“Let me hear it  for your winner, Max!”

The crowd, livid with Max chants and excitement for their psychic trainer. Tyler and Daisy already left their seats to meet Vanessa at her tunnel. Max waved with his white gloves to the crowd until the tunnels darkness removed him.

Franklin ran from the repetitive chants to empty corridors, cold and abusive. Decorated walls of past champions, the most recent, Vanessa smiling with her prized Pokemon Egg. Corridor ended, greeting the tunnel entrance, to find Daisy standing behind Tyler watching Vanessa. She was engaged in a one-sided chat with the same old man who spoke with Julie and met Vanessa at her cabin. The old man had the same to henchmen he had with him at the cabin, yet, more determined and battle struck.

The old man raised his voice, “…reason you got their in the first place. Just remember that next time.

“There won’t be a next time,” Vanessa sputtered.

The old man rose his eyes, “I know, we are done here. Your lucky this tournament is all you lost.” The old man lowered his eyes and met Franklin’s again.

“You’ll remember this next time you cross Team Rocket.”

“Voltorb is down! Voltrob is down! Max tales the lead,” the announcer shouted, igniting the Max chants through the crowd.

Vanessa recalled the idle Voltorb and stared at the ball.

“What happened to sis? I’ve never seen her battle like that,” Tyler said.

Franklin watched Vanessa staring at her remaining Pokemon.

“Yeah, she used to have a Voltorb, I know she could have won that round,” Daisy said.

‘Max, Max, Max!’

Vanessa released her second Pokemon, “A Pikachu! That’s a Vanessa classic!”

“Max second Pokemon is a Natu!”

“A Natu! Pikachu has a big type advantage against Natu,” Tyler shouted.

Vanessa watched Natu flap side to side, tuning into the Max chants, flaring fanatics blackened by Bulk berry sized lights. Natu’s small body flapped violently along the wind stream of the water arena. Pikachu stood on the edge of the body, watching the flying, purple Pokemon.

“Begin!”

“Go Natu, charge with Peck,” Natu charged the yellow mouse and jabbed, sending Pikachu across the water.

“What is sis doing. She could have taken out that Natu with one attack right there,” Daisy protested.

Vanessa withdrew, watching Pikachu idle around the icy pond.

-Sea of golden flakes dropped from the sky, surrounding barring dipped from rainbow tastings. Wind currents shook the flakes around on miniture hurricanes surrounding Franklin.

The magestic bird whore red and white feathers, golden talens with a matching crown on her brow. Deep emerald eyes stared Franklin deep into the earth, shrunk to a bust bunny on her majastey’s will.

The large Pokemon cried and flapped into the sun, leaving behind a rainbow trail with every flap.-

“Thee end. What did you think Franklin?’

“Awesome, mom!” Does Ho-Oh only show herself to strong trainers?”

“No my sweet boy never.” Franklin’s demeanor shrieks to match his stature.

“She will only appear for the best.”

~

Franklin recalled that story as Vanessa chased her younger siblings. A true vision of greatness, landing, commading only the greatest. Rumors Red met her, Franklin watched Vanessa closely. Watching her clothes swing goldenly.

Daisy followed her own tracks back to her home.

Thunder struck the earth sending a tremble below Franklin’s feet. Daisy relieved herself of grief and rushed to the epicenter. Franklin followed close, watching the sky slice into pieces by thunder. The roof of the cabin sinked into visibility and Vanessa’s battle. Her Raichu stood strong in front of a trio of uninvited guest.

Two men returned feinted Pokemon to their respective balls. The third, Franklin stared at intensely. The man who confronted Julia after their battle.

“You can leave now,” Vanessa demanded.

“Oh dearest, I’ll be back and next time, you won’t be able to refuse.” The three men walked into the forest as the older man gave Franklin a smirk.

Tyler revealed himself behind the door and approached Vanessa as Daisy did.

“It’s about time we go, guys. The next round will start soon!” Tyler and Daisy’s face vanished into the cabin with their bodies trotting behind. Vanessa recalled Raichu,

“You recognize that man. Didn’t you, Franklin?” Franklin could only muster a nod similar to Julia.

Vanessa turned her back to Franklin and began to walk into the cabin,

“Just… just stay away from him.”

Franklin stood in the chirping forest amongst thunder craters.