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Journey in Johto

Chapter 3- The Johto Fight Festival Finale

POV- 3** rd, **** Christopher**

'Well, I've lost two Pokémon to this guy, and he's only lost one. If I can best this one, I'll make it a tie. Upon the reaching of a tie, there will be a tie-breaker, which is my only hope of winning.' Chris thought to himself.

"Rock Throw!" The biker whom he was facing shouted to his Geodude.

"Iron Tail!" Chris's Dratini leaped over the incoming rock, and slammed it's metallic tail right into the Rock-Type's head.

"Grab it!" The biker ordered. The whole crowd gasped when Dratini was grabbed while trying to back up, even though the Geodude still looked dazed.

"What?!" Chris cried. Then, Chris realized that actually left him open. As Dratini squirmed in the rock's grip, Chris smiled, then laughed.

"Hey, what's so funny?" Biker was confused, and shook his head. "Maybe you're going crazy 'cause you know you're going to lose."

"Or, I have another attack called Water Pulse that will knock out that rock with arms." Chris straightened himself and watched, amused, as Geodude was hit point-blank with a Water Pulse. Chris, who expected the Rock-Type to be knocked out, was mildly surprised when it rolled back up. He shrugged it off, and called, "DragonBreath."

"Defense Curl!" Chris resisted the urge to face-palm.

'_Wrong move.'_Chris thought as the physical-attack-defending move failed to brace the Pokémon for the shockwave of Dragon energy that collided with its body.

"Geodude is unable to battle! We now have ourselves a tie-breaker!" The announcer, well, announced. This elicited a cheer from the crowd, who got to see a battle go overtime. "Please choose one Pokémon from your team that has not been defeated to do battle this round!"

"I'll stick with Dratini." Chris knew this was the best choice, as it hadn't taken much damage in the fight against the Geodude.

"Go, Zubat!" The blue bat appeared from the ball, and the Ref signaled for them to start. "Use Supersonic!"

'That again?' The Trainer thought. "Go, Water Pulse!" The Dragon's Water Pulse was strong enough to dissipate the Zubat's attack.

"Wing Attack!" The biker told his Pokémon, which zoned in to execute the move.

"Iron Tail!" Chris called, with the Dratini jumping and, after taking a hit, dealt a hit back; it still managed to slam its tail into the Poison/Flying-Type. Chris gave a sigh of relief when Dratini got up and the Zubat didn't.

"Zubat is unable to battle, making Christopher the winner! He will move on to the Final Round, where he and another Trainer will face off for the grand prize of 20,000 PokéDollars!" The announcer raised his voice over the roaring crowd.

---

Chris sat back on the bench, leaning partially on the wall to support himself. In preparation for the last match, he wasn't allowed to see who his opponent was to be. Thus, he was alone in the room, waiting until seven, which was when he would be called out to face the other for the prize. While he sat there, he thought about what would become of the Dratini he was using after the whole tournament was over.

'Maybe it has another Trainer somewhere. If that's the case, he or she could be watching the battles from the stands.' He thought. Just as Chris was about to stand, the door opened, and a middle-aged man wearing a tuxedo entered.

"Christopher Leon? The stands are filled with people rooting for you." He strolled up to him and shook his hand.

"Yeah, I can tell. It's like the whole town is in the stadium." He guessed that so many people were for him to win because he had helped them from time to time with their jobs during the summer, or at any time without expecting payment. They just wanted to show their support for all of the times he helped them.

The man nodded. "Anyways, here. It's your last Pokémon. Good luck out there." After handing Chris the ball, he turned to leave.

"Thank you." Chris told him, clipping the ball to his belt. They walked into the hall, and headed separate ways, with Chris to the center. As soon as he reached the steps leading to the battlefield, he took a deep breath, and ascended the steps. Then, for the last time, Chris gazed at the crowd in the midst of the twilight as they chanted his name. He gave them a thumbs-up.

"There's Christopher! The kid from humble beginnings here in New Bark! Who is his challenger?" The announcer boomed.

"I'm the other Trainer in this battle." Chris saw the nerd from before step up on the other side. "Looks like you made it in one piece."

"Yeah." Chris grinned. "Now we'll see who the better Trainer is."

"All right! Here we are, at the final battle of the Johto Fight Festival! It's Christopher versus Lucas! The same rules used throughout the tournament apply, with five Pokémon now, and substitutions are forbidden! Are both Trainers ready?"

"Ready!"

"Yeah!"

"Then you may now BEGIN!" The announcer yelled over the roaring crowd.

"Go!" Lucas's side had a small brown Pokémon with two large front teeth, and a red nose. Chris's Pokémon was small in size also, with its coloring as tan and blue. Its tail was in the shape of a minus sign.

"Bidoof, use Tackle!"

"Minun, avoid it using Quick Attack!" As the Bidoof charged in, Minun swiftly jumped to the left, and into the Normal-Type's side. "Growl!" It Growled at the Bidoof once it got up.

"Rollout, now!" Lucas called. The Normal-Type curled into a ball, then started to roll at a high speed, aiming at Minun, and getting faster each second. Minun took a hit, and flew back. Chris knew this move got stronger with time, so he quickly called out the only move he could.

"Use Copycat!" Lucas looked mildly surprised when Minun curled into a ball as well, and rolled towards the Normal-Type in its own Rollout attack. When they collided, both were sent flying in opposite directions. They landed on their backs, with Minun getting up with difficulty, and Bidoof flipping over easier. "Minun, Quick Attack!" It immediately initiated Quick Attack, slamming into the Bidoof's side. "Now Thunder Wave!" Since it hadn't gone that far after the last move, it had no problem launching an arc of electricity at Bidoof, effectively Paralyzing it.

"Bidoof, Rollout again!" It tried to go, but being Paralyzed stopped it from doing anything.

"Okay, Quick Attack once more!" The small mouse launched itself at Bidoof for the last time, knocking it unconscious.

"Bidoof cannot continue! Please select your next Pokémon." The Referee voiced. Chris and Lucas returned them, and threw the second 'Mon out.

"Go, Sentret!"

"I choose Shroomish!" The Sentret was brown, with black here and there, and a circular patch of white on its stomach. The tail was very thick, so one would believe that the tail was used a lot either in combat, or just in general.

"Shroomish, Tackle!"

"Use Slam!" The two raced towards each other, Shroomish attempting the first hit. At the last second, Sentret jumped to the side, and smashed its tail into the Grass-Type. "Fury Swipes!" Lucas ordered. The Shroomish struggled to stand, what with it having only stubby legs and no arms. The Sentret was only a few feet away when it stood up, but the Sentret was all ready upon it, slashing away with its claws. One Fury Swipes later, Shroomish was unconscious on the ground.

"Shroomish cannot continue! Next Pokémon at the ready!"

"Pichu, let's go!" Chris called, not disheartened.

"Zigzagoon!" It's a brown-and-white raccoon equivalent, with fur on its body naturally forming zigzags. (Fun Fact- They run in zigzags too, which can be helpful in avoiding predators and to catch the prey off guard, assuming they eat meat and/or are eaten.)

"Tackle!" Both Trainers yelled, their Pokémon springing forward immediately to fulfill the action. Due to the zigzag pattern of the Normal-Type, Pichu became confused before even getting close, leaving it open for the Zigzagoon to land a direct hit. Pichu rolled back to Chris's feet, Lucas smirking the whole time.

"Come on Pichu, Quick Attack." Chris told it. He noticed that the Tiny Mouse had bruises and cuts from rocks scattered around the field.

"Zigzagoon, use Headbutt!" The Tiny Raccoon responded with its name and made its way over to Pichu. Still trying to stand, Pichu happened to glance up and, using arms and legs, leap out of the way. Unfortunately, Zigzagoon saw this and leaped as well, successfully executing the Headbutt. Chris winced when Pichu hit the dirt.

"That's going to be a huge headache in the morning."

"Pichu is unable to battle! Next Pokémon please!"

"Go, Pidove!" Chris looked with interest as he scanned the Unova Region Normal- and Flying- Type. Pidove generally look like pigeons (it is the Tiny Pidgeon Pokémon), with a gray body and a white underbelly.

"Pidgey, your turn!" The Kanto- native brown-and-white bird materialized from within. "Use Leer!" Lucas's Pokémon backed up a bit once the move took effect, but Lucas paid no attention to it.

"Use Quick Attack!"

"You too, Pidgey!" The two Dual-Type Pokémon clashed in the air, then returned to their Trainers'. The opponent seemed to have taken more damage than Pidgey. It let out a small cry. "Now Tackle!" Pidgey ascended, and slammed into the Pidove.

"Try Gust!" Lucas commanded, the Pidove flapping its wings repeatedly to force the other bird to the ground. "Quick Attack!"

"Tackle!" Both collided in mid-air, and the sole survivor of it was Pidgey.

"Pidove can't battle. This is the final matchup. Send out your last Pokémon now."

'This is it. Last try to be the winner. With us tied like this, whoever comes out on top is the better Trainer.' Chris thought.

"Ready Chris?"

"As I'll ever be."

"I choose you!" They both yelled over the roar of the crowd. Dratini appeared for Chris, and a blue 'Mon for Lucas. The top of its head is a light- gray color, and parts of the Bagon's body are tan.

"DragonBreath!" The Trainers ordered in unison, the strange blue-and-purple flames emanating from the two Dragons gaping maws. Heat and smoke wafted all over the stadium as a result of the clash.

"Use Zen Headbutt!" The top of Bagon's head attained a bluish glow, and it started charging towards Dratini.

"Iron Tail!" Chris cried out over the cheering spectators. A metal tail met the Bagon's head in a resounding _boom_that sounded not unlike metal hitting rock, and echoed across the Town. Both Dragons slid back, Bagon clutching its head, and Dratini licking its tail.

"Are you well Dratini?" Chris asked, taking advantage of the momentary silence. Dratini looked back at him, lowering its tail, and nodded.

"Bagon, Ember!" Dratini turned just in time to receive a face-full of little fireballs, yelping on impact.

"All right. Use Water Pulse!" His Pokémon shot back a large sphere of water that knocked the Bagon off its feet. It coughed up water as it laid there. "Iron Tail, go!" He pointed as the Bagon started to stand.

"Zen Headbutt!" As Dratini drew closer, it managed to form a weak Zen Headbutt, but it was only enough to soften the blow. Chris's Dragon slithered back, panting from all of this effort. Lucas's 'Mon stood there, swaying back and forth, before collapsing. It took Chris a few seconds and the referee voicing it out loud to realize that he had won.

"Yeah! We won!" Chris exclaimed triumphantly, running to Dratini and embracing it. "Thanks for being a great partner and helping in this victory." Then he thought about not being able to see Dratini again. People were crowding around him, so he held back a tear.

Why was he crying? He barely even knew this Pokémon, and yet he felt as though they had a deep connection. "I hope we get to see each other again. Goodbye, my friend." Dratini cooed at him, before returning to the ball. Chris stood, embracing the fact that he won the Johto Fight Festival.

---

POV: 1** st ***, Chris*

It was about ten at night when I finally left the stadium. The cloudless sky seemed to compliment me on my victory, as it showed my favorite constellation (Flygon) as clear as my hand in front of me. Before I left, I collected my prize money, and returned the Pokémon I had rented. It was just before I physically left that the Champion of the Elite Four, Lance himself, came up to me. I, of course, was in awe at meeting a Dragon Tamer, who was also the Champion, and even more when he told me that I battled well. He also told me to swing by Professor Elm's Laboratory tomorrow no later than noon. I was tempted to ask him why, but I couldn't, as he had to leave right then. I kept running the conversation through my head on the walk home.

"You battled pretty well. I wonder, if you became a Trainer and took the Gym Challenge, would I ever face you in battle at Indigo Plateau?" He had said.

I want to take the Gym Challenge now, for sure. Problem is, I don't have a Pokémon to start with. Gazing at Flygon in the sky, I continued to my house, pondering how I would get a Pokémon to start a journey with.

"Even if I managed to go on an adventure across the region, I would never be like Red." I sighed.

See, a few years ago (six to be exact), a Pokémon Trainer by the name of Red started his journey from Pallet Town in Kanto. I'm sure some of you know how the fifteen-year old took the region by storm, taking down Giovanni of Team Rocket, catching all native Pokémon in the Kanto region, including the legendary Bird Trio and both Mew and Mewtwo. Well, a year after becoming the Champion and surrendering it to Blue, his childhood rival, he went missing. Not even his mother knew or knows where he went. Blue, upon hearing this, dropped from his Champion status (in turn making Lance the new Champion), and became the eighth Gym Leader so he would have more freedom to search for Red. At the time, I had wanted to search for Red too, but knew it was impossible, since in the recent years Pokémon have become more aggressive and some were known to attack without provocation.

That meant I needed my own, and my mom's Absol doesn't count as mine, even though I'm usually the one to take care of her, and she likes me the most.

So, while I'm on the subject of Red, I need to set one thing straight with everyone: Red is not another name for Ash and vice-versa. They are two completely different Trainers who started at two different ages in two different years. Ash was ten, Red was fifteen; Ash started three years ago, Red six years ago; Ash wanted to catch 'em all, Red caught 'em all.

Okay, I'm done. Last I've heard, Ash was in Sinnoh.

Anyway, I reached my house at last and, once I saw the living room light on, I decided just to climb up to my room on the second floor. I'd wait until tomorrow for the congrats and such. I opened the window as quietly as I could, not noticing the pair of red eyes following me as I just landed on my bed, falling asleep without obstruction.

---

I woke up, feeling way better after a good night's rest, and something wet on my neck. I also felt some weight on my torso. Déja vu.

'I hope this isn't what I think it is.' I thought, and opened my eyes, sighing with relief when I saw an Absol licking my collarbone.

"Absol." She growled and sat back on my stomach.

"Hello to you too. Are you hungry?" I glanced at the alarm clock, noticing it was eleven.

"Sol."

"Then let's go and eat something."

So, after having a congratulatory lecture from my mom (who didn't have to work today), and grabbing a burger from the fridge (and a patty for Moonshine), I was on my way to Professor Elm's Lab. Oddly, not many people were out of their houses. On a Monday, at that. Though I found it strange, I was glad for the peace, since that meant I wouldn't be stopped much on my way to the Lab.

About ten minutes before noon, I stood in front of the polished glass doors of the Lab. I took a deep breath and strolled into the building, greeting one of the Aides with a wave.

"Hello. Do you have an appointment with Professor Elm?" She asked, adjusting her glasses.

"Yes, I am here because Champion Lance told me to stop by. I won the Johto Fight Festival, and I believe the Professor is expecting me." I added, just in case.

"Okay, but for precautions I will ask you to wait here please."

"Right. I'll wait." I looked around as she walked away, and found a chair to sit in. While I waited, I messed around with my PokéDex, checking all of the species I had registered in the past few days. Upon checking the data of Dratini, I discovered a couple of locked features that left me confused.

'What's this for? I've never seen this before. What other data could the PokéDex have in it?' I thought, then shook my head. 'I'll ask Professor Elm.' Right as I finished the thought, as if on cue, the Aide came back and beckoned for me to follow.

"The Professor will see you now. He seemed a bit excited. Just a warning: he is a bit odd, and his mannerism may surprise you. Overall though, he is the brightest when it comes to Johto region Pokémon."

"Okay, thanks." I told her, and she pointed down a hall, towards an open door on the right.

"He's in there. If you need any help, I will be at the front desk." I entered the room, and saw Professor Elm sitting at a desk, examining an all red Pokéball with grooves on both sides. He glanced up in time to see me.

"Hey, there's our champ! Christopher, right?" He stood and offered his hand, his sudden cheerfulness a surprise to me as he was so serious as he inspected the ball moments before. "I'm Professor Elm."

"Yes, and nice to meet you." I shook.

"You really were good in that tournament. And your skills are exceptional, even though you recently obtained your license. It's as if you have a natural talent to battle!" He paused. "Tell me, do you like Pokémon?"

"Yep. That's why I want to become a Trainer."

"Mhm, and how do you see them?" That caught me off guard.

"As friends." I replied.

"Okay then. How would you feel if I were to give you a Pokémon partner?"

---

A/N: So, there's my comeback chapter. Sorry everyone, everyfur for the long wait. Had some home issues and stuff. Also, sorry for the cliffhanger. I don't have as much time to type this stuff up as I used to. Hopefully I can get back on track and find more time to do this soon, as providing the community with something to read online is high on my list of things to accomplish. Well, as always, favorite/like, watch/follow, and comment on things that need to be fixed (grammar, spelling, and the like). I hope to be back with more updates before the end of this year :D

I'm out.