Chapter 102 - Stay Away from Latias!

The long quiet and peaceful yet beautiful night in the Petalburg wood passed in like a blink of eye when Rize fell asleep and awaken by the ray of sunlight that was piercing through the trees and leafs of the woods.

He then woke up and changed from his sleepwear to his usual adventure suit. After that he tried to reach Micah and Rin by calling them via the Pokegear but since they were in the deep woods of Petalburg, there was no signal and the call can't be made.

Not long after that, Latias too woke up from her sleep and to her surprise, there was already a set of meal on a plate made of a big leaf and it consisted of a mix variety of berries that could be found in the wood. She looked around to see who was it that has brought her this breakfast but found none. Little do she know that it was a little Treecko who made that mix berry meal and was guarding her from the top of the tree sitting on the big trunk alone.

Rize began to think and wondering of what could be Mewtwo's objective of coming even here to the Hoenn region. From the past information he knew about this Pokemon called Mewtwo and his encounter with it at Mt.Ember, all he could think of was that Mewtwo was searching for Legendary Pokemon and fight them all but he could not find any good reason or its motive behind its doing. If Mewtwo was under Team Rocket's control it would just totally made sense but Mewtwo was not under Team Rocket's control and was free on its own to roam the planet.

"I might encounter this dangerous Pokemon sooner or later, and if it could defeat Legendary Pokemon such like the Zapdos, Moltres and Latias with relative ease. I stand no chance against it." said Rize to himself and then he decided to train and build up his Pokemon team power.

"I think I should catch more Pokemon." He thought of catching some Pokemon in the wood and if possible a Pokemon type that he have not yet have in his arsenal.

"Latias, I'm going to walk around the wood for a while, you rest up here okay."

Latias looked a bit worried when Rize decided to leave for a while but he reassured her that the wood gecko clan is with her to protect her.

Just when he was about to leave, suddenly a Beedrill flew and stopped right above them as was observing them.



Rize first thought it was just a Beedrill although he wondered what is it doing here until a few seconds later that he realized something uncommon.

"What?! How could there be a Beedrill in this Petalburg wood?!" He then started to tremble that his worst scenario he thought could have happen will really happen.

"Hsss..."

A hissing sound of a snake could be heard from behind of Rize and he immediately turned to his back with a sweat on his look to see what was at the back of him.


A huge purple coloured cobra snake Pokemon was hissing and smiling with an evil smile and the look as if ready to strike at anytime was on its stand at about five meters away from Rize.

"Arbok! Oh no! Could it be..?!"



Without any warning, a green mantis Pokemon strike swiftly with its scythe towards Rize and Latias from the east side.

Rize was caught off guard by the sudden assault and could not react in time.

Just before the scythe would have slashed Rize's body, one of  the Grovyle from the wood gecko clan parried Scyther's Slash attack with its Leaf Blade attack.

Scyther then moved back as his assault has failed and a male Rocket Grunt with its black suit uniform came out from the green bushes and stood right beside it while the Grovyle was standing on its combat position in front of Rize and Latias.


"Team Rocket! Just as I thought!" shouted Rize. He knew that the Rocket Grunt must be here for Latias.

To his surprise, it looks like there are more than one of them, the Rocket Grunt owning Arbok and Beedrill came out and showed themselves as well each standing beside their Pokemon. Beedrill flew down and joined with its Trainer and Rize was in the middle of them being circled by the three of them from north, east, and south side of him.

"Give it up boy and hand over Latias to us. Heeheehee.." One of them with the Arbok said to Rize with a gross kind of laughter.

The whole wood gecko clan came to the rescue and three more Grovyles along with five Treeckos jumped from the trees and stood in the frontside of Rize and Latias forming a circle of defense from the Rocket Grunts.

"You're outnumbered, Rocket! The wood gecko clan is on my side!" Rize confidently not shaken by them and intimidated them back.

"Number isn't everything! Arbok attack!"

The Rocket Grunt commanded to attack and the other two strikes as well. Arbok, Beedrill and Scyther, all three of them charged straight into Rize and Latias. However, as the wood gecko defense army is on his side, the fight to protect Latias then began. The first Grovyle that showed up and rescued Rize fought with the Scyther one on one. Two of the Grovyle took on Beedrill and the last Grovyle along with the five Treeckos got to face with the cobra Pokemon, Arbok.

Grovyle was fighting fiercely with the Scyther, each slashing and scything, and parrying like a sword fight with their respective abilities. Scyther with Slash attack and Grovyle with its Leaf Blade. Grovyle used the forest to its advantage and jumped to a tree, but Scyther could fly and chase after it.

The other two Grovyle were having difficulties with the Beedrill as the Beedrill was extremely fast and could fly up to the sky. It only come down when it wanted to strike by diving down from the air and immediately went back up. The two Grovyle even hardly dodged Beedrill's attack not to mention trying to attack it as they are always on the defensive side.

The five Treeckos attacked with their Bullet Seeds attack but Arbok protected itself by countering it with its Poison Sting attack and the two attacks collided.

Rize thought that their situation is not so good, even tough they are more in numbers but they are in a completely type disadvantage against the opponents. He then decided to flee with Latias while the Rocket Grunts were all busy fighting their respective opponents.

"Come on Latias, we have to go!"

Latias although not in the situation to be able to move yet forced herself to move and escaped with Rize. Rize thought that they had successfully escaped from the Rocket Grunts but the trio Rocket Grunts, instead of worrying their target to escape, they all had a look and smile as if all were according to their plan.

Rize was running into the deep woods with Latias trying to keep up hardly with him. Suddenly, the route in front of them was blocked by a black smoke.

"Smokescreen attack?!"

Rize then looked around to find another route to escape but found that they were completely surrounded by smokes but this time the smokes are not black but pink purplish in colour instead. He also could hardly breath properly as his body warned him that if he breathed in the smoke it would be harmful for his body. He knew that this must be either a Smog attack or Poison Gas attack from another Poison type Pokemon of the Rocket Grunt.

Latias was already weak in its condition and now it was getting worse as she was poisoned. Rize too could no longer hold his breath and inhaled the poisonous gas. His body was weakened and could hardly stand properly.

"Ugh.. I can't.. breathe... cough* cough*"

Out of the black smokes, a Rocket Grunt with a mask that protected him from the poisonous gas came out with little purple soccer ball sized Pokemon who keep on emitting poisonous smokes from the holes of its body.


"You can't run away from us.. heeheehee" said the grunt. His Koffing's smile was just as nasty as his smile and laugh.

Rize with all his strength immediately drew out his little Aron to protect him and Latias before he was completely knocked out unconscious because of the poison that was troubling him to breathe.

Aron was not affected at all from the poison gas due to its Steel type nature and it knew immediately that its Trainer was in a dangerous situation. Its face showed an expression as if to protect its Trainer no matter what.

"Ar-aron, use.. Rock.. Sl..slide.."

Rocks from the sky started to appear and fell upon the grunt and his Koffing and they are busy to avoid all of the falling rocks to hit them. While the Koffing were occupied with the Rock Slide attack, Aron charged with its head shining brightly as if like its claws when it was using Metal Claw attack. It was using Iron Head and it successfully landed a hit onto Koffing and Koffing was knocked back quite far, severely injured.

"Slude Bomb!"

Koffing launched a brown sludge ball towards Aron but it have no effect and Aron was completely unscratched. Aron then continue to attack using its new attack the Iron Head but this time not towards the Koffing but towards the Rocket Grunt himself.

The Rocket Grunt was hit by Aron's hard and heavy head and was pushed a few steps back but it was not enough to knock him out. The grunt was found to be wearing an armor inside of his uniform to protect him from such attack.

"You think you got me cornered?" He said to Rize with a mad look on his face and distanced himself from Aron.

"Koffing, use Explosion!"

"Oh noo!" shouted Rize. He could not imagine if that Koffing were to explode in this forest.

Koffing started to glow brightly that showed that it was attempting to explode right in front of Aron in a point blank range and it will explode in a matter of seconds.

The grunt laughed while Rize was grealy in fear. Latias was already unconscious while Aron could not do anything to prevent Koffing from exploding and it could not dodge it as well.

Suddenly, a red light beam attack from far away accurately hit Koffing and knocked it out unconscious before its Explosion attack was successfully done.

"What?!"

The Rocket Grunt was shocked and did not expect any sudden attack from an intruder. Micah and Rin showed up along with Dragonair and Combusken as the smokes and poison gas cleared up due to the effect from the piercing Hyper Beam attack.

"Micah, Rin!" Rize shouted in excitement and he could now breathe properly too.

Not long after that, the wood gecko clan came as well and circled the Rocket Grunt so that he have no where to escape.

"Oh no!"

The grunt started to panic from the situation and Micah told him that he have defeated all of his fellow grunts and they were now tied up, unconscious.

Upon hearing the shocking report, the grunt's back pack opened up and it was actually a jet pack. He turned on the jet machine and flew up to the sky fled away from the Petalburg wood.

"He get away!" Rin exclaimed.

"Leave him, we have to treat Rize now. He is poisoned." said Micah.

"Huff.. huff, thanks guys. If you guys did not show up.."

Micah and Rin did not know what was really going on and what Pokemon that was lying on the ground unconscious. It don't looks like an ordinary Pokemon.

"You'll explain to us the situation but we'll have to cure you from the poison for now."

Chapter 101 - Mewtwo in Hoenn??

"Ugh.. why do I still have to do these tough trainings. My dad's not even here."Compplained Rize who was forced to do the sets of trainings that his father told him to do by Micah.

"Even tough your father's not around I'm still here to make sure you do the training."

A day have passed since Rize's failed challenge at the Petalburg Gym and they are now currently at the Petalburg beach near the Petalburg Woods. Rin and her Pokemons were playing at the beach creating sand castles and played with the wave of the sea except her Combusken who stayed out from the water.

"Huff.. huff.. it's done..." Rize layed down at the sands to rest after the tiring sets
of training.

They stayed at the beach and have their lunch there. They were like going in a picnic
accompanied with many Wingulls and Corphish.

"So still no news from your father? When is he coming back?" Asked Rin but Rize did not gave her any answer. It is a habit of him of not replying if he did not know the answer and making Rin to be pissed off with him.

"So where are we going now?" this time it was Micah who asked and Rize immediately answered him and that is to continue their journey to the desert ruins through the Petalburg Woods.

"You're not going to have a rematch to get your badge?" Rin plainly asked him but Rize did not answer again and kept walking instead.


And so they packed their stuffs and head towards the Petalburg Woods. Rize sent out his Aron from its Pokeball to walk together in the woods. "How nostalgic, this is where I first met with Aron."

But to Aron this is not a very good memorable place as this is the place where it was dumbed and abandoned by Darren.

Flock of Taillows were flying on the sky throughout the forest and the group kept on walking deeper and deeper into the woods. As they walk, Rize told them the story that happened here four years ago when he first encountered Team Aqua. Rize hoped that he won't see Team Aqua again here in this forest now.

"I just hope that I will meet a Dragon type Pokemon in this forest!"
"I don't think there is any Dragon Pokemon that lived in a forest like this tough." Remarked Rin.

As they continued walking their way to reach Rustboro city by going through the Petalburg Woods, a shadowy figure was leaping from trees to trees like a ninja in a very fast movement and passed ahead the trio.

"What Pokemon is that?!" Asked Rin curiously.
"Whatever it is it must not be a Dragon type." Micah answered her uninterested at all with the mysterious Pokemon.

Rize managed to take a scan of it with his Pokedex to find out what Pokemon it is actually.


"Grovyle the wood gecko Pokemon. It is a Grass type. It lives in dense jungles. While closing on its prey, it leaps from branch to branch."

"The evolved form of the Hoenn Grass type starter Pokemon! I'm going to catch it!" Rize ran to the direction  of where the wild Grovyle was heading to chase after it and the other two friends of his have no choice but to follow him.

The wild Grovyle noticed that it was being followed by a number of humans and it quicken its movement far to be catch up by Rize.

"Darn, it's way to fast!" Rize protested and at a time like this he wished that he have his speedy flying Pokemon with him.

Micah knew that they would not be able to keep up with the wild Grovyle unless they do something so he sent out his most beloved Dragon type Pokemon to chase after the wild Grovyle, Dragonair.


"Dragonair, use Ice Beam."

Dragonair charged and a blue cold ice energy started to gather from on top of its horn, it aimed and launched the attack towards the wild Grovyle and it picked the moment when it was jumping so that it can't avoid it. However, still the wild Grovyle managed to avoid the full hit of the Ice Beam and the attack only froze a tip of its foot that made it can't jump from trees to trees anymore. The wild Grovyle fell down to the ground but it landed safely and kept on running altough it can't run as fast as it could now.

"Thanks Micah!" Rize thanked his friend and this way they are able to keep track of the Grovyle as its running speed have been reduced greatly.

"Pant*.. pant*.. I can't run any farther.." Rin slowed down gradually and stopped to take a breath. Upon seeing her condition, Micah decided to stay behind with her and told Rize to move on by himself and they will catch up with him later.

And so Rize went after the wild Grovyle alone and not long after that the wild Grovyle finally stopped running as it have reached its destination. Rize was just a few metres away behind it and it soon reached the place as well, and to his surprise, the place was crowded with a lot of wild Treeckos and Grovyles. It looks like it is the territory of their swarm.

Rize noticed that the swarm of Treeckos and Grovyles were gathered as if circling something in the middle. He saw that the wild Grovyle he chased earlier was bringing some berries as if to feed something that they were circling. He could not see what are they feeding as the crowd of wild Treeckos and Grovyles covered his view.

Curious of what was in the middle of the swarm, Rize stepped in closer to the location but as soon as he did that, the wild Treeckos and Grovyles stared at him and prepared ready to confront him anytime as if to protect that something in the middle behind them.

"Uh ou.. it looks like I'm not welcomed here.." Rize took a little steps to the back but the armies of wild Treeckos and Grovyles launched their Bullet Seeds attack as if a dozens of machine guns were shooting towards Rize. There were six that attacked Rize and about 10 that were gathered protecting the thing that Rize was curious of.

Rize took his backpack and used it as a shield to protect himself from the seeds attack. He could have sent out his Aron and used Rock Slide to cover him but he does not want the wild swarm of the wood gecko Pokemon to misunderstood him. He means no harm to them at all.

Although he have used his bag to shield himself, he could not cover all of his body and some of the attacks hit him and it was extremely painful. No matter how he endure them he finally could not take it and screamed in pain.

The mysterious creature that was being protected by the wood gecko Pokemon heard Rize's screaming of pain and let out a roar as if to tell the armies of wood gecko Pokemon to stop their assaults.

The wood gecko armies immediately stopped their attacks and turned around to see what happened.

"Hey.. I recognized that voice.."

The mysterious creature flew up from the crowds of wild Treeckos and Grovyles and it turned out that it was  Latias.

"Latias. It's you!"

Latias then immediately flew and approached Rize slowly but it looks like it is not in a good shape and very weak altough she was much better due to the treatment of the wood gecko family.

"What's wrong with you Latias? You're terribly injured." Rize asked her, worried of her condition. It leaves him questioning as well as what could have done this to Latias? Latias is one of the mirage Pokemon and it is more powerful than average normal Pokemon. What Pokemon is strong enough to do this to Latias.

Latias began to transmit signal waves to Rize's Pokedex to explain what have happened to her.

"IT HAPPENED A FEW DAYS AGO AFTER WE PARTED, WHEN I WAS ABOUT TO REST HERE IN THIS PETALBURG WOODS, AN EXTREMELY POWERFUL AND SAVAGED POKEMON ATTACKED ME. I TRIED TO FIGHT BACK BUT WAS NO MATCH AND COMPLETELY DEFEATED. IT'S A POKEMON THAT I NEVER SEE BEFORE IN ALL OF HOENN. AFTER I HAVE BEEN TERIBLY WOUNDED, A WILD TREECKO FOUND ME AND TREATED ME AND IT EVEN BROUGHT ITS WHOLE FAMILY AND FRIENDS TO TREAT ME."

"What in the world?! How do that Pokemon look like? Do you remember?"

Latias visualized her terrifying attacker on her mind and sends them as signal waves to the Pokedex so that it can be projected and visualized there. When the image have been loaded completely, Rize was caught in a great shock.

"Mewtwo?!" Rize shouted in shock! "What is it doing here in Hoenn?!"

Rize told Latias that it is better for him to stay here in the forest with her for now just in case this Mewtwo came back and attack again until Latias has fully recovered and could fly and went somewhere else again. He then thanked the wild Treeckos and Grovyles for tooking care of Latias' injuries and wounds and the wood gecko family greeted him warmly and apologized for their rude attack on him earlier.

So Rize stayed with Latias and the wood gecko clan while Rin and Micah were still somewhere else in the woods and since they sun was setting, they planned to stop searching for Rize and camped for the night until the sun has risen then they will continue to search for Rize.

Chapter 100 - Petalburg Gym Battle! vs an Old Friend

"Ugh! I can't.. huff.. take it anymore..huff.."

Rize was doing some physical training sets that was commanded by his father and
he was just half of the whole training.

"50 more push ups and that's it for the day!" His father further added to his training.

"What?!" Rize was shocked to hear that in the meanwhile his friend Micah beside him,
who have been doing the exact same training with him in order to keep his body built
have started doing the push ups with no problem. His stamina was still as good as new.
After a few minutes, Rize finally completed his push ups and laid down on the floor all
wet and exhausted.

"You'll do these training sets everyday from now on." Said his father. Rize could only
silent himself as he could not not obey what his father told him to do.

"Don't worry, you'll get use to it pretty soon." Micah motivated Rize not to give up.
They are now currently at Oldale Town and they have been there for a night. They are ready
to leave the town and continue their journey to the desert ruins.

"Beep beep.."
Suddenly, Driscoll's Pokegear rang and he picked up the incoming call. The conversation was fast
and not too long.

"Kids, I'm sorry but I have quite an urgent meeting to attend suddenly."
"So we can't go and see the meteorite?" Asked Rize.
"We will still see the Meteorite together. You guys continue to go to the desert ruins.Rize
should know the way there and once the meetings are over I'll catch up."
After he finished talking he immediately left the three teens and now Rize, Rin and Micah are on their own.

"Alright! I'll lead the way from now on." said Rize in a cocky tone as if he owns the land. Being
unfamiliar with the place at all, Rin and Micah have no other choice but to follow him.
After walking on the route for a half an hour, they have finally arrived to the city next to Oldale Town which is the Petalburg City. The city where Rize have his first official Gym match.

"It's been four years and nothing much have changed." Rize commented on the city's surroundings and conditions.

"So this is Petalburg City!" Rin was excited as it was her first time to be in a big city.
"There must be a Pokemon Gym in this city am I right?" Asked Micah.
Rize answered the question but continued walking his way. "Yup. There is one. But first I'm going
to the Pokemon Centre."

As soon as they arrived at the Pokemon Centre, Rize went to the public Pokemon Transporter and made a video call to Prof.Birch's lab.

"Ah Rize! What's up? Where are you all now? Is my little Rin alright?"
Rin altough a little emberassed and annoyed by her father's overcare stepped in so that her father could see her and told him that she's alright and their whereabout. After that, Rize then asked the Prof. to send him some of his Pokemon that he left at the lab to be send over to him as he planned to challenge the Petalburg Gym.

"Sorry Rize but your father have said to me that if you ever made such a request I would have to reject the request."

"What?!" Shoudted Rize, annoyted. "But it's my Pokemon! How am I suppose to challenge the Gym then?"

"Sorry but I can't break my words with your father. Afterall he's a good friend of mine. Besides, didn't you promised your father to just bring Aron with you and no other?" The Prof justified himself and furthermore, challenged Rize's integrity.

Feeling that his integrity is on the line, Rize then gave up on his request and ended the video call. But
that does not puts off the fire for Gym battle. Rize thought of defeating the Gym with just his Aron.
Afterall, the Petalburg Gym is a Normal type Gym and Aron's Steel and Rock type nature will be a very good advantage for him and he is confident that he could win with just using one Pokemon.

"Micah, Rin, are you two going to challenge the Gym as well?"

"No. I'm not planning to participate in the Hoenn League at all. I only want to explore the region and
catch Dragon Pokemon."

On the other hand, Rin was still not confident of her battling skill so she would decide later after she had seen Rize's battle against the Gym Leader.

The Petalburg Gym was only a few metres beside the city's Pokemon Centre and they reached there instantly. The automatic door of the Gym's entrance openned and the three of them went in. As soon as they are inside, they could see a wide plain battlefield and the tips and tricks guy of the Gym welcomed them.

Rize made a register for a battle and it was scheduled to be tomorrow at noon and as soon as he saw the profile biography of the Intermediate category Gym Leader, he was fired up the more and could not wait for tomorrow's Gym match.

Time passed and the time for the Gym battle have come. No wonder Rize was so in high spirit for the match, the Gym Leader that he have to face was non other than his old rival, Brendan. Rin and Micah sat at the sideline of the battlefield to watch the match while Rize and Brendan have stood at the Trainer spot.

Brendan was really surprised to see his old rival from the past to come to his Gym and challenged his Gym again after all these years.

"Rize! It's been such a long time. Where were you all these time?"
"I've been travelling to different regions and participated in Leagues outside Hoenn." Rize answered proudly.

"You'll show me the result of your trainings all these years then."

The referee announced the rules and introduction and it was a two on two Pokemon battle. He then indicated the match to start.

Brendan immediately grabbed his Poke ball. "I'll start with this one. Kecleon!"


A small tiny green creature with a pointing tounge came out from the ball Rize then
sent out his little Aron.

Brendan look surprised to see Rize's Aron. "What? After all these years, your Aron still have not evolved? I expected it to be an Aggron already."

Rize ignored Brendan's comment and used this chance to attack. "Rock Slide!"

Piles of rocks out of nowhere appeared from above Kecleon and burried Kecleon under the big rocks.
Keckleon without being told came out from the piles of boulders looked injured.

Rize did not waste any moment to attack not give Brendan and Kecleon to counter attack and continue
to attack with Aron's Metal Claw and Kecleon was far threw off to the back due to the force of Aron's
Metal Claw attack.

"Hey hey, take it easy.. you did well using Rock Slide to convert my Kecleon's type to be a Rock type
due to its ability Colour change and then attacked it with a super effective Steel type move." He stopped
for a breathe then continues, "But now my Kecleon's a Steel type just like you! All your moves won't be
effective against us now!"

Brendan confidently commanded his attack order to Kecleon, "Our turn! Kecleon, Flamethrower!"

Kecleon opened its mouth wide open and shot a flaming beam towards Aron and Aron took the attack
heads on as it does not have the time to avoid being hit.

"How do you like our battling style? Our Gym may be a Normal type Gym but with Kecleon we can become any types and Normal type Pokemon can use many other elemental types attack other than Normal. You're lucky that Aron is part of Rock type as well so the Flamethrower attack does not do fatal injury but
how long can you endure such attack? Flamethrower again!"

Kecleon repeated the same Flamethrower attack but this time Rize responded in time and told Aron
to dodge and attack in the same time by using Dig attack.

Kecleon was still attacking with Flamethrower attack and Aron have already reached underneath
its standing ground. It came out and knocked out Kecleon as the referee announced it to be.

"Awrite! Rize did it!" Rin was excited to see her friend doing well in the battle.

Brendan returned Kecleon into its ball and started talking, "I forgot that your Aron have Dig attack
under its belt. Anyway meet my new Pokemon!" He threw off the Pokeball releasing it out from the ball
without telling what Pokemon is inside as if telling you just see for your own.


Rin took her Pokedex and scanned at the new Pokemon that she just see live instead of just in her school
textbooks. "Castform the weather Pokemon. It is a Normal type Pokemon. Its appearance changes with the
weather. Recently, its molecules were found to be just like water."

Rize was relieved that he has defeated one and he just have to defeat this little Castform to get his badge and he was very sure of himself and his Aron that they would triumph.

"Aron quick use Rock Slide again!"

Aron concentrated and rocks started to appear above the floating Castform and it was falling down towards it.

"Castform, Protect!"

Castform concentrated its energy and a barrier of light was created that completely sheltered it unharmed from the Rock Slide attack. Brendan then began his move.

"Rain Dance!"

Castform started to move its body and danced around like performing a ritual dance and indeed, dark clouds began to emerge on top of the battle arena field and it started to drizzle.

"How is it possible to rain here, we are inside a building!" Protested Rize as he could not believe the rain that was right in front of him.

As the drizzle became heavier, Castform's form and appearance started to change while Aron was weakened by the rain as it is weak against water due to its Rock type nature.

"Just like what the Pokedex said, it really could change its form according to the weather." commented Rin.

"You're done for now Rize!" Exclaimed Brendan. "Castform, Hydro Pump!"

A water sphere was created right in front of Castform's body and from it a strong water current was shot directly towards Aron.

Rize hurried to give instruction to his Aron. "This is bad! Aron use Dig to hide underground to dodge!"

However, as the rain made the battlefield to be wet, it made Aron difficult to dig a hole underground and it was hit by the powerful Hydro Pump attack.

"Oh no!" Both Rin and Micah was extremely worried of Aron's condition.

The attack was super effective and Aron could barely stand up again after to battle as it was struggling, trying its best to stand up on its feet.

"Aron stand up! You can do it!" Rize tried to motivate his little Aron but Brendan did not give him a chance at all.

"Now to finish this, Thunder attack."

Castform casted a Lightning bolt that strikes from above Aron and this time Aron was out of the match.

Rize fell silent in shock of his defeat. He got his Aron back into its ball and left the Gym without saying anything to his former rival other than proclaiming that he forfeited the Gym match. Rin and Micah followed him leaving Brendan to have no idea at all as to why did Rize did not continue the battle as he's still allowed to use one more Pokemon before the victor can be concluded.

Chapter 99 - Rin caught a Pokemon!

To the north of Littleroot town, Rize, accompanied with Micah, Rin and his father
have started travelling and their destination was the desert ruins at route 111.
Currently they are at route 101. Rize was having some nostalgic experience as he
recalled back his very first days of adventures throughout the Hoenn region.

"Route 101. How nostalgic, this is where I first caught my first Pokemon, Taillow."

"I can't wait to get my first Dragon type Pokemon of Hoenn!" said Mich in excitement.

"I've never caught any Pokemon, I can't wait to catch my very first Pokemon on my own
as well!" Rin was also getting fired up.

"Dad, how are we going to get to the desert ruins?"

Without stopping his steps forward, Driscoll, Rize's father answered Rize. "We'll walk there
by foot. It looks like your two friend there have not been through the Hoenn region. Furthermore
it serves as a great training for you as well."

While they are walking their way onto Oldale town, a wild Zigzagoon came out from the bushes
and ate a berry that it carried with it.

Upon seeing the wild Zigzagoon, Rin took out her Pokedex she received from her father and
scanned the racoon Pokemon.

"Hey how come your Pokedex's different than mine? I've never seen that model of Pokedex before."
Asked Rize curiously.

"It's the latest model of Pokedex, hehe." Rin asnwered with a proud look on her face. "Alright, I've
decided to catch that Zigzagoon!"

She immediately took an empty Pokeball from her bag and threw it towards the Zigzagoon that was
peacefully eating its berry. However, the ball did not hit the target and missed by few inches.

"Oops.."

The wild Zigzagoon was startled and immediately ran its way and hid on the bushes and escaped.

Impatiently, Rize criticized Rin's failure attempt of capture. "That's not the way you catch a Pokemon."

"I just missed it by an inch. I would have got it if my throw was successful."

"Even if it hits, it won't be successful either."

Micah interrupted the two before the argument turned into a quarrel. "Alright alright, no one get it
rights at the first try. There's always a first time."

"My first capture was a success when I first caught my Taillow." Said Rize sarcasticly.

Rize's father stopped and turned his head backwards to the three teenagers and said, "Enough arguing
and walk faster!"

The trio stopped their silly arguments and fasten their steps following Rize's father at the front and
continue their travel.


Oldale Town was in sight and it was just at the end of the corner, just a few metres away and suddenly
a charmingly cute wild Pokemon attracted Rin's attention. She took out her Pokedex and used it once again
and it turned out that the wild Pokemon is a Raltz.

"Hold on, I'm going to catch that Raltz."

Her travel companies stopped their steps and watched her attempt to catch the wild Raltz. She immediately
threw her Pokeball towards the Raltz that was unaware that it was being targetted. This time, the ball hit
successfully on Raltz's body, clanked open and red lights began to came out of it absorbing the creature into
the ball.

Rin shouted in excitement in reaction to her successful attempt of capture. However, that was just her thought
and the shaking Pokeball bounced back up and re-open, releasing the contained Pokemon inside.
hat
"Eh?" Rin did not know why did the Pokeball released the captured Pokemon out again and the wild Raltz seems to be
afraid and began to flee.

Rize laughed at Rin's failed attempt of capture and Rin was so irritated by it.

"You have to weaken the Pokemon you wanted to catch first, that will increase the success rate of the capture."
Micah patiently explained how the theory of catching Pokemon to Rin.

"Oh right! How could I forgot that basic! Everyone learned that at the Pokemon school!"

Snapped out from her mistake, she then took a Pokeball and called out her trusted Combusken.

"Combusken, go and chase that Raltz and use Slash attack!"

Combusken immediately dashed chasing the escaping Raltz and slashed it with its claws leaving Raltz with quite
a damage.

"Alright now use Flamethrower!"

Just before Combusken could fire its most powerful Fire attack, it was countered by Raltz's Psychic attack and
it was repelled back by the power of Raltz's Psychic super effectively.

"That Raltz knew Psychic! It is quite a high level!" Remarked Rize positively. "Come on Rin! You can do it!"
Rize began to cheer for his old friend and hearing that cheering from Rize that just have been underestimatnig her
instead of supporting her, Rin began to be fueled up to catch the wild Raltz and commanded Combusken to breath its
Flamethrower attack once more this time landing a direct hit. Furthermore, Raltz was inflicted by a status effect
'burn'.

"Alright! Now use Slash to finish it!"

Combusken dashed with its claws ready to slash as if it wanted to rip apart Raltz with it but the wild Raltz did
not just stand there like a duck ready to be executed, it used Charm attack that made Combusken lowered its attack
and it also stopped its attack due to the charming cuteness of the Raltz. Raltz took that chance and immediately
used another move, this time, it used Attract.

Combusken was immediately affected by Attract and was in loved with the wild Raltz making it unable and not wanting
to attack it anymore.

"Oh no!" Panicked Rin. "What am I suppose to do now?!"

The burning stats kept on burning Raltz's body once after a while and made Raltz weaker and weaker.

"Rin! You can cancel the Attract effect by calling back Combusken into its Pokeball and you can immediately
send it right back to battle!" Rize shouted and gave an advice to Rin and she followed the advice, Combusken
is now back to its senses.

The burned Raltz was surprised to see that the Attract effect have worn off and could not react in time and
therefore slashed by COmbusken.

"Now! It's weak enough, time for the Pokeball!" shouted Rize once more and Rin threw her Pokeball again but
too bad, she missed the target again as her throwing skill is not refined yet. Rize send a facepalm onto his
own face in reaction to Rin's sloppy throw off.

"Raltz have been unconscious, relax and take your time. Or you can just get near to it and throw the Pokeball
from a near distance." This time it was Micah who gave an advice to Rin.

Rin felt that she needed to be good at throwing the Pokeball if she wanted to catch Pokemon so she use this
chance as a practice and it took another two throws until she finally hit Raltz and Raltz was captured.

"Alright! I caught Raltz!" Rin and COmbusken both jumped in excitement and quickly ran to the Pokeball that contained Raltz on
the ground. "My very first own Pokemon that I captured by myself!"

"Congratulation Rin!" Rize and Micah both congratulated Rin of her success.

Rize's father immediately continued walking and commanded them to do so as well and thus they continue walking
towards the Oldale Town that was just around the corner.

Chapter 98 - Rin's very first Pokemon Adventure!

"So your father suddenly challenged you to a battle and you lost?" Asked Prof.Birch curiously.

It was 9 A.M  in the morning and Rize was visiting Prof.Birch's laboratory and send the berries he picked at the Sevii island. He did not send them yesterday night as he was too exhausted from the battle with his father.

"Yeah, I lost terribly even tough I gave everything I had. I never knew that dad was such a strong battler."

"Hahaha, ofcourse! Your father was a very skilled Pokemon Trainer. He even almost made it of becoming the champion in the past."

"Really?! I never knew anything like that!" Rize was so surprised to hear that his father was such a powerful Trainer. He began to took a liking to his mysterious father as he very rarely met with him.

"Yes, it's true. Then he decided to pursue his interest in archaeology and became an archaelogist instead." Explained the Prof. further.
"In that case, I'll go and ask him to train me so that I'll be much stronger!" Exclaimed Rize.

"That won't be neccessary."
Suddenly a voice emerged and it was Rize's father and he came into the room but he is not alone, behind him someone looks familiar followed and came into the room as well.

"A friend of you came."
"Yo!"
"Micha! You arrived!" Rize have not yet forgotten of his new friend that he met at Indigo Plateau where the Kanto League was held.

The two of them joined the conversation and they all sat at the sofa. Rize facing the Prof. and Micha facing Rize's father.

"Good morning Prof.Birch, it is really an honour to be able to meet with a famous person like you." Greeted Micah. "It's my first time to be in the Hoenn region and I'm here in search of Dragon type Pokemon of the Hoenn region."
"Hahaha I'm not that famous as you thought. Oh so you're interested on Dragon type Pokemon? It will not be interesting if I tell you how many species of Dragon type there are in the Hoenn region. It will be more interesting if you go into the wild and find out yourself."
"That's what I thought as well." Micah agreed.
"Your Dragonair is very well trained, even Rize could not prevail against it. I watched the Kanto League Intermediate tournament from the television broadcast you know. Hahaha."

"Oh so you are you the one who ended Rize's debut on the league tournament?" Rize's father joined the conversation between Micha and Prof.Birch out of curiosity.

"No It's not me but Rize indeed lost to me. Haha."
"That's weird. What is this? A paradox?"
"Hahaha if you watch the broadcast you would have understood what happened, Driscoll." The Prof. cut the conversation. "So what's your next project Driscoll?"
"I will be conducting a research on the ancient ruins to find out more of their origins and at the desert area where the meteorite that recently fell was at. We will find the meteor and study it.

Upon hearing that there's a meteor that fell at the dessert area, Rize became interested and curios.

"Hey dad can I go and see the meteor as well?"
"Well ofcourse."
"Alright! When will we be going?"
"Hey can I come with you guys? If you don't mind, I would be lost at this region alone and beside I wanted to see the meteor as well." asked Micha politely.
"Well of course! The more the merrier!" Rize approved his friend's request gladly.

Rize's father stood up from his seat and spoke to Rize. "Well I did approve you to come along but with one condition. You'll have to leave behind all your Pokemon here at the Prof.'s place and only bringing Aron with you."

Rize stood as well in surprise to hear his father's word and demanded an explanation.

"It is part of the training that you wanted. Look at you, your body muscles have not been properly built and train at your age. Look at Micha your friend, his body was well trained and built."
"What's that have to do with Pokemon training?"
"You rely on your Pokemon too much! Trainers have to train their body in order to keep up with their Pokemon as well! Not only the Pokemon that train but the Trainer too!"

Rize still did not understand but Prof.Birch calmed him and told him to just obey his father.
"Your father's right." Micah agreed with his father and persuade Rize as well. "Look I also came here to this region with only my Dragonair too."

After being persuaded by the Prof. and Micha, Rize finally could agree and he surrend all his party Pokemon to the Prof. and just took Aron with him and thus the journey to the meteorite at the desert area together with Micha and Driscoll, Rize's father began!

"But before that you've to tell your mother first that you're going to set off again son." Rize's father reminded his son to keep his manner and not to forget of his mother and Rize agreed.

One of the door of a room inside the Professor's house opened wide and a brown coloured long hair girl with a green bandana came out of it and spoke to Prof.Birch.

"Papa! I heard from the room that Rize along with his friend and his father is going to the desert area where the recently fallen meteorite fell."
The Prof. replied her with but with a worried tone. "Err.. yes, why my dear?"
"Well then I'm going too!"
The answer that Prof.Birch really did not want to hear from his daugter's mouth have came out and he was so furiously shocked with it and replied with a yell. "No! You're not going anywhere! You're just a little girl. Now go back to your room and continue your research, Rin."
"But Papa!" Rin could not accept his father's command and she hesitate of coming along with Rize and co and the two of them argued until Dricoll, Rize's father intervened.

"Birch, if I remember correctly, Rin is turning 15 this year right?" Asked Driscoll to his friend. "Why don't you let her to go on to her own journey now. You've kept her at Littleroot Town ever since she's little and she have never went to see the world, not even the Hoenn region."
"But she's just a little girl." Replied the Prof. "And it's dangerous out there!" Added him once more.
"Please let her go with us Prof." Rize and Micah pleaed the Prof to change his mind of not letting Rin to go as well.
"Besides Rize's father will be with us, it should be fine! Moreover there's Rize and me as well. Hehe.." Micah  persuaded the Prof. further.
"Papa! Please.." Tears started to came out from Rin's eye. Prof. Birch was still quiet about this and did not let her daughter to go.
"I know you're so worried of your daughter but the way you're treating her would just spoil her for the worse. Think about it, Birch! Rin have her own life as well and everybody have the rights to leave their homes when they've reached the age of 11 but Rin is 15 now!"

After a few minutes, the Prof finally responded. "Alright then, you may go, but under one condition! You'd have to battle Rize and win! I wanted to see how good are you in handling Pokemon now."

The shocking request sound too impossible in Rin's ear. "Papa! How could I win against Rize! I lost to him even during his very first Pokemon battle long ago, and now he's one of the top 8 in the Kanto League Intermediate level. How do you expect me to win against him?!"

"I don't care! If you don't want to go then fine." The Prof. closed his eyes indicating that he does not want to argue and debate on this anymore.
"Once Birch have set his mind on something, nothing's changing him. He's just that stubborn. I knew him for a long time." Driscoll commented. "Now what're you two waiting for? Rize, Rin go and battle!

Rin wiped off her tears from her eyes and saw this as an opportunity to finally go on her own adventure and challenged Rize to a battle. Rize agreed and they all went to the back where the field could be use for a Pokemon battle.

All of Rize's Pokemon was delighted to see that Rize came to the field where they are kept and they all stood behind Rize where he is going to have a Pokemon battle with his old friend, Rin.

"I'll just go easy on her and let her win on purpose then." Thought Rize in his mind and he sent out his Pokemon from his Pokeball, the only Pokemon he is permitted to use by his father, his little Aron.


And Rin sent out her only Pokemon, Combusken. Her little Torchic have evolved over the past four years.

"Your little Torchic have evolved!"
"It's been quite a while." Answered her, and she continued with an attack. "Alright. Combusken use Flamethrower!"

Combusken blew a stream of fire boldly from its mouth and the flame devoured Rize's little Aron completely. Afther the flame have subdue, Rize's Aron was still standing thanks to its part Rock type nature that help it to resist the fire attack to inflict an effective damage on it.

"Alright Aron stay alert and prepare to counter attack."
Aron obeyed and Rin have already threw another set of attack to Rize this time with Combusken's Slash attack.
"Normal type is not going to do much damage to my hard defense Aron!"

Aron just stood and received the blow from Combusken's Slash attack onto its head.

"Combusken use Double Kick!"
Combusken spinned its leg and threw two blowing kicks onto Aron and this time its doing a super effective damage onto Aron that Aron was hardly able to stand up again.

Rize's father and Prof.Birch noticed something odd and they finally smell the coffee and knew what Rize was up to. The Prof. shouted, "Rize! Are you going to purposely lose to Rin?! If that's the way of it then I will not let Rin to go for the journey!"

Rin was frustrated to hear that and told Rize to battle her seriously. Rize found that he's in the all wrong situation, if he win the battle, Rin will not be allowed to go but if he lost purposely the result will be the same as well.

"You are not showing respect to your opponent when your opponent was fighting seriously while you are not." The word from Rize's father blinked him and snapped him out of the all wrong situation and he finally decided to take Rin seriously.

"Alrigth then! Aron use Dig and attack from underground!"
Aron burrowed a hole and went underground but the attack failed surprisingly as Combusken's fighting instinct helped it to detect where and when Aron would be coming out to launch its attack.

"Another Double Kick!"
Aron was pushed all the way back from the two powerful blow of kicks and it looks like it was heavily injured.

"Aron use Rock Slide!"
Boulders of rocks appeared on the heaven and started to rain unto Combusken but Rin told it to destroy them all with its punches and kicks but as the rocks were too many, Combusken took some hit and was quite severly injured.

"Now time to show them your power Aron! Use Double-Edge!"
Aron charged towards Combusken with a full speed charge with its hard iron head pointing and heading to Combusken that was still flinched due to the pouring rocks.

"Combusken use Flamethrower quick!"

Just a few inches before Aron's Double-Edge attack hit Combusken, Combusken blew a direct close range hit of Flamethrower attack to it but Aron's Double-Edge attack continue to reach it and an explosion emerged due to the colliding Double-Edge and Flamethrower attacks.

Smokes were covering both competing Pokemon and when the smokes were cleared, it was found that Aron was already unconscious while Combusken was still hanging on to its one leg and with one closed eye, heavily injured but it strive to stay on the match for its Trainer and the match was decided that Rize and Aron has lost.

"I guess I underestimated you Rin." Rize said to his friend. "I lost to you fair and square. I'm glad that you're now allowed to come with us."

Rin was so excited and could not believe that she had won against Rize, Rin then turned to his dad direction and she saw her father smiling at her and approved her to go together with Rize and the others.

"You're no longer a little girl, Rin. Now you're allowed to go on your own journey." The Prof. said to her beloved daughter and he hugged her as a sign of love before her daughter's departure.

Rize went back to her house and permitted himself to go to his mother and his mother gave him a new set of clothing and bag-pack for him. and this time the journey to the desert area together with Micah, Rin and his father really began!

Chapter 97 - Dad's at Home?!

Two days have passed ever since Rize boarded the ship from Kanto to return back to Hoenn. It was a long journey even with a ship as the distance between Kanto and Hoenn are quite far away.

Rize came out to the front deck of the ship and he could see Slateport city already. Flocks of flying Wingull and its evolved form Pellipper were flying above the water surface of the sea as if racing and keeping up with the ship.

Rize was standing at the deck with his Swampert. "It's really been a long time ever since I saw the native Pokemon from the Hoenn region." An idea of sending out all of his Pokemon in hand that he got from Kanto just came across to his mind. Rize thought it was for the growth of his Pokemon to be adapted to the new environment and the Pokemon in the Hoenn region that was alienated from his Kanto Pokemons. So he sent out all of them and they were Charizard, Bulbasaur, Jolteon, Pidgeot and Sandslash.

He showed his Pokemon of the beautiful scene of the sea of the Hoenn region. They all took a deep breath and inhaled the comforting and nice weather.

"I will take you all around and see much more of this homeland of mine." He then remembered about one of his Pokemon that did not came with him, "Poor Poliwrath, he did not came home with us as he went with Master Chuck for intense training." Rize pitied his Poliwrath, "Well at least there's Hitmonchan with him there haha, I hope they get along well."

Rize have alighted from the ship and immediately left the crowded Slateport city and on his way home towards Littleroot town. He decided to go on foot so that he could show around his Pokemon of his home region.

"Kooohhhh."
Suddenly, a loud cry from heavens above emerged. Rize turned back and looked up towards the sky and he could he see a flying object flying towards him like a jet. He have no idea what it was until it was clearly visible to him that it was actually a long time ago partner from the Kyogre and Groudon incident, Latias.

The flying Latias decended from the sky above and landed right infront of Rize and greeted him with its charming smiles.

"Hey Latias, it's been a long time! How you doing?"

Latias emitted a psychokinesis wave towards Rize's pocket where his Pokedex was put and the Pokedex started to react to it and gave a vibration. Rize took it out and opened up his Pokedex. Words started to appear forming sentences.

"I LIVE SEPARATELY FROM MY BROTHER NOW. JUST LIKE YOU, I HAVE BEEN TRAVELLING OUT FROM THE HOENN REGION TO SEE MORE PARTS OF THIS WORLD."

"That's great Latias! I've just came back from Kanto and heading home now."

"I KNOW. THAT'S WHY I IMMEDIATELY CAME HERE TO SEE YOU. GET ON MY BACK, WE WILL FLY TO YOUR HOME IN A MINUTE."

"Alright, that would be great!"
Rize jumped up on Latias back and as soon as he was ready to take off, Latias ascended to up to the sky and  flew like a jet soaring on the sky through the clouds.

In a matter of minutes, Littleroot Town is on sight and Latias landed right infront of Rize's house. Rize went down from its back with a dizzy head.

"You flew faster than was last time eh? Anyway thanks for sending me home."
"IT'S A PLEASURE. NOW I HAVE TO GO, I CANNOT BE SEEN BY PEOPLE  LEST THERE WILL BE COMOSSION. I'LL SEE YOU AGAIN TOMORROW."

After saying that, Latias hurriedly ascended back to the sky and it was immediately out of sight as it flew up too high above for the human eyes to see.

Rize then pressed the doorbell of his house and eagerly waiting for his mother to open it for him. It has been one whole year that he have not been home and see his mother.

Footsteps could be heard approaching the house's main door from outside but unexpectedly, it was not his mother that opened the door for him but a tall,fierce looking middle-aged man with short brown hair along with a thin mustache and soft beards.

"Father?!" Exclaimed Rize in a surprise to see his father at home. Rize's father was rarely at home and he rarely spend time with him even during his childhood age.

"You're home? Where's mom?" Rize asked nervously.

His father did not answer him, turned his back and went inside the house.

Just before Rize would step inside the house, his mother came running from the house towards Rize and hugged him immediately.

"Oh dear, welcome back home! You know how much your mother've missed you during this whole year. Furthermore your father's back now it's such a rare moment that the house is complete. Have you said hi to your father?"

"Hi mom. Yeah but he just ignored me and went inside the house. What's up with him?" Rize replied in an annoyed tone to his mother complaining to her about his father.

"Maybe he's just too tired from his work." His mother tried to comfort him while defending his husband as well. "Anyway you've just came back, why don't you settle down first and get a warm nice bath. I've prepared food for dinner."

The sun have set and the night came, Rize together with his parents sat down at the table and ate their dinner. Rize finished his meal hurriedly as he can't wait to get to Prof.Birch's lab to see all of his Pokemon.

"Alright then I'm going to Prof.Birch's place to deliver these berries for them and I'm going to see my Pokemon at his place as well." Rize excused himself and stepped out of the house door.

When Rize have stepped out and was running towards Prof.Birch's house which was only a few metres away from his house, a voice came telling him to stop.

"Stop. Hold on son."

Rize turned back to where the voice came from and it turned out that it was his father's voice and his father was standing straight behind him. Rize got curious and asked him what's up of stopping him.

Without saying anything, his father took a Pokeball from his pocket, enlarged it and sent out a humanoid Pokemon with four big arms and well developed muscles which is a Machamp.

"What is it in a sudden?" Rize asked his father curiously of his reason sending out his Machamp.
"Son, we rarely meet each other. The last time if I ever met with you was when you were still 5 years old still in the Pokemon Elementary school. I did not even came to your graduation when you finished your studies and I only heard reports of your conducts and grades." Explain his father and then he continued on. "Now that you're 15 years and a teen. Let me see the fruits from all your training and travelings all these time with a battle."

Without hesitation, Rize got fired up of going to battle his own father and he sent out his Flying type Pidgeot as he thought that Flying type have the advantage over a Fighting type.

"Come son, have the first move and attack without holding back."

Rize felt challenged upon hearing it and decided to give its best attack right away.

"If that's what you want.. Pidgeot Aerial Ace!"

Pidgeot flew up high and took its aim. It then dived towards Machamp and unleashed its maximum speed. However, despite Pidgeot's extremely fast Aerial Ace move that came approaching Machamp, Machamp just stood there calmly and even closed its two eyes. When Rize thought that the attack was successfully landed on Machamp, Machamp dodged the attack with its eyes close and immediately strike Pidgeot down with a powerful Dynamic Punch and Pidgeot was found unconscious no longer able to battle.

"How could that be?! Its attack was not only fast but powerful as well!"
"Was that your best son?"

Rize called back his Pidgeot back into its ball. Sensing that his father is a great Trainer, he was forced to came out with his best Pokemon and so he called on Swampert.

"Swampert's the very first Pokemon I received from Prof.Birch. In a contest of strength and brute force it have no rival!"
"No rival? We'll see about that."

The cold night wind blew upon them as Swampert and Machamp took their stance and focusing their mind on the battle waiting for their respective Trainers to give a command. At that very same time somewhere in the deep inside the Petalburg Woods, Latias have just descended there and thought to rest there for the night. However, something came flying from the sky with a great speed descended and came to her. A mysterious cat like humanoid creature with white and purplish body and aura along with a paralyzing glare of a cold blooded killer appeared in front of Latias. What is this mysterious creature? Is it a Pokemon? Will Latias be okay?

Chapter 96 - Back to Hoenn!

"Rhydon's unable to battle! Pikachu wins! And therefore the victor of the Kanto League Intermediate Tournament goes to Trainer Satoshi!!"

"Congratulations to Trainer Satoshi for all his hard works and efforts that he finally made it to be this year's Champion! And don't forget all of his Pokemon's efforts too especially that super strong Pikachu!"

As soon as Satoshi was declared the winner and champion, small pieces of papers that were usually used on celebration went raining down to the stadium and battlefield showering Satoshi with it. The whole stadium were clapping their hands gaving their round of applause with loud cheers of joys.

"We did it Pikachu! We're finally the champion!" Satoshi fetched Pikachu with an open arms and Pikachu jumped onto his hugs.

From the spectators seat, Rize, Ryussei and Reinz were clapping their hands to give their respect to the new champion. "He really did it. That Pikachu of his is in the league of its own. It defeated more than half of the opponent's team and even defeated a Rhydon!" Reinz commented with amazement. "How did he train his Pikachu? Where do their source of power come from?"

And so that evening, the closing ceremony began and all participating Trainers were given a certificate of participation as appreciation. Satoshi received a big trophy while the 1st runner up got a smaller trophy of finalist. Rize and the other guy who was eliminated at the semi-final got an even smaller trophy than the 1st runner up as a semi-finalist. It was Lance of the Elite 4 that congratulated the Trainers and distributed the trophies.

"Wow, I never thought I could meet and shake hand with Lance of the Elite 4!" said Rize out of excitement of meeting the leader of Kanto's Elite 4. He then saw a buffed man that was very tall like about 190cm with a logn hair. The buffed man looks familiar to Rize and so he approached him.

"Mr.Bruny! It's been a while, do you still remember me? I didn't know you're now the Elite 4 of Kanto instead of the Johto region."

The buffed man just stood still with a confused face and did not respond to Rize. A lady's voice from behind the buffed man's body emerged. "You must have mistaken our Bruno for his twin brother Bruny, Rize."

"Hey, Ms.Lorelei! You're here too!" It turned out that the lady's voice was Lorelei of the Elite 4. All of the Kanto's Elite 4 were there on there ceremony and except for Agatha that was annoyed with Rize and so they both didn't meet or say a hi to each other.

"Now let's all close the ceremony with our big feast of buffet. It's all you can eat! Let's enjoy the food together!"

They all celebrated the feast and eat as much as they like together. Some of the participants preferred to went straight home but some people with no sense of shame like Darren and his gang stayed to eat as they do not want to lose free meals.

Prof.Oak also came to the party and ate together with his appointed Trainers, Satoshi, Ryussei, Reinz, Rize and ofcourse his grandson Shigeru. He also brought Midori along.

"The most unexpected things of all in this tournament is of course, Rize defeating Shigeru right at the very first round of the tournament. But still in the end he still lost to Satoshi, haha.." Midori loudly expressed his opinion without thinking of Rize's and Shigeru's feeling at all.

"Noisy woman.." Shigeru grumbled to himself.
"So what are you going to do next, Rize? Are you going to stay in Kanto and participate in the Kanto League again next year?"

Rize chewed the food on his mouth and swallow it, then he replied the Prof's question. "Err.. for now I would just return back to Hoenn, then I'll rethink about what to do next."

"Huhu, we all have made our decisions and fortunately our destination are the same. We're all going to Johto." Reinz told the Prof and everyone who was there who did not know. "We're inspired by you Rize! We also want to travel out from our region and meet and learn more new Pokemon we have never seen before!"

"All of you, you mean the four of you?"
"Yup!" All answered at the same time except for Ryussei who just kept quiet about it.
"That sure bring back memories.. Johto is a wonderful place!"
"What?! You've been to Johto before?!" Reinz was surprised hearing it and so do the others as well. Prof.Oak then took the line. "Rize was the runner up of the Johto Junior League Tournament last year. I've told you that when you first meet him, Reinz."

"Oh ya.. I forgot.. haha."

Out of the blue, Micha stepped in and joined the conversations with them saying, "For me, compare to Hoenn, Johto is not a so much of a great place as there are no Dragon type Pokemon that lives there except Kingdra."

They all went silent as were confused of the coming of this stranger except for Rize who knew him as he was his opponent on the 4th round. In fact, he actually lost to him. "Hey Micha! Come join us!"

"Hoenn have quite a variation of different Dragon types so I was thinking of going to Hoenn together with you Rize."
"That's great! I'll be leaving tomorrow morning with the S.S Anne."
"That's so fast! Give me your address in Hoenn then in case I could not go with you tomorrow."

Rize gave him his address in Hoenn and exchanged Pokegear numbers with Micha. Prof.Oak and the rest decided to accompany Rize going back to Hoenn to the vermilion harbour port where Rize will be departing from Kanto to Hoenn. Rize spent his last night in Kanto at Ryussei's house and the long night have passed as morning have arrived, Rize was prepared to get back to his home region.

Just when he have arrived at Vermilion city, his Pokegear rang. It was from Micha and he picked the phone up. "Hello Rize! Sorry it looks like there is no more ticket for today's sail but I'll be arriving to Hoenn the next day."

"Okay then no problem!"

The phone call ended. The clock indicated 8 passed 10 and the passengers are told to board the ship already.

"So this is goodbye then!" Rize saying his last phrases before he leave his friends. "It's been a very long journey and lots of things have happened. Thanks to all of you!"
"We're glad to know you too Rize!" Prof.Oak replied. "Be sure to keep contact!" said Midori.
"The next time we meet again I'm going to defeat you. Heheh." Shigeru gave his hand and both of them shook hand.

"Maybe we'll go to Hoenn too in the future." Satoshi too said his goodbye phrase and gave Rize a hand shake.
"Send my regards to Prof.Birch!"
"Alright go already now or else you'll miss your sail!" said Reinz and the cool and calm Ryussei did not say anything but a single "Bye." to Rize. So Rize departed from them and boarded the S.S Anne ship. The ship produced a lots of smokes from its pipe chambers indicating that it was ready to set sail and there it go, the ship have sailed its way.

"Have a safe trip!!" They all shouted together well except for Ryussei and Shigeru ofcourse.