Author's Notes: In the beginning, the term, "champion," stands for a representative. The Pokémon World Championship comprises of a Champion representative from each region that enters. These representatives are nothing like Lance and Will from the games. Another note is that there are two announcers: radio and competition (the one in the very beginning).

Chapter 1: The Pokémon World Championships

"This is it folks!" The voice of the announcer resonated throughout the massive stadium, "After many days of intense and exciting pokémon battles, it is now the championship round of the 31st Pokémon World Championship held here on the Island of Champions. I would just like to say before the final match starts that it has been a great tournament these past few weeks. Can you believe that two years have already past since our last tournament and we're almost finished with this one? The intensity of these competitions just seems to make time go faster. After many qualifying battles and 30 final battles we are finally here, everybody, at the last match of the championship. Now tell me...ARE YOU READY FOR THE GREATEST POKÉMON BATTLE IN THE WORLD?!"

The crowd jumped out of their seats and went wild. The roar of the cheering caused many wild pokémon to scurry from their hiding places in many different directions. Flying pokémon startled by all the excitement flew high into the air, flooding the sky. To add to the cheering was the great explosion of fireworks coming from all around the stadium.

The announcer continued, "In today's exciting pokémon battle, we have an almost predictable match-up. Many times in the past there have been two regions that have been feeding us their Champions, whom have usually made it to the last rounds of this exciting competition. Most of the greatest trainers in the world have come from these two regions. Those two great regions, considered to be two of the biggest regions in the world, are the Rica Region and the Rusoh Region. This year, we actually have a returning finalist who lost the championship battle two years ago at our last competition. Representing the Rica Region, I introduce, or should I say reintroduce to you, Erik Croll of Beeche Town!"

The stadium shook with the cheering coming from the stands. Everyone's eyes were on the north wall of the stadium where a sliding door had just opened revealing the Rica Region Champion. A tall man in his mid-20s started to coolly walk onto field. This man had short brown hair that just settled on his head and carried lightly in the wind. His dark brown eyes stared across the field at the door on the south end, waiting to set site on the opponent. He had a serious, confident look on his face that made everyone respect who he was instantly. To add to his mysteriousness, he wore a black, long coat over his black shirt and pants. As his long coat swayed in the light wind, a few objects shown in the sunlight from the inside of his jacket.

The audience started to quiet down as the announcer started to speak again. "Most of you might remember Erik Croll from the 30th Pokemon World Championship two years ago. He became the runner-up to that competition after losing the Championship match against Kanto Region Champion, Haruka Takahashi. That was one intense battle, but Erik Croll was unable to defeat Haruka and her pokémon. But now Erik is back and this time, he wants to win it all! We have seen Erik fly through his matches with ease without holding anything back, and you can sure bet that he will be as intense as ever in this match.

"Now let me introduce all of you to the Champion representing the Rusoh Region. This is the first World Championship that she has attended and she is only 15 years old. Everyone, I introduce you to the Rusoh Region Champion, Alexzia Markov of Mauve City!

Once again the stadium was in an uproar of cheers. Everyone watched the sliding doors on the south end open, revealing a person shrouded in shadow. A cute, young trainer started to walk out onto the field. She had long, black hair that reached halfway down her back. She was wearing a black shirt and wore baggy, khaki pants where she wore a poké ball belt featuring an assortment of different poké balls, each of them engraved with her initials in fancy writing on the top. As she walked out onto the field she waved at the cheering crowd. Then she set her light blue eyes onto her opponent who was just staring across at her with the same look on his face as when he entered. She stared back with a smile on her face and a look of confidence, showing no sign on being intimidated.

The announcer continued, "As most of you might know, Alexzia is an excellent trainer who is actually very skilled for her age. She is one of the best in her home region. Most of you might also know that her father, Ivan Markov, is on the World Pokémon Battles Committee, the organization that first started this tournament 62 years ago. Actually, her father is watching her from the skybox over there.

"That's enough for introductions, now let's get on with the Championship battle! If the combatants are ready, please choose your first pokémon and get ready to start the battle." Everyone watched in silence as the two trainers chose their poké ball, the Rican trainer putting his right arm on the inside of his coat and the Rusohan trainer happily pulling a black and yellow ball from her belt. "Have you made your choices? OK everyone, the moment you have all been waiting for! Let the Pokémon World Championship battle begin!"

Simultaneously, both trainers threw their poké balls and prepared for their greatest battle. As the poké balls flew through the air, they started to open. Even at the same time, two wild beams of white light shot out of the balls and hit the ground. The forms of the pokémon started to take shape in the bright light-

Fzzt...

Nothing, there was nothing there except the television screen that reflected a young boy with a look of complete horror and shock on his face. His mind was reeling with confusion and anger. He stood up from the sofa and turned around to see his mother, Melissa Parry, carrying a suitcase outside to the car. He hastily chased after her through the front door, out into their front yard and early morning sunlight.

"Why did you do that?" He almost yelled. "This is an important time for me. That competition only happens once every two years, you know. I've watched every one from when I was just a little kid and I don't plan on missing any anytime soon." He was furious but tried holding back because she was still his mother and had the power to ground or punish him, but what she was making him do now was already torture.

As she carefully placed the suitcase into the car she turned to face her 16-year-old son. "It's not so often we get to visit your grandma so far out in the countryside. Since it is your summer vacation, it's a perfect time for such a trip," she said calmly. "Besides, Christopher, I knew you would react like this so I asked Grandma to record the whole thing today. So when we get there, you can watch it whenever you want. Don't you record every one anyway?"

Christopher's anger was slightly lifted by this, but it still was not good enough for him. "But it's not the same! The Pokémon World Championship is shown live. Watching it live and watching a recording are two totally different things! Can't we just stay and watch it and then leave after it has ended? It shouldn't take long. It's obvious Erik will win because he's more experienced. From what I've seen Alexzia's pokémon aren't even that great. She just happened to face the weakest trainers in the competition."

His mother turned around and this time had a stern look her face. "Look, we have to leave early. You know as well as I do that the battle will last almost an hour. We do not have that much time. Remember, I have to drop a present off at the Cayman's before they leave for their vacation as well, and they can't be late for their flight. And remember that we have to get to Grandma's place as quickly as possible because her pokémon have just been through labor and the eggs could hatch anytime soon. She doesn't want us to miss it, and neither should we," said Christopher's mom. "Now go bring down your bag so we can get going."

"Maybe Grandma should record the hatching instead of the competition," Christopher mumbled. Then it struck him as he suddenly remembered the most important event of the year was still going on without him watching. He decided that he might be able to watch some of the battle in his room. He hastily turned around and was about to run to his room.

As he was about to run, he ran into something hard and nearly fell back onto the ground. Christopher rubbed his forehead and looked up to see his 19-year-old brother, Nicholas, looking down on him. His face was in shadow due to his World Championship souvenir cap. "I heard that. You better stop being so stubborn," his brother said lightly. Then said, while holding out a sports bag, "Oh, by the way, I brought down your bag, Chris. We've got to leave quickly. Don't want to miss Grandma's pokémon's babies now do we?"

Nicholas Parry was a tall, muscular young man with light brown eyes. Usually he would have his black hair spiked up, but after an incident at a local pokémon research lab, where he worked part-time, involving a wild, young vulpix, he lost his hair. The vulpix let out a weak ember that was still strong enough to burn Nicholas' hair and some of his scalp before being extinguished. He eventually shaved everything off, but the scorch marks were still visible, and it also gave off a faint smell of smoke. He would always where a cap to hide his burns.

Nicholas was an accomplished pokémon trainer and is known throughout his home region, Sohto. He has actually been chosen twice in a row to represent his region in the Pokémon World Championship, partly because the Sohto Region was small, but mostly because his and his brother's father and grandfather also had been past Champions for the Sohto Region. But Nicholas never made is as far as they did. The brothers' father and grandfather would make it into the top 32 qualifying for Finals. But Nicholas would get midway through the qualifying rounds before getting eliminated from the competition. But like his past predecessors, he would always stay calm and just shrug it off as a simple loss and hope to get further in the next one.

Nicholas had six pokémon, and only those six. He prefers to only train those six because they have been with him since he was young and would not prefer any other pokémon. His father, Joseph Parry, gave him his first pokémon, taillow, when he was 11. During Joseph's training, he would help Nicholas catch his five other pokémon: aron, abra, bulbasaur, chinchou, and cyndaquil, which was actually given to him by his grandfather. Christopher never got his first pokémon because their father past away the time he was old enough to get his own, and then their grandfather past away a year later from a heart condition. So Christopher never received a pokémon and, apparently, his mother wants him to finish his studies and graduate before getting one.

"Oh, thank you, Nicholas," said their mother, taking her youngest son's bag and setting it in the back seat of their car, then placed her eldest son's bag next to it on the floor. "Come on," she said as she ushered her youngest son into his seat, ignoring his protests. She calmly, but hurriedly, moved to the driver's side and got in. She started the car and was off towards her friend's home.

"It's just another pokémon competition," said Nicholas, looking back from the passenger seat. "Missing it is nothing to be sad about."

"Of course it's something to be sad about if you're missing it!" said Christopher. "But you don't think that it's anything at all because you've competed in it twice. Although you lost horribly, you've still been able to witness it in person. And I have to stay here and watch it through a TV screen."

"Calm down, Christopher," his mother said, "I don't want you to be in a bad mood when we see Grandma. We haven't seen her since your father's funeral six years ago because she lives so far. Since we can't afford any other transportation, we have to drive all the way to Lilac Town, and I don't want you to be in a bad mood throughout the whole trip." She started to slow the car down in front a house where a family was placing suitcases in their car. "I'll just give Mary her birthday present, and then we'll head off." She got out of the car with the present and walked towards a woman about the same age as her.

Christopher leaned back on his seat, flustered, and looked out towards the mountains. Their father past away six years ago in an incident at a pokémon lab. There was a small explosion, but it reacted with chemicals and started a massive fire. While everyone else was evacuating the building, he stayed behind to help out pokémon that were still trapped inside. Everyone and every pokémon made it out, except him and his own pokémon. Although Christopher did not receive as much attention as his older brother, he still loved his father and hoped to be like him some day.

"Ah, found it," Nicholas said cheerfully. He had been flipping through the radio channels. "Here you go, Chris, now you can listen to the announcer as he says what's happening."

"Holy muk!" the competition announcer yelled through the radio. "This is unbelievable!"

Christopher was now one the end of the seat listening intently to the radio. How could he have forgotten that there was also a live radio feed for the World Championship?

"This battle is just full of surprises!" the announcer continued, "It seems that young Alexzia is holding her own against the more experienced Erik. If you are just joining us, I'll fill you in on what has happened. Alexzia started with a blastoise while Erik started with an aggron. Although Erik was at a disadvantage, he was able to hold off blastoise and knock it out. Then Alexzia brought out her ninetales, which eventually took out aggron after another intense fight, but not without taking damage. Then Erik brought out his alakazam, one of his strongest pokémon. But Alexzia's slightly weakened ninetales was able to match alakazam's power, and knocked Erik's pokémon out. As Erik brought out his next pokémon, houndoom, Alexzia recalled ninetales and brought out mightyena. After the clashing of dark-type pokémon, Erik's houndoom ended it with a powerful flamethrower. Then Alexzia brought out ninetales again and knocked out houndoom, but ninetales also fainted from exhaustion. And just a few minutes ago we watched Alexzia's dragonite easily defeat Erik's magneton. Who knew she had such a powerful and rare pokémon?"

"Well, it looks like you've found something to occupy yourself with," the boys' mother said as she got into the car. But Christopher was too preoccupied to even hear her. Nicholas smiled as her and shrugged. She then got into the car and continued down the road.

"What will be Erik's next pokémon?" the announcer said. Christopher waited impatiently for the announcer to reveal what pokémon is sent out next. "Erik has thrown his poké ball, and it's a machamp. Now Alexzia has recalled her dragonite. Now she is holding another poké ball, but hasn't revealed what's inside it yet. This is odd. Alexzia is walking backwards towards the wall. She's not showing any signs of forfeiting so she must be planning something. Now she's leaning back and looks like she's about to throw her poké ball. What's this? She has thrown it high up into the air. Whoa! It's huge! It's - it's - what in the world? It's a wailord!" Christopher now had both of his hands wrapped together and was shaking with excitement. Nicholas couldn't help but laugh at his little brother. "The wailord was released about 45 feet in the air and is now hurtling down towards the ground. I guess it's unfortunate that since this is actually a new stadium, we haven't finished building in the alternate fields yet. Anyway, I think Alexzia is planning to make a huge earthquake; she is now kneeling on the ground. Here it comes! Wow! Alexzia has just jumped up to escape the earthquake as her wailord came crashing down. But it seems like Erik and his machamp had the same idea, as they are both in the air now. But the stadium is still shaking from wailord's crashing into the ground. There is now a huge indent on the field where wailord has landed. Good thing he didn't fall through because that's where the alternate fields are. Now wailord is bending back and opening its gigantic mouth towards machamp, which is still descending from its jump. It just shot a massive jet of water! The jet of water has just engulfed machamp and is now flying over the stands at a very high speed. Fortunately, and unfortunately, the back walls of our stadium are high; otherwise, Erik's machamp would have flown out of the stadium. Wailord is still letting on the water assault and won't let machamp go. The wall behind machamp is starting to crack and crumble! Now wailord has stopped, leaving Erik's machamp soaked. Machamp seems to be knocked out. Wow! Good thing Alexzia stopped the attack; the wall behind machamp has just crumbled. Now Erik has only one pokémon left while Alexzia has three, two of which are dragonite and wailord. Alexzia has now recalled wailord, and now we wait as both trainers choose their next pokémon. I would just like to say that it just amazes me as how Erik still looks calm after loosing most of his pokémon. Perhaps he can win this."

"This is unbelievable!" Christopher said, shocked. "How can Erik be losing to a child?"

"You're the same age," Nicholas said, knowing that his brother hated being referred to as a child. But it fell on deaf ears, as Christopher was too absorbed into the radio as the announcer continued.

"With the help of competition employees, Erik's machamp has been brought back to its trainer, who has just recalled it into its poké ball. Now both trainers are holding their poké balls, preparing for what might be the final fight. Here we go! Alexzia's pokémon is scizor. Wow, she has a lot of powerful pokémon. Erik's final pokémon is - is an arcanine. Erik now has a slight advantage. But after watching this battle, I don't think weaknesses are an issue here. It seems as though Alexzia has ordered her scizor to attack arcanine head on. Arcanine is also running at scizor. As both pokémon got really close to each other, scizor split into many scizor surrounding arcanine. Scizor's agility is incredible! Arcanine can't find where scizor is. What's this? From behind, scizor has just successfully hit arcanine with a powerful metal claw and is again circling arcanine at an incredible speed, but arcanine is still standing there. If arcanine can't land a hit, Alexzia will be the new Pokémon World Champion. What the - arcanine is now surrounded by its own fire. The fire is growing. Now arcanine is - roaring? Arcanine's body seems to be erupting flames now! Wow! Arcanine is now engulfed in its own flames! Incredible! Now it looks like arcanine just released its flames all around it, making it look like a wild fire down there. I can feel the heat coming into my skybox. I have never seen such a devastating attack come from any pokémon." Christopher was still trembling with excitement and with a little fear. He wondered if a pokémon could even survive such an attack. The announcer continued. "The fire is starting to clear out, but not without leaving the center of the field totally scorched and black. I almost feel sorry for the people who have to tend to this field. This field has already been battered all over, and it's new. Our last Finals stadium was destroyed in the last competition when a crazy electrode wouldn't faint after several exploding several times. Now let's return to this battle. I can't see Alexzia's scizor. Oh no. If scizor has been incinerated, then Erik would be disqualified as well as be in big trouble with the Committee. Oh, there it is! Scizor is lying in the center of the field. Its body is black and also bright red. Alexzia is now beside her scizor. If you are watching this on television, you probably should look away. Alexzia is crying and trying to hold onto her scizor, but scizor's steel coating is at too high of a temperature. Medics are now entering the field, and Alexzia's father is right behind them." Christopher was shocked. He wondered how could anyone do that to a pokémon. Nicholas, with his attention now focused onto the radio, was also stunned. Then the PokéGear on his left wrist started to ring.

"Hmmm...it's from Professor Redwood," Nicholas said before answering it. Professor Redwood was Nicholas' employer at the pokémon research lab back home in Clover Town, and was also a well renowned professor. Professor Redwood and Joseph Parry used to work together when they were young. "Hello, Professor."

"Good morning, Nicholas," came the professor's voice through the PokéGear. "I'm sorry to both you, but may I ask where you are?"

"Well, we've long left Clover Town and have just driven through Kernelle City, which we're about to exit actually," replied Nicholas.

"Oh, good, I thought you would be about there," said the professor. "I had forgotten you were leaving with your family. I have finished writing a report and called your house to find no one was home. I was actually going to ask you to go to Kernelle City to run an errand for me. Now that I've found out you're there, I was wondering if you could still pick up something for me."

"What?" Nicholas said, surprised. "I'm on vacation with my mother and brother, you can't just call me back and run an errand for you. Besides, can't you just get it delivered to you?"

"They don't deliver, even if it's just a few miles away," the professor said. "Please, this is important for my research. I promise I could get you a taxi to take you from there, to my lab, and to your grandmother's home as quickly as possible. I'll even pay for it." Then he added, "By the way, are you and Christopher listening to the World Championship? It's pretty brutal."

"Yeah, we're listening to it," Nicholas said. "Very well, I'll do it." His mother stopped the car to let Nicholas out. "Sorry, Mom, I've got to help Professor Redwood. Chris, tell me how the Championship ends when I return, OK?"

"James, how dare you take my son from his vacation," Melissa called to the professor jokingly.

"Sorry, Melissa, but I need his help," Professor Redwood said. "And hello, Christopher, if you are there."

"Hi, Professor," Christopher replied. Currently, nothing had changed in the Championship. They were still trying to take Alexzia's scizor off the field and to a Pokémon Center. He watched as his older brother waved and walked away, back into the city.

"Well, let's go," his mother said. "Hope Nicholas makes it to Grandma's house in time."

"Now we're back," the announcer finally said. "We were finally able to cool down scizor's body and take it to the Pokémon Center. Alexzia has returned to her spot, but is now on her knees, crying. Her father, Ivan Markov, is beside her, trying to console her. Through my television monitor, I can see that Erik still has the same emotionless look. It's almost like he doesn't care what happened to Alexzia's scizor. What's even more surprising is that his arcanine doesn't look a bit exhausted from its last attack, which must have taken a lot of energy to perform. For now, I will tell those of you who have just joined us what has happened, but I must say, if you are listening to a radio, you should be watching this." Christopher felt a slight twinge as he remembered how he was so rudely taken away from the television.

Christopher felt sorry for Alexzia. Watching your own pokémon go through something like that must feel like getting your heart ripped at, he thought to himself. He was wondering how, or if, Alexzia will still continue the battle after such an anguishing incident. He also thought of how Erik could just stand there without any remorse. Christopher didn't think that there could be a trainer so heartless.

"What is wrong with that guy?" Christopher thought aloud. "I remember watching him two years ago at the last Championship. His pokémon were powerful, but not this powerful. And his personality was never like this."

"Losing sometimes changes people," his mother said. "And sometimes, it can greatly affect a person. Maybe losing the last one changed him so much that his whole character changed. But it is strange that his pokémon has so much power, and is able to use it without getting tired. You would think that -"

"Shh," Christopher interrupted. He moved his eyes to look up to see his mother looking at him sternly. He looked away quickly and put his attention towards the radio as the announcer returned.

"It looks like Alexzia is going to get up now. Perhaps she still wants to continue this battle after such a traumatizing experience. Through my monitor I can see that she is still crying, but her expression has changed. She has her fists clenched tightly and she looks really angry. She is glaring at Erik, who seems to taking great pleasure from her anger, as now there is a slight smile on his face. Alexzia only has two pokémon left: dragonite and wailord. Although she has more powerful pokémon, it seems as though both trainers are equally matched. Now it looks like Alexzia has calmed down, but still looks angry.

"She is now clutching her poké ball. I wonder what she'll use to defeat Erik's arcanine. Oh, I think we've seen this before: Alexzia is bending back and has her arm with the poké ball held behind her head. Like last time, she has just thrust it high into the air to release her wailord. This could be it! What in the world? Erik's arcanine has just run up to the middle of the field right under where wailord is being released, and seems to be powering up again, as there are now flames once again surrounding its body. What?! Wailord's poké ball has just released wailord upward, making it go higher, but this time, wailord is facing downward! Wailord is starting to descend quickly and is opening its wide mouth. It has just let out a massive blast, much bigger than the one for Erik's machamp, and is heading straight for the flaming arcanine. Arcanine's fire is growing around its body and has totally engulfed it!" the announcer exclaimed and started to speak faster. "Wailord's powerful water attack has successfully struck arcanine. I can't even see arcanine because of wailord's attack. Arcanine must be unable to move from all the pressure. Wailord is descending fast and is about to land where arcanine is trapped. Here it comes! What the - wailord has just been shot straight back up into the air in a blaze of fire. And arcanine is still where it has been, and doesn't seemed to be harmed at all. But it looks like it's panting, which must mean that it's starting to get tired. But whatever it did went too quickly for me to see. Right now we're about to get an instant replay in slow motion. But right now, Alexzia seems to be screaming again from seeing her pokémon, which is still on fire, so easily launched into the air. Wailord has just come back down and has been recalled into its poké ball before it hit the ground. Alexzia seems to have dropped wailord's poké ball and is clutching her hand with the other. If I'm not mistaken, wailord's poké ball seems to be smoking. Once again, medics are now entering the field and have let wailord out of its poké ball. Wailord is scorched just like Alexzia's scizor. Is that sound coming from wailord?" Christopher could hear a deep wailing coming through the radio. It could only have been Alexzia's wailord in agony. Christopher's mother was starting to cry herself from listening to such a sad and agonizing song.

"Oh, here is the instant replay," the announcer said. "Before wailord reached the ground, there seemed to be a barrier of fire pushing up wailord's water attack and then suddenly quickly exploding upwards, sending wailord flying back up. I can't tell whether arcanine shielded itself with its flaming barrier or if it was able to just evaporate the water as soon it got near it. Arcanine doesn't seem to be wet at all. But it has started to look exhausted.

"Alexzia is beside her wailord, crying and hugging it. The audience has been stunned to silence after that display. They must be thinking the same thing I, as well as everyone listening or watching, am thinking: how could anyone injure any pokémon that way? What has happened to Alexzia's scizor and wailord is just too cruel. And yet, Erik is still just standing there with his arcanine, waiting for Alexzia's last pokémon. He still has that crooked smile across his face, as if he takes pleasure in people's pain. I remembered watching him at the last competition when he used to look like a friendly trainer. Now it seems as though he has become cold-hearted and strangely powerful these past two years. Most of you are probably thinking that his arcanine has been somehow enhanced, which is illegal of course. But we always run tests on each pokémon registered for this competition to make sure there aren't any such pokémon used," the announcer explained.

"That's exactly what I was thinking about -" Christopher's mother said, but was once again rudely hushed by her son. But he was lucky that his mother was usually mellow.

"But none of Erik's pokémon were found positive for any kind of ability enhancement. Well, I guess those two have been training extremely hard for the past two years. But arcanine's power is still questionable in my opinion.

"Good, it seems as though wailord has finally been calmed down, returned to its poké ball, and is now being taken to the Pokémon Center. Alexzia also seems to have calmed down, but according to my monitor, she is still crying. She has two severely burned pokémon in the Pokémon Center, both placed there by Erik and his arcanine. Will Alexzia's dragonite be able to stop arcanine?

"Alexzia now has her final poké ball in her hand. She seems to be hesitating. Perhaps she is thinking about forfeiting? If I were her, I would want revenge for scizor and wailord. Even the crowd is cheering her on and also jeering at Erik just as loudly. But there he is, still with the same smile, beside his arcanine, which seems to have passed its exhaustion and is now ready to fight again. It all comes down to this final battle. Who will win the title of Pokémon World Champion?"