Hard Enough-Chapter 10: The gauntlet thrown down

I sat atop a pillar of stone. Beneath me, the golden bricks that formed the beginning of the end of the path towards the Indigo Plateau. The pillars that led up to the plateau towered over all while in various states of artfully designed disrepair or dazzlingly wholeness depending on their position. It gave one a feeling of something older and so much bigger than yourself when you marched through it on the way to the Indigo League conference. It was here that the trainers who had earned eight badges when the circuit was open would be allowed to compete.

The tradition was that trainers should walk the entire path from the initial gate where a formal guard would stand and politely ask them if they had their badges. The guard would then inspect the badge and congratulate them on their achievements before inviting them to continue onwards. This would allow them to showcase their prowess to any going with them while also letting them go through a tradition that was based on an old legend.

Then they would trudge through the indoor lake and carefully controlled cave with pokemon habitats set up by rangers to emerge here. It typically took no more than a day or two if you left from Viridian.

Pidge-ot! I looked up to see another trainer soar overhead. It was only for tradition that anyone actually went through the entirety of Victory road. Most set themselves down around the stadium plaza and pokemon centre that held the village's worth of lodgings for the upcoming matches. For each trainer that existed that did things the traditional way, there was at least another that went about things differently.

Others could teleport in if they had the pokemon that had the ability or if they possessed the psychic strength. The only one that I knew of that could do that from Pewter was Sabrina, and she was considered a rare prodigy.

Then there was also the walking track. Which was more like walking over gentle hills that had been carefully manicured. The pokemon there were all rather weak as this was the route that would allow the trucks to supply the Indigo plateau. Further to the side of the road, pokemon trainers could walk casually towards the League headquarters. I could see the glint of a few cars that likely had rich businessmen and local councillors. It didnt do to simply show up at such big events. You had to show up in style.

I hadnt bought a car myself. Without the need to lock myself into a car and get places quickly, I had never seen the need. Most people were of the same mindset. Having a car was an extreme luxury that wasnt very practical. Pokemon could serve in transportation roles much more easily.

Instead of making a big display of my arrival though, I was going to simply wander in with a few other trainers. This was Celias first circuit and I had recommended going the longer route to get the full appeal of the walk to the conference. It also gave her a chance to size up other trainers. I glanced towards the cave in time to see a fairly large group emerge.

I hummed a thoughtful note when I noticed that Celia was leading the group and talking rather animatedly. She seemed to have a lot of the groups attention. As they continued to approach, I felt an itch of recognition at the others surrounding her. I was sure I had seen that young trainer at the bakery. And hadnt that trainer been a few years above Forrest? I looked over the others and spotted faces that had blurred into the background of Pewter city but that I knew in some way. The bakers daughter. The guy that liked to busk at some cafes on the weekends. Two of them had even taken a few odd jobs that Id posted from the gym. Bruce? Trixie?

I stood up and adopted my damn it, I did pose. I pushed down the embarrassment my habits had caused and took my pose. Arms crossed, legs at rest. I stared down at the approaching trainers.

Welcome to the Indigo Plateau, I said, letting my voice carry in a well-practised manner.

As one, the group stopped before looking around. Eventually, they looked up the pillar that I had chosen. I smirked as they had to shield their eyes due to the sun being at my back. Celia grinned at me before half adopting my pose. I lost some of the enjoyment before carrying on with the welcoming speech Id decided on.

Well done all of you for making it to the end of this years circuit. I see quite a number of faces I recognise. Are all of you Pewter city residents?

Only three of them shook their heads but I didnt single them out. Well, welcome nevertheless. Are you ready for the last challenge in the coming days? I will be looking forward to all of your matches. I nodded before launching myself down towards them. A few gasped and one even reached for her pokeball to likely try and stop me from killing myself. I merely landed with a hard thump. I straightened and beckoned them on.

Come on then, weve got some pokemon battles and they wont wait for us. I started walking up the golden road and smiled as I heard some whispers break out from behind me.

Did he have a psychic pokemon stop him at the end? I didnt see a glow! What about a flying pokemon? Maybe the earth there is nope its as hard as everything else?

A set of feet slapping into the pavement had me turning slightly. Celia scowled at me. How do you do things like that? She said loud enough that the whispers stopped and more than a few trainers hurried to close the gap to hear my answer.

Theres more to pokemon than simply training them to remember. You have to look inside for the energy. Like Ive been telling you?

Celia tilted her head. Yeesssss? I waved a hand at her.

Dont let it bother you. You either have it or you dont, some people gain it through hard work but chasing it isn't going to help. Just keep working with your pokemon and one day you might find out the secret as to why Elites are more than just trainers of strong pokemon.

Celia mulled that over for a long few minutes before jolting as she glanced around. Oh! Wait, I wanted to introduce some people to you! She then lead a round of introductions for what I had correctly assumed to be Pewter city trainers that had completed the circuit. I smiled and shook hands. For a few, I even recalled some of their pokemon and their battling strategies.

You did fix that issue with your Psyduck right? I asked Trixie who nodded quickly. I considered asking a few more questions only for a gasp from people that had drifted to the front that had caught sight of the stadium.

I walked up, feeling nostalgic as I watched the gleam of desire take hold. This wasnt a small stadium, like what was in the gyms for locals and travelling trainers to watch matches. The Pewter city gym was one of the facilities that were considered state of the art with the rebuild I had performed in recent years but it was still considered modest compared to the Indigo Stadium. This was the dedicated facility for battles between the cream of the crop. The stadium itself featured large metal workings that depicted pokemon holding up the roof while the entrances were large brightly coloured and signed to allow for the transition of huge crowds into and out of the facility.

I knew from experience that inside the stadium, there were a wide range of seating available from the simple stands to the V.I.P lounges that overlooked the fights. There were also inbuilt concession stands for food with some people walking the stands as cryers to sell their goods. I recalled that Team Rocket had done just that during a few tournaments and made a tidy profit for themselves.

Hugging the stadiums edge, a wide thoroughfare allowed trainers and pokemon to walk easily. Buildings rose with steel and glass but not in ugly utilitarian styles. Twists and bends were forced into the harsh materials to soften the effects. Trees were spaced out with gardens and open areas for people to simply sit and enjoy time with their friends. A small river was set through the middle that wound through the Indigo city with a number of small bridges. All of this lay before the entrance to the stadium itself which was a huge gateway that led to the indoor reception area where you could march six onix side by side without it being cramped.

It was a city in all but name that had been crafted by the sharpest minds with access to the deepest pockets. It held the hearts and minds of two regions. It stood as a shining symbol of what could be achieved when both worked together. This saw people flocking to it.

As we got closer, large signs depicted the rules of the area. More than a few trainers were surprised to find that you were allowed to release your entire team here. There were no restrictions on size or typings. You were expected to be able to control your pokemon but this offered a freedom that wasnt seen in other cities beyond certain special events.

I was actually surprised when I saw that only three trainers took up the offer. I looked around to see the entire contingent I had walked in on evaluating the trainers and their pokemon. I then spotted that Celia looked as smug as a Meowth that had gotten into a cream factory. I gave her a look and she smiled. I nodded back before gesturing towards the frankly huge pokemon centre.

Instead of the more typical modest facility found in cities and towns around the regions, this was more like four centres pushed together. It was multistoried and housed the best equipment in two regions. The front of the centre was a large glass front that served as the entrance. People could enter from at least ten different doors and there were smaller doors around the side for other purposes.

Around the back, smaller training areas were sectioned off with mesh fencing that had to be regularly replaced as pokemon worked out any final kinks in their movesets.

On the other side, large hotels and even some companies had set up headquarters here. The Plateau might see a surge during the end of the circuit but there was always a large number of people around. The place was a city where most people that spent time here didnt live here long term. Viridian, Pewter, Blackthorn and even Mahogany typically saw people ferrying in and out depending on their jobs.

It should be noted that very few people flew from the Johto side to the plateau unless they had a very strong set of pokemon. Most used a Teleport service. Mt Silver was after all, not a place to fall into as an Office Worker or Janitor.

Little children likewise should never set foot there.

Turning my thoughts away from memory lane, I waved off Celia and the rest of the Pewter city trainers before turning towards a more grand looking hotel. I checked in and sat on the bed.

Now I had nothing to do but wait until later this afternoon when I would sit in on a press conference. I turned the lights out and sat in the dark, letting my mind slow before I drifted off. I had enough presence of mind to recall that I needed to call Forrest to check-in.

With me gone, I had needed him to hold down the fort at Pewter city. A simple enough task for a few days I reasoned. To bolster him, Id even let him borrow some of the pokemon that I had journeyed with that I couldnt use anymore as a type specialist. I still had them, cause you dont just give away or let such pokemon loose into the wild or to other people. That leads to a lot more issues, and I wasnt ever going to be callous enough to sell what had been some of my closest friends as some trainers did at the end of their journeys. Forrest should be fine for a few days.

I sat in the dark and breathed in and out as time slipped by. Eventually, a phone call rang just as a buzzer lit up an alarm. I picked up the phone.

Sir this is your courtesy call, said the operator.

Thank you, I said, hanging up and setting about readying myself. Time to flip the script.

Lances desk had perhaps eighteen to twenty mikes set up in front of it. I was reminded of a rather silly photo of my past life of two people at a press conference. With the other man barely having one.

If anything, our talk before the upcoming exhibition match was even more disparate. I had barely been given a table and had to request a microphone. When the aide had tried to wave me off, I had stared at him and drawn on a minuscule part of myself to enforce that I would be getting a microphone. When he had it all plugged in, I tapped it to check it was connected. I then looked up at him and offered a nod. Part of me cringed at the way I had forced him and another part growled at having to go to such lengths. I half toyed with the idea of giving him a heads up but I crushed that thought. I didnt owe him anything and I didnt want to give Lance even the slimmest hint of what was coming. To lift my mood, I reached into a pack Id brought for the conference. I laid out a briefcase to the side and a moomoo milk made from one of the only farms at Pewter on the other. Id met the lady that owned it and the idea of giving her free advertising made me feel good.

Lon Lon milk best milk around~!

Between where Lance and I would sit would be a League official to oversee everything and get agreements that were really not needed, but still needed to be observed.

The media arrived, surprisingly, only after I did, and while a few looked at me there was not much interest in their gazes.

Apart from two of them.

I noted that PTNs representatives had very plastic-looking smiles on their faces. An old trick came to mind and I flagged another technician for a seating chart. They gave me a confused look before I explained what I meant.

I looked over the list and noted that the other reporter was from Goldenrod news. I shrugged that off idly and tried to memorise where the bigger names were. Seventy-Sixer FM was here along with Battlecast. Lifestyle mag that was based out of Celadon was here. Channel Twelve, J&K international and a league sponsored news called Pokenews were all seated in their places.

Two more reporters bustled in and looked around before noticing me. They also gave my suitcase a more lengthy inspection than others before setting themselves up with a microphone and video. They both put microphones onto the pile in front of Lance before laying down two mikes in front of myself. That got some eyebrows and I glanced from them to the seating chart.

Sorry I dont see you listed here. What are your names and who do you represent? I raised a pen smiling at the reversal of roles.

Gwen Gallows! Mark Mannerly! They both glanced at the other before sharing a smile. Our uncle Jonathan told us to get good seats for this.

I frowned. Jonathan It took a moment to recall that Pewters Mayor was Jonathan. He seemed more fit to be called Mayor despite my trying to stand on a level with him in our previous discussions. I nodded at them and said no more. A few reporters shifted, unsettled by this change in what must have appeared to have been a fairly rote conference with the upcoming Champion. There were only this many reporters here because it was an announcement from the Champion.

They could sense something though. Some undefined reporter sense that must have ghosted up their spines making them twitch, like they should be writing something down.

I glanced at the clock and noted that Lance was late but I could tell from reading the room that not many people were unused to this. They didnt seem to want to really interact with me. I was content to sit but Gwen and Mark were twitchy. They were obviously smaller news outlets but with their knowledge that a scoop was coming they were champing at the bit to get underway.

Gym Leader, think youre ready for the upcoming challenge? Gwen asked when she saw me watching her.

I think that Ive done as much as I could to make sure that we put the best foot forward that we can. My Pokemon and I are very ready.

The reporters all shifted before deciding they might as well start with what they had as it would be better than doing nothing. Think youve got any chance? Followed up Battlecasts reporter.

I think before I answer that question Ill need to have Lance here. Seems hes tardy though.

This got some confused looks. They were starting to wonder at my biting tone, it wasnt something said about the champion after all. The Champion was never late, he arrived precisely when he was meant to; was a common school of thought. The other reporters jotted down my words but Goldenrods reporter had sat up taller, now eying Gwen and Mark before glancing at me and my suitcase. I could practically see the neurons in his brain firing before he stood up and grabbed another mike from his bag to put in front of me. I merely smiled at him. Before anyone could question or copy him ,the doors to the side opened and the League official walked in. He bowed to the group in greeting. My apologies ladies and gentlemen, we had some errands to see to. He kept the door open and Lance sauntered in to claim his chair.

He flicked his eyes to me for a second, and at that moment I leaned forward and gave him a hard look that Id perfected by staring down wild pokemon. He paused before shaking his head, dismissing me as he flared his cape. I felt his aura break upon my body, but for the others it had the effect of making him the centre of attention.

Welcome everyone! I know this is a rather momentous occasion coming up for the trainers and also for myself. With this being the first indigo conference I have overseen, I am looking forward to what the younger generation will bring to show he began to talk through all the things he was looking forward to. It sounded to me like a very normal speech, bland if you would. It got the people to listen however. The reporters checked that their cameras were working and the press conference started. I watched him carefully, mostly ignoring the questions he was asked until the focus turned towards the reason for my presence here.

and of course, we will be starting things off with a nice friendly match.

I wouldnt count on that.

The room went still as they registered Id spoken. Lance blinked and turned his head. I beg your pardon?

I shifted from my relaxed position to put my weight on my elbows. I tilted my head and eyed him. When this exhibition match was announced, you were very outspoken in some of your comments.

I made a show of plucking a sheet of paper, Ah here it is Rock Types? They wouldnt be able to last against my Dragons. I have pokemon in my arsenal that could clean sweep that gym alone. I gave him a flat look. Champion Lance, I find your words go too far. They are then an insult I cannot let stand. I will be accepting your challenge. Be sure that I have brought my strongest pokemon to this match between us. I cant accept you merely retracting your words. So, the question I have for you is if youre willing to put up.

Lance straightened and his eyes locked onto mine. The room stiffened as tension palpably ratcheted up.

Gentlemen! Gentlemen, there is no reason that we should the League official stood and raised placating hands towards us both. Lance and I ignored him. He was irrelevant. The old adage of two trainers locking eyes? In moments like this, it was a law of the universe as much as gravity. Perhaps it was even an adage that every action has an equal and opposite reaction.

Oh? This is no time for a joke Gym Leader, he said eyeing me off.

Its not. I held his gaze demanding he respond as he must.

You think you can challenge me? He tilted his head, looking me over before straightening and leaning closer, I am the champion, I did not get here from petty boasts Gym Leader. If you try this I will destroy your team, he said firmly.

I put my hand on the suitcase. Care to lay down a wager on that?

Of course! He growled. The media didnt even bother to ask questions. They were spectators now and were more than happy to let the show play out. Theyd rouse when we were done tearing strips from each other verbally. With Lance accepting my terms on camera, he could no longer back down.

I wager ten million pokedollars, I said before he could set the bet. Tradition would dictate that I accept what he laid out but I silenced everyone by flipping open the latches and revealing the sum of money in the briefcase.

Lances eyes dilated before narrowing. He wasnt dumb. He could see that Id led him into this and I was deadly serious.

The official spun on me, his mouth open before a wheezing gasp escaped his mouth as his eyes gravitated to the stacks of pokedollars.

Lance nodded once. I accept.

I stood, pushing the money to the official. I entrust my wager to the Pokemon League. You may count it but I expect to see a matching amount laid out for our match in two days.

Youll see your money. Lances eyes were now solely on me. I certainly hadnt expected this from you Gym Leader Brock.

You should learn to be more careful with your words in the future, Champion.

Well see. He nodded before looking to the still silent reporters. This press conference is over. I will see you all in two days. He swept his cape and stormed out the door. The official gazed after him before looking down at the case of money in his arms. I tapped him and handed him the form that ascertained that the money was all there. The Pewter bank had almost had conniptions when Id announced my withdrawal. In truth, I had a dummy amount of cash made up before having an official declaration set up. It had ended with them setting the money into an account with a code to access it.

The man recognised it before glaring at me. You shouldnt have done that boy!

As I said, Lance shouldnt have said what he did. Im merely calling him out on it. I sat down and gave the assembled reporters a contented smile. Any questions?

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