Episode 2 - Returning to Glory

I yawned very heavily as we stepped out of the train. We are now at the Cerulean City like I said Yesterday, Capital of Eastern Kanto. Where the beautiful nature's mountain ranges, clean ocean and cold air meets the Future world of Neon, Flying Towns and the sheer amount of Technologies can be seen in every distance.

No matter how you try, This place is so nature friendly, well we use Iron a lot from asteroids these making Flying Towns hovering over the vast mountain ranges protecting the Pokemon natural habitat and trees. Now, many are wondering why there are seas near Cerulean City if it is completely land lock, no it's not truly land lock, we managed to harness the water, from Fuschia City to here. Routes become Islands and Cities were split into two so the Seas can meet the Mountains.

I remember many things here in Cerulean City, this is the place where I won my first Trophy. While we were walking in the streets, I took out my phone to remember the old photo I had. It was the picture of me and Leaf holding a trophy, it was the International Kart race, where I represent the Kanto region against others, while every Region has boosters, I only had my speciality, Kart Splitting. It's like splitting the Kart into two which increases my speed, the AI will control the other one while I control the other half, unique right.

Looking at that photo, memories began sprouting as I remember the good times we had, before the dark times. I considered Leaf as my idol back then, I trust her at everything, she was there for me, she took care of me, all of those I can't pay her back. And now, I regret having trust in her.

Now, I'm all my own with Kirlia, Weepinbell and Spearow beside me, a team who will be with me from the beginning of my journey. I should give them nicknames though, I haven't thought a good name for Kirlia, Weepinbell seems to have a good nickname, Stalin, He has that hat from a Unovan General, probably a good name for him. Spearow, he still needs to evolve so I can give him a proper nickname.

We went to a cafe and took some energizing coffee for the gym match later, I woke up very early awhile ago, probably 5 in the morning and we left Pewter City at 6. Trains here in Kanto are already moving during those time since people wake up very early and work is on the rush. Reminds me of dad who has a messed up sleep schedule, he is already awake around 3 in the morning then left 5 which his work hours is 10, by the looks of it, I did follow that same sleep schedule.

"Kirlia... Kir.lia."  the Pokemon spoke as she drank her coffee, I woke her up too early as well. She seems to enjoy the coffee, I felt the energy was released from her body, few sips and she was already active, from a sleepy and drowsy Pokemon to a very active one. This is going to be needed in the battlefield later, with an energetic Pokemon, her skills would do more damage.

While we were drinking, I felt buzzing on my pants. I put down the coffee and took my phone out, It was Ren. It's too early for anything, why would she call me at these hours. Probably she needs something, I only know her yesterday but she seems like she already knows me. Yesterday while we were eating with Leaf, I felt a very weird atmosphere behind me, despite how friendly Ren is, I feel in my guts that there was something wrong about her.

"Hello?" I answered I heard heavy breathing, a girl's breathing. She seems to be running as I hear loud rumbles of Wind hitting her very fast which only means she is running.

"Hey, can we have a rematch?" she panted. I rose one of my eyebrows in confusion, not for the rematch but why at this hour, the loudness of the Pokemon might wake up people here.

" Sure, Where? " I was hoping not in any battlefields here because most of the time these fields are near to busy buildings and quite a neighbourhood. I would like to address as well that what I meant for the battlefield is about the field were the Pokemon battles in.

"Meet me at the Golden Bridge." She stops the call. I assume she was in a hurry and wants a quick battle, I wouldn't blame her if she wanted an early battle since after the morning comes, People will start ramming the streets and becomes busy.

I sighed and told Kirlia to grab her drink and leave, we gave the waitress a tip as well, it's a norm for me to leave tips for the employees. We got out of the cafe, greeted by the calm morning streets with few cars lighting the road as the street lights are slowly closing while the sun's shine slowly meets the road. We started finding the Golden Bridge, I rarely do sightseeing here in Cerulean many years ago, I'm just there for the event. While finding I found the old race Kart track, It's still in use but the memories of it flooded, the emotions, the blood of rushing through my veins while in the race and the good memories. We shrug it off and continued finding, it took us a few minutes but we finally found the bridge, while we were going near, I saw Ren who was waiting at us in the other side.

"You seem to be late." She crossed her hands. I felt a weird sensation about her, yesterday she was all nice but here it's truly different. She got an ego surrounding her, her eyes changed from a blank look to a more menacing stare.

" Sorry, we had some coffee. " I excuse. While we were staring at each other, the rivers below the bridge ran very fast, the noises weren't loud or quite, it's just perfect to calm someone down but for Ren, she wasn't calm at all.

"Okay, Let's see how stronger you have gotten." I was correct, her friendly tone was gone, it's a boastful tone. I don't know what happened to her yesterday, is it because of her defeat or something else.

"POKEMON GO!!" We both shouted, overpowering the sound of the Noise from the river. She threw out a Ponyta, a Fire and Normal Type while I threw in Spearow. I know I don't have an advantage against Ponyta but I can only outmatch it by speed.

"PONYTA USE QUICK SPEED!!!

" SPEAROW USE AERIAL ACE!!! "

Both Pokemon began charging toward each other. We both used very fast Pokemon moves, both moves can dodge each other but I have to sure a good hit. The Ponyta was about to hit Spearow, but Spearow began Flying above at a tremendous speed and started free falling. Both of them hit watch others, it was huge damage on both sides. 

"So you've changed a lot." She grabs her waists while looking at me. Is this considered a Compliment or something else, I felt there was something wrong happening.

" But it wasn't enough, PONYTA USE FLARE BLITZ!!! "

"Alright, Aerial Ace Come On!"

Ponyta began to shine with flares on its body, it started skipping to Spearow, but this time Spearow got hit first and the Aerial Ace did lesser damage. Luckily this is a Golden Bridge not some wooden Bridge, if it is, The Whole Bridge will be burnt down. Spearow falls down on the bridge, he was about to faint but he still stood on the ground. Now This is what I call I rival, someone is trying to push me for my limits, I think Leaf is right yesterday, A Rude person is far better to be a rival than a nice angel. Which bothers me if Ren listened to our conversation or something else happened.

"Too slow too Slow, My Pokemon will be the ultimate team than yours." She boastfully spoke. While glancing at her, I notice she has 3 other Pokeballs under her belt while I only had 2. She seems to be prepared for this rematch while I'm not.

"So, Speed is you're main, with a Special Attacker and something else? Just Like my team if so." I groaned as I sway my Scarf. From Yesterday, she has a Ghastly and which almost everyone knows that The Ghastly line is famous for Special attack, same goes with the Ralts Line, both of Spearow and Ponyta's line is based on speed, both are probably fast but someone is always going to bas faster.

"Why are you so salty? PONYTA USE ANOTHER FLARE BLITZ!!!"

" Why are you as well? SPEAROW USE FEINT ATTACK!!! "

I was getting angry at her, all of my rages began to burst. I saw Kirlia who was slowly getting afraid, slowly back off at me. Two Pokemon crashed to each other, Spearow tried to dodge it but Ponyta was too quick. Spearow was thrown back with a faint on his eyes, this was my first loss of a Pokemon. In games I know there is a health bar but this is the real world, there is no cure if you're Pokemon is healthy or not. I withdraw him back as I get angry over time, I saw Ren who was giving me a face of mockery.

"I assume more from you." She mocked, Her face is slowly getting into my nerves. The Anger inside of me wants to burst but I don't want someone to have it, despite how she mocks me, I don't want to release the tension to someone I've just met.

"Kirlia, You're turning." I sighed. She went in against the Ponyta. This time, I want to sure that Ponyta will be crushed for what he did against Spearow. I slowly remember the anger and hatred I had with Leaf, and now it started to gather in one place, to a Pokemon that has nothing to do with this, he was just told to do it and I began hating on it.

"Ah, You're Ralts truly change but let's see if it did! PONYTA USE FLARE BLITZ ONE MORE TIME!!!"

" Kirlia use PSYCHIC!!! "

A fit of anger was about to burst in mt veins but I keep on trying to calm down. Ponyta began rushing toward Kirlia with its flaming body, Kirlia began calming down and started to form light in her arms. With her shout a large shock wave beam in the bridge hitting Ponyta before he hits her, he fainted beside Ren who was giving me a deadly stare. The Flames of Ponyta slowly calm down, she withdraws him with just silence. This bridge with its Flowing River should make her calm, like what I said, she wasn't calm at all.

"Hmph. HAUNTER LET'S GOO!!!

She threw her next Pokemon, thus leaving her with 2. I saw how she already evolved her former Ghastly, a stronger and faster Pokemon. Kirlia can still beat him with just psychic, but Haunter can learn Poison-type moves which will give huge problems. While listening to the river flows, I slowly calmed down and prepare myself for this next battle.

" HAUNTER USE THEIF!!!

"KIRLIA USE PSYCHIC"

Haunter began moving his arms with dark force while Kirlia was calming down in her arms. Both Pokemon showing different colours, Haunter with dark while Kirlia has light. Kirlia attacked first with her shock wave before even Haunter attacked, fainting him immediately. Ren Withdrew him quickly, I was about to expect her threw her next Pokeball but she didn't and look down in the bridge with dead silence. I was spectating her with confusion, she was just standing and staring at nothing, the quietness was overrun by the river's flow under the bridge.

"Well, I'll be having another rematch later." She awkwardly said and slowly walked away from the distance. I was in big confusion and have a lot of questions but she left us in the bridge. I don't understand her, I know we've only met yesterday but there is a huge thing that I truly wanted to know about Ren.

We were left in the bridge with utter silence, I sighed and began walking away from the bridge. I heard Kirlia followed me up, behind. She was also in confusion and curious, not only at me but with Ren as well. Ren just approaches us yesterday while we were eating and began trying to be friends, I don't get it, It's not normal or common to ask for friendship just because of that. Her introducing herself by asking and wandering to know I never battled, baffles me a lot; and how did she get already a Ponyta, I know they only show up near Fuschia City and the Sevii Islands but any anywhere near Pewter City.

Enough of thinking about Ren, I'll ask her later or tomorrow, I have to think about my strategies against the water gym leader Misty. I heard she has a lot of secrets, some are normal secrets like what everyone does, having a relationship to a different type of secret, more likely about the Crime Organizations here in Kanto. I don't know if she has a connection with Team Rocket but all I know that I should focus on defeating her.

After taking Spearow to the Pokemon centre, We went in front of the gym and prepare ourselves. I know Weepinbell is enough, but I have to sure Spearow should be faster than any of her Pokemon. We got in the Gym, we saw a large pool with a beautiful rock formation. I heard that 6 years ago, it was just only a pool but now it's a full-on tourist attraction. It was reconstructed at some point and then change the gym style, and having two pools, One for the Gym Battle and One for Pool training, and by guessing Misty is the one who coaches them. We look around on how magnificent this place is, with a colourful glassed dome on top to have perfect lighting, A Hallway from the far left to showcase pictures like a museum and lastly, the Glass Museum in e far right. Almost all of the Water Type Pokemon were in the museum, they were all swimming in the pool, Kirlia and I were amazed at how beautiful it is.

"Seems have guests here." Said a female voice. I turn around while Kirlia was still looking at the Pokemon: I saw a woman, a bit taller than me, with a short ginger hair with a light blue swimsuit and white sandals, It was Misty.

"Wait, You're the GUY!!" She was shocked looking at me. She began squealing behind me, Despite her efforts of covering it, I can still hear squeals.

"I Say, I'm a huge fan from your Kart Racing 4 years ago! come follow me!!" She was excited by looking at me, she told me to follow her so I did, I called Kirlia with us as we went on the left Hallway.

The Left Hallway was filled with Pictures and Medals, mainly about the Events what happened here in Cerulean. From the day it was named Cerulean to the Current new title of the Most Futuristic Part of Kanto, having a lot of technology here is truly efficient here in Cerulean. There are some pictures of having their main Tradition, hosting the Valentine Festival, the reason is well after the Golden Bridge, a beautiful place where Lovers a meet, anyone who has no relationship or with, will go there to have their perfect time with their partners, those who don't have will manage to find one by the perfect algorithm of a love machine, it matched you with your Music taste, culture, Likes and Dislikes and Pokemon. After a Few Walks, we found a familiar picture, it was the same picture I had in my Phone, a photo of me and Leaf Holding the Champion Trophy of International Kart Racing.

"The Photo that started my Winning Streak," I said softly as I look at the Photo. Like awhile ago, memories flood my thoughts, letting me remember that day, the day that people were supporting and shouting my name. Many good things started to appear, memories of the past on how I was good back then.

'Here use this scarf, so One day we will meet up once again. I hope you will wear this until the day we met.' The Same voice yesterday, it all flooded back. I look at my scarf as I recall myself from 6 years ago, I was having the best moments of my life. My Lucky scarf was been therewith from the beginning of my winning streak and until now, I forgot who she was but I will find her.

"This was the first time, a 6-year-old took the world by storm," Misty spoke as she looks at the photo and began starring at me, she was proud at me. Like Leaf 6 years ago, she was there for me to give my trophy and held it together, that energy was the same as here.

"And that 6-year-old will took on the Champion League, right?" She was happy looking at me, I nodded back. I was surprised in the inside on how did she knows that, probably Brock told her so.

"Are you ready?" She stated. Kirlia and I look at each other and nodded at her. After the tour in the left hallway, we went to our places on the battlefield. Two platforms emerge from the Pool, probably a place where we could put our Pokemon Into.

"Well I warn you, All 8 Badges were made to show how powerful a trainer is, and by your looks, you have that feeling of power. Now, it's been 3 years, nobody challenged the Gym Leaders and I can tell you are going to give a path to new Trainers, and I ask you, Are you willing to start a new Chapter?" She asked me, She was giving a speech to me. A Speech about a new wave of trainers, I heard there were less and fewer trainers are going to battle gym leaders for an unknown cause. Both of my Soul and Mind united as one as I look at her in her eyes, I thought to myself, I will be the new Champion and I will be the person who will take the world by storm as I did 6 years ago.

" My name is Yoake Karsuragi of Pallet city, and I am willing to start a new Chapter in the world of Pokemon. With all my might, I will get all the Badges, all the Champion Medals of the world to prove myself, I will be the World Champion. " I proudly shouted, Kirlia then look at me with a smile.

"Well then, prove it. GOLDUCK!!! LET'S GO!!"  Her Soft tone ascends to a battle spirit, the Pokemon landed on the platform, from its weight, waters from pool started to wave.

"STALIN LET'S GOO!" I threw Stalin or Weepinbell if you haven't been the focus. Like Golduck, as he lands on the platform, waters began waving as the battle began.

"GOLDUCK USE PSYCHIC!!!"

" STALIN USE RAZOR LEAF!!! "

Golden then started to show light in his webbed feet, Stalin saw this coming and threw himself to the water. The Golduck didn't hesitate and swam to the water, as a minute a loud shock wave was heard underneath, Waves slowly becomes stronger from the pool, the two rose from the pool and went back to the platform. I look at the far-Right to see the large LED screen, and both Pokemon were truly damage.

"GOLDUCK USE PSYCHIC ONE MORE TIME!!!"

" STALIN SKIP INTO THE ROCKS AND USE RAZOR LEAF!!! "

Like earlier The Pokemon began sprouting light from its webbed hands, Stalin's leafy hand began to sharpen and started to jump across the rock formation in the battlefield. Golduck released it's a Shock wave, Large tidal waves began to appear, Stalin then jumped toward Golduck hitting him with a critical strike. Golduck has fallen while Stalin was in critical damage. We both withdraw our Pokemon, knowing this is going to more difficult I should use my fastest Pokemon.

"VAPOREON GO!!!

" SPEAROW IT'S YOUR TURN! "

A Mermaid like Pokemon jumped in the battle, it was an evolution, while I threw Spearow for quicker the damage. The waves from the battle earlier were still there, getting intense as time passes by. I saw her belt was under one more Pokeball and this is going to be an easy ride, I have to sure Spearow is faster than Vaporeon.

"VAPOREON USE ICE BEAM!!!

" SPEAROW USE AERIAL ACE!!! "

Vaporeon opened her mouth as a White Crystal Ball appeared. Spearow saw this and began flying above, a beam started to appear, Spearow was doing his best to dodge it quickly, those walls who were hit by the ice beam began to freeze. Spearow then did the Free Fall like earlier and damage Vaporeon, letting her push off at her platform, swimming in the waters.

"VAPOREON USE ANOTHER ICE BEAM!!!

" SPEAROW DODGE IT!!! "

I forgot that Spearow can't attack Vaporeon underwater, I have to sure he will dodge it as fast as he can. Vaporeon's mouth began to show another white crystal ball then from that ball a beam appeared with ice, Spearow was trying to dodge but one of his wings was hit, making him fall to the waters. A Few Seconds, He appeared once again, this time he was fully damaged and one hit will mean he's fainted. Vaporeon got back to her platform, while Spearow was having a problem with trying to swim.

"Spearow!!! Aerial Ace To the sky!!"

"Oh no you don't, VAPOREON FINISH THIS WITH ANOTHER ICE BEAM!!! "

I didn't think of this and I only think of the advantages, nothing else. I didn't hesitated and withdraw him immediately and bring Kirlia into the battlefield. The ice beam was about to hit her but her psychic manage to broke it by a shock wave. I nodded at her for acting that fast, I took at the time to heal Fearow, while Kirlia was in battle, She knows what to do.

"Oh? Let's see about this then, VAPOREON USE SHADOW BALL!!! "

"KIRLIA USE PSYCHIC!!!"

A Ball emerges from Vaporean, she threw it at Kriya. She didn't hesitate and use Psychic and a shock wave formed from her hands, splitting the Shadow ball and dodging it quickly, and that shock wave, Vaporeon got hit, fainting her. Misty withdraw her quickly and threw her last Pokemon, her special Pokemon and Main, Starmie.

"After this Battle, you will finally start the new chapters of your journey so do it at your Best!" She was proud of me, and then memories began to flood back from 6 years ago.

(Flashback)

"Leaf-chan!! Leaf-chan!!!" I shouted as I saw her looking at my drawing with a blue ribbon stick to the top right, which means I won the First Prize, being shown to the Art Museum.

"What is it?" She softly asks as she put down my painting with a cover in it to sure it's protected.

" Are you proud of me? "I blushed while asking.

" Of course I'm always proud of you. " She brushed my hair, I began giggling and saw her smile at me. She was like a mother to me, she taught me everything about values and I don't know anything else to pay it back.

"Come on, Let's celebrate with some Ice Cream." She stood up with my painting, I was happy and excited at the same time, I began running toward the exit, I turn around to sure she was following me, I saw her Smiling while walking toward me.

"When do you think I'll be a Pokemon Trainer?"

" Once you're 10. "

"Will you be there for me?"

" Yes, from beginning till the end. "

(End of Flashback)

I remember those days, I want to shed some tears but I will try to keep them on the inside. Younger me is so innocent and pure, just wanted to make Leaf-chan always round at him. Those memories are always there in my heart, besides the scarf. The Painting was on my room, and to this day, the Ribbon is still there.

"Alright KIRLIA END THIS WITH A PSYCHIC!!!"

" STARMIE USE YOUR BEST RAPID SPIN!!! "

Kirlia began using her hand, the light began to appear and preparing to release its energy. Starmie began spinning toward Kirlia. The Shock wave was released and Starmie got thrown back into hid Platform with very high damage. I withdrew Kirlia back to sure and threw in Spearow, knowing he has a Feint attack.

"SPEAROW USE FEINT ATTACK NOW!!!"

"How stubborn to use him again, STARMIE USE ICE BEAM!!!"

Spearow then flew above one more time, doing his best to dodge the beams from Starmie. He manages to dodge them quickly and does another free fall and hit Starmie with critical damage, fainting Starmie. Finally the 2nd Gym Badge, the Cascade Badge is now in my reach.

"not bad, not bad." She withdrew Starmie from her Pokeball. She wasn't disappointed, but like I said many times Proud. She seems to be happy at me, I highly doubt the rumour of her teaming with up with Criminal Organization. I saw her came near me after walking around the battlefield.

"Here have this." She said as she gave me the Cascade Badge, and a TM as well, Water Pulse.

" Well Good Luck now, and I hope for the best. " I stopped her quickly as I gave her a hug. This wasn't the usual me but the memories from the past began to show my emotions, the good old days where I was a happy young kid, nothing to worry about, just trying to make Leaf proud.

"Thank you." I softly whispered while Hugging, I wanted to cry but I hid it for the best. I was about to push her back but I felt her arms hugging me as well.

"There There now, It will be a Hard Journey ahead, Have this as a sure you won't have to deal with many problems." She patted my back while hugging, those few seconds, I wanted to burst in tears, knowing I can finally let go of the tension, but I was too afraid.

"Well, See you again then." We stopped hugging and began to smile at each other. I waved goodbye as we left the gym.

After the gym, we went to the Pokemon centre to heal my Pokemon. Spearow is fast but I need to train him to sure he won't be outrun by any enemy. While waiting for the lady from the counter, I decided to do some research and began typing on why there are less and less Pokemon trainers to appear. In the Qura, many theorised that Pokemon training trend is losing but for many, they believe something was wrong. I did a heavy thought, Trainers are Missing and Team Rocket rose back from the ashes. While thinking, the lady from the counter told me to get my pokemon. While getting it, my phone began running, I took it out quickly and it was Ren.

"Hello?" I asked

" Hey, Yoake, I need help, go to the Golden Bridge ASAP!! " I heard someone was crying from the background, I think it was very important so I took my Pokemon and ran to the golden bridge.

We got there in time, we saw people are crowded in front of the Golden Bridge. In the centre I saw Ren holding a crying child, I went to her quickly and saw she was hugging the child. I look at the other side of the bridge to saw the grunt from last night, the same Team Rocket Grunt last night, with his white short hair and black uniform but this time, there was a difference, he was wearing shades.

"HEY, WHAT DO YOU WANT THIS TIME!?" I shouted to the grunt.

"YEAH! " I saw Ren stood up but there was a problem, I saw her only 3 Pokeballs nothing else, awhile ago it was 4, did her Pokemon got stolen.

"GIVE THIS BOY'S POKEMON BACK!!! or FIGHT ME COWARD!!!" she was angry at the Grunt, was Ren got victimized by Team Rocket as well, or something else. Ren was hugging the crying child, it was his pokemon got stolen, not hers.

" Fighting is a waste of time, here. Don't ever think of meeting me up again. " He Threw back the kid's Pokeball. Then a cloud of smoke appeared in front of everyone's eyes, we were covered and couldn't see anything. The smoke began to clear, some are coughing from the smoke while others are swaying their hands to fan away the smoke.

"Yoake, you have 2 badges right?" she asked me while She stares at the place was the grunt should be before he left , I nodded back.

"Okay, In the far south, there is subway thay that lead you to Vermillion sub substation Third Gym badge is there, I'm counting on you." She brought the kids back to his parents while Ren was talking to me, I was confused what is going on right now.

" I'll take care of Team Rocket. " She stated as she ran to the opposite side of the Golden Bridge.

"Good Grief." I groaned as I left with Kirlia on my hands, while we were walking on the crowds, I notice something, it had a gloomy atmosphere, and a different sensation was appearing to my senses but I shrug it off.

This day is the worst day but it's just 11 in the morning, probably 2 badges in one day seems seem nice.

***Download NovelToon to enjoy a better reading experience!***