Chapter 176: Rule Changes!
~Third POV~
[Kanto Region, Later, Indigo Plateau - Stadium]
Just as Azure predicted, the Kanto Team Gym Leaders won, albeit with some issues, against tough opponents from Johto. But without Pryce present, being replaced by Carl, they were at a disadvantage.
After the Gym Exhibition Matches ended, the Chairman appeared on the stage again as he announced to everyone present, "Good! With the Gym Exhibition Matches done, we shall proceed to new changes for this year's Tenth Pokémon League Tournament!"
Hearing this, everyone listened intently as the Chairman explained in a proud tone all eyes on him, "As you know, we're starting after this Tournament new rule changes. To enter the 11th Pokémon League Tournament, all trainers must collect 8 Badges from their respective regions! Not only that…"
*Beep*
Showing a large TV screen for the crowd to see, but the Chairman also continued stunning the trainers with the rules, "As you are aware, we have additional stadiums and a small village near the Indigo Plateau. These are to be used by only the Top 256 people to be able to participate in this year's Tournament!"
Everyone's eyes widened hearing the news, as the 700 trainers registered eyes widened hearing that claim. But the Chairman continued, excitedly declaring, "Yes, you heard me right! Only 256 of you can participate out of the 700 present today. But those who've earned their 8 Gym Badges are already seeded into the Preliminaries without issue! And for those who hadn't earned them…"
The Chairman grinned as he pointed his finger at the crowd listening to his words, "Thus we have this! Only the remaining 248 would be able to enter, as we already have 8 seeded to the preliminary rounds! Now, if you please listen…"
As the Chairman was explaining to everyone unable to collect 8 Gym Badges, they all had to participate in sudden-death rounds of one-on-one Pokémon Battles. This made everyone in the crowd frustrated by these new rules, but after seeing the Gym Leader Exhibition matches, others agreed to this, seeing their skills.
To them, it only meant the top Trainers have the right to enter. Ace Trainer's eyes narrowed, hearing this, but a sly grin crept to their faces, meaning they won't have to battle weaklings to test them.
In the audience crowd, Ace Trainers from Sinnoh, Volkner, and Flint, their eyes widened, hearing the news. A trainer next to them yelled out, complaining, "What! But that's unfair! Why only they get too I'm stronger than all – "
*Pop*
As the trainer yelled, more experienced Ace Trainers exerted their pressure, shutting the inexperienced trainers up. Volkner's Electabuzz stared at the trainer as he stated calmly, eyeing the complainer, "Would you please shut it. I'm trying to listen."
The Trainer, who argued Shut up. Flint chuckled, seeing his friend's reaction in an excited tone, "Hahaha! Just like you, Volkner! At the very least, we won't have to worry about the weaklings if we crush them overwhelmingly, right?"
Volkner recalled his Electabuzz as he replied nonchalantly in an excited tone, "True. At least this year, traveling to Johto and Kanto would be exciting. And these rule changes they sent to everyone…"
Checking their Rotom Phones, they read the rules needed and changes for the tenth Pokémon League Tournament. For Ace Trainers, they grinned at these rules, meaning they could battle and gain more valuable experience for their main team members.
Although the junior and inexperienced trainers frowned at this but when they saw the smug grins from the Ace trainers, they refocused their attention on defeating them. Meanwhile, for those seeded, they all had a few days rest till the competition of the participants reached the quota of 256 Trainers to begin the tenth Pokémon league tournament…
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~Azure S. POV~
[Kanto Region, Later, Indigo Plateau – Trainer Village]
Man… creating the Trainer Village is the best idea I've had when I suggested this pitch to the Chairman. The Trainer Village is filled with 256 modern huts, enough for a person to sleep in, along with the essentials.
The room is filled with a bed, a PC system, and a computer with a stylish desk with a built-in kitchen for the trainers to feed or eat their food. Each participant gets their Modern Huts as they all come in a clean and tidy single room.
Other than a computer for researching opponents, there was nothing particularly special about it. I turned to see Pikachu and Eevee playing around on the floor as they chirped, "Pika! Bui!"
Floating above them, Celebi giggled, joining a game of tag with them. And from the side corner of the hut was Marshadow meditating calmly, "Marsh…"
Chuckling at this, I brought over their treats as they stopped and began eating. I gave Marshadow his portion as I said calmly, "You know you could always join, right? No need to meditate all the time, Marshadow?"
Marshadow simply shook its head as it took the food, stating, "Marsh."
Shrugging my shoulders, I shook my head. Checking the PC, I opened it up to reveal the database of Pokémon Trainers participating. Each hut has one ever since the emergence of Rotom Phones; everything has been updated to keep up.
With countless competitors entering the tournament, most people would only look up details on their designated opponents to plan strategies accordingly. How they got the data was quite simple.
You know how Gym Leaders had those strange machines used to judge a Trainer's Pokémon level for the Gym Battles? They saved that data back to the Pokémon Association, keeping the data and track on some people, then used it for Tournaments for anyone to search for the Pokémon they have used in Gym Matches or past Tournaments.
But they wouldn't go too far, sharing the opponents' levels, just the names of the Pokémon they have could be seen. With a clear goal in mind, I typed directly into the search bar, "Let's see… Fire Red."
I wasn't concerned about the other trainers, but the main character or side characters are one's I keep my eyes on. That and I want to know how Red's been doing over the last few years and see if he made any changes.
He's gotta, since it's been years. He had the prep time.
In moments, Red's profile appeared on the screen. I raised an eyebrow, reading the info shown, tapping my finger on the desk…
====
Name: Fire Red (Seeded)
Gender: Male
Age: 14
Hometown: Kanto Region, Pallet Town, Viridian City
Achievements: Finalist of the Ninth Pokémon League Tournament, Viridian City Gym Leader.
Pokémon: Pikachu, Aerodactyl, Poliwrath, Snorlax, Venusuar, Gyarados, Arcanine, Dragonite, Machamp, Espeon, Lapras, Trauros, Scizor, Jolteon
====
Oh… that seems to be an interesting line-up he uses. Must've gotten the Gym Leaders from the Kanto Region and given himself his badge.
And I think his using some Pokémon from his counterparts. From Let's Go! Games and a few I recall from the Pokémon Coliseum series…
*Knock*
Before reviewing other challengers, I stopped hearing a knock at my door. My Pokémon was about to react as I held my hand, as I yelled out loud, "I'm coming!"
Standing up from my seat, I went towards the door. Opening it revealed Green and Silver as I gestured them to come inside, politely said to them, "Oh... I was expecting you two to come. Please come in."
They entered my modern hut as they took a seat on my bed with complicated expressions on their faces. But their eyes see the Premier Ball over on my desk, containing Ho-Oh inside, looking at them.
Taking a seat in my chair, I decided to ask in a friendly tone, clasping my hands together with a cheerful smile, "So… what can I do for you two? You both seem… tense."
Finding the right word for their expressions, Green slowly nodded. Taking a deep breath, she bluntly said, eyeing Ho-Oh warily, "Tense… would be a very hard word to describe our emotions, Azure. Considering the big avian bird that took us from childhood… is now in your possession."
Nodding my head, Silver spoke up warily, seeing Celebi in a cautious voice, "… not only that, but you also seem to have Celebi. How is it that the Masked Man hasn't caught you when you were traveling in Johto with your new team…"
Raising an eyebrow, I see these two are looking for some answers. I sighed as I motioned to Celebi forward in a nonchalant tone, "Sigh… very well then. Celebi, I need ya to do me a solid please..."
Celebi perked up as it floated over to me as I placed my hand over it using my Viridian Force. Giving a mental command of what I wanted it to do for Silver and Green, it nodded, agreeing, "Bei! (You got it! One convoluted backstory explanation coming up!)"
Celebi floated over, tapping their head, informing them of what happened in the Johto Region of my deeds while keeping some key things to myself. Celebi is giving them an abridged story of the events I've done in Johto.
Not everything, though, like how I knew how to meet Pryce or his secret identity at the very beginning. I just said Celebi is my go-to answer to solve my mess, just revealing to me the Masked Man's identity and plans, along with a way to stop him.
And just to be a bit smug… I had Celebi show them my battle with Pryce. Not all of it, just the beginning and the end, showing I won. I gotta use my clout of defeating the Masked Man for something.
At the very least, they'll find that believable than me already knowing this before my journey, along with my encounter with Ho-Oh and the Legendary Beast Trio. They're eyes faded a bit before regaining their clarity.
Their eyes widened as they stared at me, stunned, blinking slowly in realization, as Silver said in a tone of disbelief, "So you fought the Masked Man, aka Pryce, in a Gym Battle under leveled, I might add… and won?!!"
Nodding Green then added in a tone of disbelief, eyeing me, then to Ho-Oh in a flabbergasted tone, "… and by helping that bastard, you managed to get recognition from the Beast Trio… which in turn got you… You, of all people, to have Ho-Oh recognize you to be its partner!!"
I made a smug grin, rubbing my nose, declaring, "Yeah… I'm awesome."
Pikachu and Eevee bobbed their heads, agreeing. Hell, even Marshadow nodded once with crossed arms.
They eyed Ho-Oh warily glint of fear in them. I spoke up with my arms crossed, informing them calmly, "I won't be using Ho-Oh to battle you two if you're aware. Don't need to cause more trauma to both of you."
Both released a sigh of relief they didn't know they had. Suppose trauma, being kidnapped from Ho-Oh, does that to a person, especially since I've now had him as my Pokémon, thus… any problems my Pokémon had in the past are now on my shoulders and burden to share.
Moving on from that point, I then asked the two curiously shocked expressions on their faces, "So… since Ho-Oh is my Pokémon, it's my responsibility. Would you like to know where to locate your parents? I've got Celebi, who can search for them if you want by going through time. It's the least I can do to make up for Ho-Oh's actions."
Both looked stunned as Green said uncertainly in her voice with a stunned expression, "Y… you'd really do that for us…?"
I smirked, making a smug grin as I nonchalantly turned my attention to Silver as I took in a deep breath, declaring, "Yeah… and Silver… I've found your Dad."
His expression froze as I dropped that bombshell. Green froze as I was about to drop some spoilers on them. Time to drop some lore!
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A/N: Reach the goal of 250 to get a Bonus Chapter!