Pokémon: Master of the Rain Team

Competitors’ village.

By the time Reiji left the Pokémon Center and came back here, the place was already being cleaned out.

After asking around, he learned that the competitors’ village would close tonight. Any contestant who still had belongings here had to pack them up as soon as possible.

Reiji did not have much to collect. Before leaving that morning, he had already packed everything except the standard blanket provided by the village.

Since there was nothing left for him there, he turned and went to the main cafeteria instead. It was still open and would serve one last dinner before closing for cleaning.

After tonight, the contestants would either stay at hotels or use the Pokémon Center for free room and board.

In a day or two, most of the Pokémon Centers here would also close. Only one would stay open as usual. Once the crowds thinned out, the extra Nurse Joys who had been transferred here would leave the Indigo Plateau too. After all the noise and excitement, the place would go quiet again.

Reiji took Eevee to the cafeteria for the last dinner. A lot of contestants came over for photos when they saw him, and he did not turn them down. There was no avoiding it now.

After dealing with the fans, he had nowhere else to go, so he booked a single room at the Pokémon Center and rested there.

It was only three in the afternoon. The main stadium still had the third-place match going, with the two semifinal losers fighting for third.

It was not as exciting as the final, but compared to the semifinals, it was still a fierce match.

The award ceremony and closing ceremony were still hours away. Reiji let Eevee move around the room as it pleased, then collapsed onto the bed and fell asleep. If nothing unexpected happened, he would stay here for another two days.

What Reiji did not know was that while he had hidden himself away, a lot of people outside were searching for him. Once they heard he was at the Pokémon Center, they practically turned the place upside down. They were one step away from digging up the floor, but still could not find him.

Reiji did not wake up until around six or seven in the evening. Eevee was lying by his pillow, licking his nose.

He pushed Eevee away, stretched, and climbed out of bed. After a quick wash, he saw that it was almost eight. He had to get to the main stadium for the Indigo Plateau Conference closing ceremony and the award ceremony.

When he arrived with Eevee, the first thing he saw was the Moltres flame burning in the night sky. He had seen it every day during the tournament. Wind or rain, it had never shown any sign of going out. It really was stubborn.

The floodlights lit the stadium as bright as day. By the time Reiji arrived, the announcer was already speaking.

”Outstanding Trainers and Pokémon have shown us the spirit of competition and battle throughout this Indigo Plateau Conference. Now, the closing ceremony is about to begin. Please welcome all contestants of this year’s Indigo Plateau Conference!”

As soon as the announcer finished, the floodlights turned toward the four competitors’ tunnels, one in each direction of the stadium. Contestants began walking out from every entrance.

The contestants waved to the stands as they entered, and the crowd answered with thunderous cheers.

Far fewer contestants attended the closing ceremony than the opening ceremony. Many had already left the Indigo Plateau and did not stay for the end.

Reiji was among those who remained. He walked near the back of the Trainer line as the contestants circled the stadium. The four groups from the four entrances would eventually merge in the center of the field for the closing ceremony.

”We will now begin the award presentation. Chairman Goodshow will give each contestant a commemorative gift as proof of their participation in the Indigo Plateau Conference.”

One Trainer after another went onstage to receive their souvenir. Reiji saw Ash, Ritchie, Shun, Gulzar, Travis, Reggie, and Tommy.

Tommy had failed to take third place. He lost the third-place match that afternoon to the other semifinalist, Assunta.

Still, fourth place was already better than most contestants could manage. His Kangaskhan had done most of the work. A quasi–Elite Four tier Kangaskhan was not something a new Trainer should normally have. The bond between those two had been built through years of living together in the wild. Most people could not compare with that.

Reiji was last in line. When it was his turn to receive his souvenir, Chairman Goodshow asked him to stay on the stage. The formal award ceremony was coming next.

Reiji moved aside and stood with Reggie. In his hand was the Indigo Plateau Conference souvenir, made from two feathers. A silver diamond-shaped crystal sat in the middle of the white feathers, with a tiny golden Poké Ball design on top. All in all, it was a pretty nice little keepsake.

Once every contestant had received their souvenir, the top three were called up.

Reiji stood on the first-place podium in the middle. Reggie stood on the second-place podium, and Assunta stood on the third.

The three of them waved to the stands. The audience and the rows of Trainers below raised their hands and applauded.

”The three Trainers waving now are the top three contestants of this Indigo Plateau Conference. The entire stadium is applauding them. The closing ceremony has reached its most exciting moment. Please welcome Elite Four member Lance to present the awards!”

Chairman Goodshow stepped down. Lance walked toward the podium with three attendants, waving to the crowd before stopping in front of the three finalists.

On the first attendant’s tray sat the championship trophy, three Poké Balls, and a gift box. Inside the box were three Evolution Stones: a Water Stone, a Thunder Stone and a Fire Stone.

”Contestant Reiji, take your trophy. Congratulations on winning the championship,” Lance said with a smile. ”Now choose your prize. Here are the three Kanto starter Pokémon: Charmander, Squirtle, and Bulbasaur. You may choose one. If you don’t want a Pokémon, there is also a set of high-grade Evolution Stones.”

Lance introduced the prizes properly, without showing that he and Reiji had met before. In front of this many people, formality mattered.

”Can I look at the Pokémon?”

Reiji had not forgotten why he had entered the tournament. Apart from winning the championship for the Gym, he had also wanted to get a starter Pokémon—specifically, Squirtle.

”Of course.”

Lance nodded, and Reiji casually touched one of the Poké Balls. Charmander’s panel appeared.

[Charmander]

[Type: Fire]

[Gender: Male]

[Potential: 42.19%]

[Level: ...]

What?

Reiji paused the moment he saw the panel. He had not expected the potential to be that low. That did not seem right.

He did not show his reaction. Instead, he touched Squirtle’s Poké Ball.

[Squirtle]

[Type: Water]

[Gender: Male]

[Potential: 41.34%]

[Level: ...]

Something’s off.

Charmander was not the exception. Squirtle was the same. Bulbasaur was probably no better. Reiji touched the last Poké Ball and saw a similar panel.

[Bulbasaur]

[Type: Grass + Poison]

[Gender: Male]

[Potential: 43.54%]

[Level: ...]

Now he understood. These starters probably had not been raised by a League research lab. They might have been from the batch confiscated on Kinnow Island, or leftovers that new Trainers had passed over.

Either way, his plan to get Squirtle was dead. If he still wanted one, he would have to make a trip to Blastoise Island.

Since the starters were disappointing, he turned to the Evolution Stones. Their purity panels appeared, and they really were high-grade stones. Most were above sixty, and one had a purity of seventy.

He chose the full set of three high-grade Evolution Stones.

Lance did not say anything. He had brought those Pokémon back himself and handed them to the research lab. Who would have thought they would end up as award prizes?

Next was Reggie’s turn. He had noticed the small detail in Reiji’s choice and did not bother checking the three Poké Balls. Like Reiji, he chose the two Evolution Stones from the gift box.

Last came Assunta. She had planned to take the Evolution Stones too, but when Lance explained that this year’s prize had changed and all three top contestants could choose a starter, she hesitated.

She already had an Ivysaur. Out of the three Kanto starters, she chose Squirtle.

Reiji sighed quietly at the sight. The League must really have too many confiscated starters and wanted to hand them out through the Indigo Plateau Conference. Too bad first and second place had both passed on the Pokémon.

Once the prizes were chosen, Lance and the attendants stepped aside.

The floodlights around the main stadium suddenly went dark.

Then fireworks burst around the rim of the stadium.

Streams of light shot into the sky and bloomed into bright colors. The audience cheered and applauded again.

Everyone looked up at the fireworks. Under that bright night sky, this year’s Indigo Plateau Conference came to an end.

”I learned a lot from our battle,” Reggie said, offering his hand. ”I’m going back to Sinnoh tomorrow. If you ever travel there, I’ll show you around.”

”Sinnoh, huh? I heard Sinnoh has a tournament too.” Reiji shook his hand.

He would definitely go to Sinnoh. His target was the legendary Pokémon guy.

In his previous life, the anime writers had disgusted him so much with that guy. Just to keep Ash from winning, they had suddenly pulled out a Trainer with legendary Pokémon.

Ash could not be counted on, so Reiji planned to go there himself and beat that guy so badly he would never forget it. The writers had made him feel worse than eating dirt back then.

”You mean the Lily of the Valley Conference?” Reggie caught the meaning in Reiji’s smile and smiled too. That was as good as a promise. ”Next time, I won’t lose.”

”Good. I’ll look forward to our next battle.” Reiji let go and watched Reggie step off the podium.

He did not see Reggie’s younger brother anywhere. Who knew where Paul had gone? Those two brothers really were interesting.

”You’ve come this far, so keep going, young man. We’ll meet again.”

Lance came over with the attendants and lightly patted Reiji’s shoulder. He did not give Reiji a chance to reply before leading the attendants off the podium.

Reiji watched Lance leave. The cape snapped in the wind as he strode out of the stadium.

Reiji knew what Lance meant. It had to be about what happened at Lorelei’s villa on Mandarin Island South.

As long as Lance was not asking him to pay back the Dratini, that was fine. As for meeting again, who could predict that? No one knew what would happen later. Reiji had no idea what the League was planning for the Orange Archipelago.

He slowly stepped down from the podium, and Ash came running up from a distance.

”Rai-nii, you won!” Ash stared at the tall championship trophy with sparkling eyes.

This was a championship trophy. He wanted one even in his dreams.

”Want to hold it?” Reiji could read Ash’s thoughts at a glance.

”Yes!” Ash nodded like crazy and reached for the trophy.

”Here.” Reiji handed it over, then looked up and saw Brock and Misty walking over.

”Ash? Why are you holding someone else’s trophy?” Misty arrived just in time to see Ash making the same lovestruck face Brock usually made, stroking the trophy like it was some rare treasure. She suddenly felt like Ash was kind of weird. What was there to touch so much?

”Brock, want to grab a drink later?” Reiji greeted Brock. Drinking with him was always fun. Once Brock started talking about women, he had plenty of surprisingly good opinions.

”Haha, depends on what Ash wants to do. If we have time, sure.” Brock scratched his head, a little embarrassed. His face was slightly red. Drinking and chatting with Reiji had been fun for him too. It felt more relaxing than anything he had done in a long time.

”Hey, brat! Over here!”

Reiji turned toward the shout and saw Blaine and Amber calling him.

He looked back at Brock with an apologetic smile. ”Someone’s calling me. Sorry.”

”No problem. Your trophy.” Brock quickly pulled Ash over. Reiji was about to leave, and Ash was still hugging his trophy. It was getting awkward.

”Sorry, Rai-nii.” Ash laughed awkwardly and returned the trophy. ”Where are you going next?”

”Back to the Orange Archipelago.” Reiji put the souvenir and Evolution Stones into his backpack. The trophy was too big, so he had to carry it for now. He would deal with it later.

”Does the Orange Archipelago have Gyms and tournaments?” Ash asked at once. Any mention of a challenge got him excited.

”Of course. I’m at Mikan Gym. If you come to challenge it, I might even be acting as the Gym Leader.” Reiji joked with him.

Ash would definitely come to the Orange Archipelago because of the GS Ball.

”All right! Then it’s decided. Next, I’m challenging the Orange Archipelago!” Ash waved goodbye and watched Reiji leave.

He would need to go home first, then head to the Orange Archipelago.

”Ash, didn’t you have a lot you wanted to say?” Misty noticed his mood had dropped from excited to quiet all at once. Maybe there was something he had not said.

”It’s fine.” Ash shook his head.

Reiji had helped him win Charizard over, and he had even gotten to hold the championship trophy. For now, he could not think of anything else to say.

”Ash, you did win Charizard over, didn’t you?” Brock lightly patted his shoulder. ”Maybe that’s what he wanted you to understand. A Trainer needs something worth working toward.”

Ash’s eyes brightened.

Understanding a Pokémon’s heart.

Maybe he finally understood how to get along with Pokémon, and how to become their best partner.

The Orange Archipelago.

He was already looking forward to meeting Reiji again.

[End of chapter]

[100 Power Stones = Extra Chapter]

[Check out my Patreon to read 20+ chapters ahead]

[[email protected]/BellAshelia]

[Thanks for your support!]