for later offers of employment. The badges weren’t the only method of entering the League, however.

Some trainers could choose the more sedate, studious option of the Pokemon Academies or Colleges. Pewter city had a nearby establishment by the name of the Pokemon Technical College.

The last method, which I always forgot, was the League’s own Admission exam. The difficulty of which could raise or lower depending on how many trainers completed the circuit with eight badges.

This always made the actual circuit the best method to guarantee a spot at the end. Even that wasn’t a sure bet though. I hadn’t experienced it yet, but Surge had told me of years when more waves of trainers descended on regions en masse, causing overflow and strain to the system with too many combatants for the final conference to be fair. For those situations, seedings and preliminaries were called into use. People that completed the circuit got preferential treatment, with the badges they earnt earning them more ‘weight’ to their seeding and chances of progressing to the tournament proper.

I waved when Celia walked into the stadium, making her smile even wider. When everyone was set up, the announcer for the event took to his microphone and everyone turned their eyes to the now entering runner.

With one arm raised high, they carried a fire that symbolized the flame of Moltres. A pokemon that was said to embody the conference’s virtues of passion and friendship. The Pokemon League’s Competition President —A title I found far too grandiose— stepped forth and from his giant bushy beard, a smile emerged.

“Welcome, one and all! I’m Charles Goodshow and I’ll be your competition host for the conference. We shall begin with the time-honoured tradition of the pledge! Please follow along after me!” He led the trainers through a slow but still short pledge, mainly stating they would act with honour and seek to better themselves and their pokemon while acting in good faith towards their competitors. As the last trainer finished speaking, the runner threw his flame into the giant torch.

The torchfire lit up with an audible whoosh and the crowd cheered their approval. I drew in another deep breath before exhaling. As slow and controlled as I could make it. The moment was almost here.

Charles nodded at everyone. “Thank you, trainers, for participating in this tournament! You more than anyone else will make this an event to remember! Now! I must ask for you to clear the battlefield. For those with tickets, please seek the north and south sides of the arena to reach the seating area. For those others… Well, you best run to get in front of a television!”

Celia turned to give me one last wave only to see me gesturing to her. She grabbed another person and dragged them over to me, making me chuckle as she approached “Learned about the companion rule, did you?”

“The what? I just didn’t want this one to run off and get a good spot in front of the tv before me!”

I laughed, “Don’t bother. You’re one of my sponsored trainers so I’ll vouch for you to sit in my bunker and watch the fight.” I glanced towards the other trainer who’d barely had a chance to be angry at Celia before becoming startled at my presence. Her facial expression flickered through from shocked to thankful. “You can call me Brock…” I trailed off leadingly, watching as the brown-haired girl tugged on her ponytail in a nervous tic.

“June… My name’s June, from Celadon…”

I nodded. “Well, enjoy the perks of your friend knowing the Challenged tonight, you’re going to get better than front row seats. You’re getting bunker seats.” I patted the long seats. “Come and claim a spot.”

Celia had no trouble dragging June into the bunker. “Oohhh this is nice!”

“Yeah, perks of getting to take part in a high-level match,” I said as Celia helped herself to the minifridge to the side. She tossed a bottle of water at June who yelped. Celia then sat but didn’t drink, fidgeting instead.

“Are you ready for this?”

I nodded, giving her a confident smile while my stomach flopped about, “Sure am!” She nodded before licking her lips and settling down. It looked like she wanted to talk about something else but I didn’t prompt her, instead looking back to Charles Goodshow who was amusedly watching the last trainer leg it out of the arena.

“Well now Ladies and Gentlemen!” He said after another minute of waiting, “We come to the final event of the night, and no doubt the thing you’ve all been waiting for!”

The crowd roared their approval as my face appeared staring straight at Lance. I recognised the image. It had been captured during our stare off when I’d announced my counter challenge. We looked like boxers squaring off. A giant flaming ‘vs’ appeared between us and I rolled my shoulders. “Wish me luck.”

I received a singular boisterous and shy ‘Good luck!” from both girls as I was announced. “THE CHALLENGED IN THIS EVENT IS THE PEWTER CITY GYM LEADER! THE HOLDER OF THE TRADITIONAL FIRST GYM OF KANTO’S CIRCUIT! THE ROCKY RUMBLER! GIVE IT UP FOOOOOOOOOORRRR” He dragged out the word like a pro, “BROCK!”

I emerged from the bunker fully and was hit by a solid wall of noise. I lifted a hand and felt the world slow down as I began to hyperfocus on the smallest things. My arms felt heavy even as I waved them to the crowd. Each action performed slowly, as my legs worked like automation, causing me to walk steadily forward towards the podium that would raise up to give me a good view of the field my pokemon would be fighting on.

Even the lights that were dancing on and off around the stadium weren’t enough to distract me. They had spotlights on me but I could see past them. I could see people going nuts in the stands with their cheering. It appeared there were a lot of Pewter residents in the crowds as banners and flags with the boulder badge, or my face, were waving about. I directed a number of waves and even a small bow in their direction. This only made them louder.

I let my head turn and I noticed a section for Indigo Gym Leaders. There was a clear divide between Johto and Kanto Leaders with a wide gap in the middle.

From Johto, Claire from Blackthorn, Pryce from Mahogany, and Chuck from Cianwood watched me closely. Faces inscrutable, until Chuck shot me a huge thumbs up, which appeared to gain him a tongue lashing as Claire noticed and laid into him.

On Kanto’s side I saw more in attendance. Blaine held the central spot followed by Giovanni, Sabrina, Surge and finally Erika. Oddly, Surge looked rumpled, his waves also looked rather stiff to my eyes. He had a tight smile as he waved back at me. Erika had bags under her eyes that I could just make out and also seemed tired. I was surprised to see Giovanni out in public as the man was rather reclusive. The same could be said of Sabrina in truth but she nodded at me. I directed a double-handed wave in their direction.

In the gap between both groups, slightly raised up above the Gym Leaders, sat the Elite Four. Or as it currently stood, the Elite Three. Agatha watched me with a smirk, behind her, a shadow twitched. It shifted into a strange shape and back again so fast if I didn’t know better I would have doubted my eyes.

Bruno sat, body rigid and watching me stoically, his face akin to a mountain in winter as his eyes tracked me.

Lorelei sat primly and had what could only be described as a resting bitch face. That or she had smelt something off and was annoyed by it. Which wasn’t impossible with how well known it was for Bruno to train. It wouldn’t surprise me to learn the man might have forgotten to shower before coming.

Beneath them, the official that had stood between myself and Lance during the press conference was seated with two cases that clearly held the wager of this event. I noticed that they also had a plaque that made me think of a C.E.O’s nameplate, but for some reason, it had fallen and didn’t appear to show the man’s name. I shrugged my head and turned to the front as I reached my destination.

“AND THE CHALLENGER IN THIS CASE! YOU KNOW AND LOVE HIM AS THE GRUELLING TRAINER THAT DEFIED THE ODDS! THE DRAGON MASTER HIMSELF! YOUR CHAMPION OF THE INDIGO LEAGUE!!!” The lights once more swept the arena before locking onto the entrance, just in time for his arrival. “LANCE! BLACKTHORN!”

Unlike me, Lance didn’t wave. He stalked forward with his long cape flapping dramatically behind him. Each step caused a small puff of dust. He didn’t wave to the crowd or indeed even acknowledge them. He only had eyes for me. I locked onto him as well and felt something stirring within my gut. My lips tugged upwards until I was baring a sharp grin.

When he reached the podium, I saw him select his pokeball. I felt my own hand drift down. For a long moment, I held it there toying with what would happen. Thankfully the battleground didn’t have to be a factor against me as a bare field was the accepted arena for this confrontation.

If I had been a Water specialist or otherwise, I might have filed for the arena type to be shifted but I had not needed to. The standard League challenge arena would suit my needs more than Lance in truth. I just had to use that small advantage and build on it. His starter was what I needed to worry about. Some of Lance’s pokemon might be not as strong but I couldn’t rely on that.

I had a plan for a certain run through of pokemon. I’d done the research on what he could bring to bear, along with theoretical pokemon for when he might be pushed.

It was possible that he’d bring out his Dragonite. A pokemon that is widely, and correctly termed a monster. It flattened organizations, let alone teams of pokemon. I’d never known about the Roughriders from the games. Nor the Raider Clan, or the Burning Men. Lance had wiped them out before challenging for the Championship role.

Should I deploy my best chance of countering that pokemon first? Or stick with my research? What did my gut tell me?

I took in a breath and considered the issue. Titan could and should be the one to face his Dragonite. It would take a heavyweight to match him. I knew this. Titan was my best shot. The best shot I had at sending a statement to all that looked at my gym and proclaimed it ‘weak’. It would see each one of my siblings puffed up with pride and not looking so defeated. That was not to dismiss the rest of his team. though. Lance possessed pokemon that could and should roll through a team of Rock types. If he stuck with that thought process then his first choice should be his Gyrados.

So what was it going to be? Titan or Sanchez. Which should I throw out first? I watched Lance and noticed that he had reached towards his waist, and not his necklace where the very symbolic ‘Strongest pokemon’ was resting. That made things slightly easier.

Now I just needed him to play for keeps with what should be his best chance.

I grasped my choice and held it out. “Trainers, are you ready!?” shouted Charles Goodman from the centre of the arena.

I nodded, enlarging the ball in my hand with a deft touch of the button on the front. “Release together on one!” He turned towards the crowd and raised his hands, “Here we go, ladies and gentlemen. Let’s start the countdown!”

“Three!” Lance and I locked eyes once again.

“Two!” We both drew back our arms, pokeballs and our first pokemon ready to go.

“One!” I planted my foot and hurled my pokemon out onto the field. Sanchez emerged with a mighty roar, arms spread wide like a luchador. “Go-go-golem!” He said before tweaking his moustache.

I looked up to see a large towering blue serpent rearing up before him. It bellowed out an inarticulate sound. A pressure swept through the arena as the mighty serpent pressed outwards with its aura claiming the territory with its emergence.

I grinned as I crossed my arms and settled into my pose.

“OH! AND LANCE LEADS OFF WITH HIS GYARADOS! SOMETHING SURE TO GIVE BROCK SOME TROUBLE! BUT BROCK COMES OUT WITH A VARIANT OF GOLEM!” I couldn’t help but hear the announcer screaming his head off. I smirked, it probably looked cocky as all hell but it felt good to be right. The first matchup was in my favour.

During my journey, I hadn’t made it as far as Alola. The lockdown of most regions saw to that. I doubted the League even started reaching out to the region yet. They existed, obviously, but were very hard to reach. You needed to chance out and risk life and limb to make it to new regions as an explorer. Some people dedicated their time and lives to rediscovering old routes to regions thought lost but it wasn’t something that could be quickly achieved. It demanded huge manpower and hours of dedicated, institutional, attention to secure trade lanes with forgotten regions.

But that didn’t stop me from trialling methods to get variant typings for ‘regional’ pokemon.

Having money truly was a superpower on its own. One that I had levered into a specialised breeding/rearing area for pokemon that I knew would benefit from exposure to higher voltages or constant magnetism. A specialty diet was added just to push things further.

Sanchez might have been the youngest pokemon on my team but he was also one of the best surprise shock punches I had. He’d also been able to handle the workload demanded of an Elite top six pokemon. From them, I expected their best, and he'd delivered. He took the beatings I had to give and rolled back in looking for more.

I doubted more than a handful of people in the stadium, or indeed currently those watching, would have any idea of what this golem represented. They’d learn soon enough.

The referee checked the descriptors I’d lodged just prior to the match of my selected team before nodding to indicate everything was above board. Then he raised his hands. A hush fell over the crowd as Sanchez and the Gyrados eyed each other off. Sanchez made sure to constantly toy with his moustache while smirking, which seemed to only aggravate the serpent.

I readied myself as the referee clenched his fists before dropping them swiftly. “Fight!” shouted the ref and Lance and I called our moves.

“Hydro Pump!” said Lance with a sweep of his hand.

At the same time, I ordered, “Dig into TP Sanchez!”

Both pokemon were already moving before we had even finished speaking, a clear sign of their ‘level’ of training. They barely needed orders, having gone through and experienced a lot with their respective trainer.

“Gyarados use Sur—” before Lance could flood the field Sanchez emerged with a loud “Golem!”

His fist crackled with lightning and I saw the look of painful realisation sink in on Lance’s face as a move that was four times as effective than a normal move slammed home right into the serpent’s head. That would have to be a critical in game jargon. The thunder punch impacted, causing a thwap to sound out even as a surging electrical zap carried over the stadium.

Lance’s pokemon reeled back from the hit and fell backwards, writhing as electricity arced around their body. When it hit dirt, a thoom sounded throughout the stadium as air blew out from around it. Dust blew out and settled in the aftermath. The Gyarados was large enough not to be obscured. It surged back, a roar escaping it before twitching. It flinched and its mouth shut in a grimace. It tried to push on only to collapse as another arc of electricity coursed through its body. It lay still and the referee assessed it, waiting only a few moments before raising a green flag in my direction.

“Gyarados is unable to battle! The first point goes to Brock!” For a heartbeat, silence filled the stadium before the crowd went ballistic. Lance raised a Pokeball. Red light shot from it to Gyarados. The Gyarados was absorbed into it and I observed my opponent as he looked at the pokeball for a moment before nodding at it, accepting the defeat.

He looked up to see me watching. He’d been stoic until now but a slight frown had slipped in. His hand tracked to another pokeball before switching to a different one. I suspected that the ball held his Seadra, or if I was unlucky, he might even have a Kingdra. It was tough to judge which Lance would have but I suspected the second option as the most likely.

It fit his Dragon Mastery, and also should stack up well against my Rock-type.

The crowd continued to cheer and shout throughout it all but I ignored them.

Lance drew back his second pokemon and the crowd instantly fell silent as a Dragonite took centre stage.