January 24th, Sunday, Clear Skies
Two days later, at Indigo Plateau.
Dark gray stone steps stretched straight up the mountainside, leading to the silver brazier blazing at the summit.
The Pokémon League's Poké Ball emblem glittered under the clear blue sky.
Natsu climbed the final steps, a single-strap bag slung over his shoulder, and gazed up at the soaring Pidgeot cutting across the horizon.
Boom! Boom! Boom!
Vibrant fireworks exploded above the League grounds.
Trainers of all ages wore expressions ranging from awe to tearful joy.
"Mom, I finally made it to the Indigo Plateau Conference!" One trainer sobbed into his sleeve, overco.
A ten-year-old boy brandished his bug net with heroic flair.
"One day, my Caterpie army will conquer the League!"
Before the majestic Pokémon League headquarters, countless trainers realized their childhood dreams—collecting eight badges to stand here.
"Quite the crowd," Natsu mused, scanning the surroundings.
Gengar erged halfway from his shadow, arms spread tauntingly.
"Gengar~︿(￣︶￣)︿" (This is it?)
"Don't get cocky. What if a legendary trainer pops up?"
Sylveon trotted beside him, its ribbon coiled around Natsu's arm.
"Sylveon~o(｀^｀)o"
Its pink ears twitched happily as they entered the bustling festival square.
Natsu handed his bag to Gengar and flipped through the Event Handbook.
"Hmm... We need to register at the Pokémon Center first."
Professor Oak had already handled the paperwork; now it was just formalities.
The conference spanned four zones:
Main Stadium (opening ceremony/finals, sacred fla site)
Battle Arenas (rock/water/ice/grass terrain)
Contestant Village (free lodging at Budew Hotel)
Festival Plaza (food, rch, gas)
"Jas and the others should arrive soon."
Eyeing the lively plaza, Natsu queued for ice cream.
"Want so, Gengar?"
"Gengar..." It pondered deeply, mimicking Calm Mind focus.
"Togepi doo-ee~" Togepi nearly dove into the freezer before Natsu snatched it back.
The vendor's eyes widened.
"Y-you're...!"
"Huh?"
"Natsu-sensei!" He whispered excitedly, "No charge! My daughter loves your streams—I even got a trainer card!"
Fans everywhere...
Natsu paid anyway. He and Gengar licked their cones in sync: (￣～￣)
Togepi trailed obediently, making splat-splat noises with its ice cream.
No worries about losing it—Aura Sense tracked location and body heat like a parenting hack.
Besides, few here could defeat Togepi anyway...
"Is that Natsu-sensei?!"
"Even hotter in person!"
"If I face him... it's over!"
With looks rivaling Steven and Lance, Natsu drew stares but few dared approach.
"Sylveon! (〝▼皿▼)"
"Gengar! (〝▼皿▼)"
"...Tone it down," Natsu sighed. "People will think we're here to stomp rookies!"
Can you call it stomping when everyone has eight badges?
He was slightly stronger—that's all.
His real goal? Spreading joy through battles (while minimizing injuries).
The Main Stadium's Pokémon Center had hour-long lines, so Natsu headed to the quieter Contestant Village branch.
"Chansey~" A pink nurse led him to the counter.
"Just hand your Pokédex, Natsu-sensei," Nurse Joy smiled.
"You know ?"
"I'm from Saffron City—we t last week." She winked.
How am I supposed to tell them apart?!
"Transferred here?" he deflected.
"Yes. Extra security and dical staff are mobilized for the League," she explained.
The highest-profile event demanded top-tier support.
Wait... with so many Joys and Jennys...
This place must be Brock's paradise!
Compared to the ani, this tiline's Brock was subtler but still had [Observation: MAX].
The man was a true connoisseur...
"Gengar~" It hopped up, offering the special Pokédex.
Monts later, Joy returned it.
"Registration complete! Here's your upgraded Pokédex."
"Gengar!(`^`)"
Natsu glanced at the overhead screen.
"Matches start this afternoon? That's fast."
"Yes. The opening ceremony begins in one hour," Joy said. "President Goodshow and Champion Lance will attend."
Charles Goodshow—the jovial, white-bearded League chairman.
And Champion Lance...
The tournant committee has insiders?
Well then.
"Thanks," Natsu nodded, heading for the ceremony.
"Good luck competing!"
...
Natsu stood with his fiercely determined Gengar levitating beside him.
Just as he was about to step outside, a sleazy little old man with thick glasses blocked his way.
"Hey there, custor~," the old man chuckled, holding an Abra in his arms with a mysterious grin. "If you wanna drop out now, just say the word. Abra can teleport you away, y'know?"
Natsu raised an eyebrow.
Wait, they're offering that?
Too bad… This ti, I've already decided to crush it.
Natsu said, "Green, drop the act. It's ."
The 'little old man' froze for a long mont before the Ditto covering him slowly lted away.
Revealing a young, beautiful girl in a sleek black dress.
"Natsu-sensei! How did you see through it?!" Green gasped. "Even Red couldn't see past my disguise!"
Because I've read the special editions…
Natsu coughed lightly. "Gold ntioned sothing about this before. I just guessed it was you."
Her disguise exposed, the utterly dejected scamr Green clenched her fists. "Damn you, Gold!!"
Natsu glanced skyward, silently marking one less strike against Gold in his mind.
Next ti, I won't mute you!
After so questioning, it turned out Green was here early to set up her vendor stall.
Hearing that Natsu-sensei was at the Pokémon Center, she disguised herself to ss around.
But… getting spotted instantly? Zero fun.
"So, what's the rchandise this ti?" Natsu asked curiously.
"Contestant intel and custom rch!" Green's eyes sparkled. "Right? Gonna make a killing!"
Natsu: "Good luck with that."
"Huh?"
"Let's head to the opening ceremony first."
Natsu checked the chat group on his phone. "Anyone else coming to Indigo Plateau today?"
Being a major event for the Kanto League, plenty of people wanted in on the action.
Green thought for a mont. "Mr. Brock's handling security for the sub-arenas."
"So familiar faces from Johto too. The bullet train goes straight to Indigo Plateau now."
Natsu paused.
Back in the day, Red's Snorlax once stopped that bullet train with its bare hands.
After all these years…
That level 90 Snorlax could probably wrestle Groudon by now.
In the chat group:
Natsu-sensei: "@Gold, on your way?"
"Almost there! Just about to reach Indigo Plateau!" Gold replied, goggles on, riding his Typhlosion.
Silver: "You took the wrong turn earlier."
Gold looked around—Silver and Whitney were already gone.
"Dammit!! Why didn't you say sothing?!"
Whitney, riding her Miltank, grinned. "Hehe~."
"I-I made it to Indigo Plateau…" Yellow panted, adjusting her straw hat. "The stairs… so tiring…"
"Where's Red?" Green asked, surprised.
"He said he'll show up for the finals… to give Natsu-sensei the trophy." Yellow answered honestly.
Natsu blinked.
Good guy. Flag 1 from The Battler himself!*
Blue Oak said coolly: "I'll be with him."
Flag 2 from the Kanto Champion!*
"@Natsu-sensei, which arena are you picking for the first round?" Lance, the "Just ssenger", asked. "Rock, water, grass, ice… I can pull so strings for you."
Lorelei complained: "Oh, co ON!"
"Tch. Doesn't matter either way." Lance smirked. "Might as well give you a bye round. Save the other contestants the trauma—"
Natsu was taken aback.
This is the 'Hero of Justice'?
Never change, Lance.
After the rger of Kanto and Johto, the Indigo Plateau Conference beca a grand event for both regions.
The opening ceremony gathered skilled trainers from all over.
Rare and powerful Pokémon filled the stadium—an unprecedented spectacle.
Natsu and Green arrived at the arena just as the ceremonial flas ignited.
Whoosh!
With Moltres' sacred fire lighting up the sky…
The Kanto League's Indigo Plateau Conference officially began!
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