Sinnoh Region, Sunyshore City.
"VOLKNER VOLKNER! Let's go to Johto~"
With a loud bang, Flint -his red afro as wild as ever- burst into Volkner's office, not caring what he was doing, grabbed his arm, and started dragging him out.
Volkner clung stubbornly to the doorframe, struggling helplessly. "What for?"
"SATO, OF COURSE! That kid's about to fight Lance in the final match. After the top Elite Four, it's Champion next!"
Flint shouted excitedly, his face lit up like it was his own battle.
Volkner pursed his lips, unable to resist Flint's tugging. He was curious about Sato vs. Lance too, so he let go and got dragged off.
---◓---
Hoenn Region, Petalburg City.
Norman walked out of the training room drenched in sweat. His short hair and toned muscles looked much different from a few years ago.
"Leader Norman, Elite Four Drake left you a message. He said it's really important."
A Gym trainee ran over, towel in one hand, phone in the other, offering both to Norman.
Norman wiped his sweat casually before taking the phone to check.
Two minutes later, he tossed the towel and phone back to the trainee and strode quickly toward his room.
"That Sato-guy… SERIOUSLY F*N FREAKISH!"
The trainee stood there, vaguely hearing the Gym Leader... swearing?
Who could possibly make their kind, gentle, and graceful Leader so worked up? It had to be some major villain!
---◓---
Johto Region, Goldenrod City.
"Grandpa, hmph! Stop going out for morning walks already! It's two in the afternoon, and you haven't had breakfast or lunch… I'M STARVING!"
A slightly older Whitney tugged at Howard's sleeve, cutely scolding him; though it didn't sound threatening at all…
"Whitney, look! It's that Sato kid! He's come this far already… Haahh, No wonder I had my eye on him back in the day, Wahahahahaha~"
Howard didn't even register what Whitney had said. He was looking up at the giant screen on the street, which was broadcasting the preview for Sato vs. Lance.
Whitney was drawn in too. Until the preview ended, the two stood silently, watching.
"GRANDPA!!!"
"Hey hey, what are you doing? You scared me!" Howard patted his chest, helpless against his overreacting granddaughter.
"Grandpa grandpa! Let's go watch Sato's match! Let's cheer him on!"
"Well…"
"Pleaseee~? We haven't seen Sato in so loooong!" Whitney pouted and clung to Leader Howard's sleeve, begging sweetly.
"That kid never even comes to see us anymore… Why should we go see him?"
Howard's temper flared. He felt like he'd raised a beautiful flower for pigs to take. And the worst part was… the pig didn't even want it!
"But Sato is an Elite Four now. He's… he's probably really busy~" Whitney said pitifully, eyes full of longing.
"…Fine. We'll go!"
"YAY! Grandpa's the best! Let's go home and pack~" Whitney jumped up excitedly and started dragging Howard back home.
Half an hour later, the pair arrived at the entrance of the city's Pokémon Center.
"H-Huh? This isn't the way home…?"
---◓---
Meanwhile, all of Sato's former elders, friends, and juniors -upon learning that he was about to face Lance in the decisive match for top Elite Four- began heading to Blackthorn City without needing to be asked.
Those who couldn't make it in time had already booked the livestream and set alarms to make sure they didn't miss it.
---◓---
Blackthorn City, airport exit.
Sato smiled as Cynthia slowly walked out. He had wanted to give her a big hug, but since both of them were rather reserved, he ended up just giving a slight nod.
"You're here."
"Mm~"
"There are some nice places in Blackthorn City. After the match, I'll take you around."
"Mm… Confident~?" Cynthia's lips curled slightly as she asked in a soft voice.
"Tch. Just the top Elite Four. it's not like it's the 'Champiooon'." Sato spoke calmly, full of swagger, which almost made Cynthia burst into laughter.
"Then let's meet at the Champion's seat!"
Sato widened his eyes at Cynthia. After two seconds of silence, he gave up arguing…
Fine, better to let his girlfriend win. Of course, it wasn't because he knew Cynthia becoming Champion in the future was basically guaranteed or anything.
After bringing Cynthia to the Pokémon Center, the two of them dove right into the training field.
Even though it was just basic training, they both tacitly agreed to postpone everything else until after the match.
One by one, Joseph, Mark, Ryoko, Phoebe, Norman… friends from all over arrived in Blackthorn City.
Upon hearing that Sato was in the training room, they all respectfully refrained from disturbing him and waited patiently for the match to begin.
Gradually, more and more people gathered. Many already knew each other, and with Sato as the common topic, they introduced themselves and chatted. The atmosphere couldn't have been livelier.
And just like that, Sato's support group was formed!
Time passed, and the day of the battle arrived…
---◓---
In the audience stands, seventy percent of the crowd was shouting Lance's name at the top of their lungs.
But the other thirty percent were screaming for Sato.
And their energy was no weaker!
Blackthorn City was Lance's home turf. The fact that Sato's supporters made up thirty percent was already extremely impressive.
In the center of the arena, Lance and Sato stood on opposite sides of the field, silently awaiting the start of the match.
The referee was reciting the long-winded rules, while Sato and Lance locked eyes. As if trying to extinguish each other's flames with their own burning gaze!
Lance stared at Sato, still full of emotion.
Praised since childhood, always the strongest among his peers at every stage… even he hadn't reached the peak yet, and now this younger Sato had already caught up.
Would he be surpassed?
ABSOLUTELY NOT!
Lance's eyes were unwavering. Even though he had already acknowledged that Sato was even more monstrous than he was...
Until he reached the top, he would not allow anyone to stand in his way.
Today… HE HAD TO WIN!
---◓--- ---◓--- ---◓--- ---◓--- ---◓--- ---◓--- ---◓--- ---◓--- ---◓--- ---◓---
On the other side, Sato was just as emotional.
From the moment he was "reborn", he knew this life would be extraordinary.
Sure enough, what had once been a wall for an Ace Trainer was now no obstacle at all. Even the step to Elite Four had only been slightly higher.
Pokémon partners, growth resources, background support, and powerful mentors… in this life, he had it all!
And now, he stood before the "Elite Four Lance", whom he could only look up to in his past life.
Not only that, he… WAS ABOUT TO DEFEAT HIM.
People called him a genius, a monster, even a miracle…
Then let that miracle continue… let him become the youngest Elite Four, and maybe even the youngest Champion!
'At the very least, at the very least…' he couldn't let his girlfriend beat him to it, right?
So today, he had to win too!
---◓--- ---◓--- ---◓--- ---◓--- ---◓--- ---◓--- ---◓--- ---◓--- ---◓--- ---◓---
Right on cue, the referee finished reading the rules. Sato and Lance both prepared their first Pokémon.
"Then…LET THE BATTLE BEGIN!"
"Kingdra, let's go!"
"Hydreigon, it's up to you!"
With two flashes of red light, the deep blue, sea horse-like Kingdra with long dragon horns, and the triple-headed, hovering Hydreigon, its body completely still, both entered the field.
The battle…
WAS ABOUT TO BEGIN!