Chapter 131: Alola's First Champion
2024-05-15 Author: Samsung Charmander (Author Name)
"The Alola Region doesn't have a League Champion yet?"
Red suddenly spoke from within his soul, a peculiar light flickering in his eyes as he mentally sorted through the differences between the timeline of the game world and this one.
Watching the battle that had already begun on the screen, Red's thoughts shifted, and he couldn't help but fall into a memory.
In his world, there was a time when he was still undergoing ascetic training on Mt. Silver. Partway through, while visiting the Pokémon Center at the mid-mountain point to restock on medicine and food from Nurse Joy, Green and Blue suddenly called and summoned him down.
"This is hilarious. I heard some backwater place called A-A-Alola just established a Pokémon League. What a ridiculous name."
Green clapped Red on the shoulder and said arrogantly, "I also heard they have a First Champion whose strength can crush the champions from other regions? Man, that sets me off. As their seniors, it's not going too far for us to go teach them a lesson, is it?"
The Green of that time was still in a state of youthful recklessness, his personality about seventy percent similar to the current Gary.
Perhaps because they had just crowned their First Champion and needed to boost the regional economy, airplane tickets from every region to the Alola Region were very cheap. Thus, the impoverished Red agreed to accompany his two mischievous friends on a journey to the Alola Region to display some inter-regional friendship and mutual aid.
The love of a senior.
Only after landing were they told the First Champion wasn't defending the League at all times. Challenging the Champion was out of the question unless they first went to a facility called the Battle Tree.
It was said that once they achieved a 20-win streak, the Alola First Champion would appear to accept their challenge.
So, Red and Green took a couple of deep breaths and immediately squashed twenty ants.
It had to be said, the skill level of the Trainers in the Alola Region was indeed a bit lacking. Their abilities were pitifully poor; each one went down to a single Quick Attack.
As a result, in less than ten minutes, the two of them easily achieved a 20-win streak.
But after they finished, the situation changed once again.
"I'm so sorry, but our First Champion is very busy right now. You'll have to wait three days to challenge them."
A staff member spoke apologetically, handing them an iPad as he did. On it was a live video.
The video had been shot just that morning; it was still fresh.
Apparently, somewhere, a Trainer engaged in bizarre behavior had attracted the attention of a passerby.
When the passerby realized this strange Trainer was none other than their most powerful First Champion, they quickly filmed this baffling but incredibly rare video.
Curious, Red and Green tapped the play button on the iPad, and the video began.
In the video was a Tauros wearing a ride harness, and on the Tauros was a sunny-looking youth wearing a protective helmet.
Although he had a sunny disposition, his face was expressionless, even a bit dazed, with his eyes wide open.
Like an idiot.
The First Champion was riding the Tauros, which was moving at high speed. A fiery red hawk circled above his head, occasionally landing on his shoulder.
This fiery hawk's body continuously radiated heat, its belly glowing red.
To be fair, there was nothing strange about riding a Tauros, nor was it odd to have a bird on one's head.
The problem was, the youth hadn't moved from his spot at all!
That's right.
The Tauros was spinning wildly in place like a top, its horns pressed tightly against a sturdy notice board, endlessly spinning and jumping with its eyes closed. Its powerful hooves instantly kicked up countless clouds of dust.
And atop it, the First Champion stared with wide, expressionless eyes, letting the Tauros gallop beneath him.
From a distance, you could still make out the words on the notice board and the small wooden house in the background.
"Pokémon Day Care."
Red, Green: "?"
This was the First Champion of the Alola Region?
What a headache.
Seeing that the champion was an idiot, Red and Green's enthusiasm immediately waned. They soon left the Battle Tree, no longer having the slightest interest in educating their junior.
After that, it was just normal tourism and tea-drinking, sightseeing and having fun. Nothing major happened.
Like beating up a Pokémon that had been tailing and spying on them all day, which seemed to be called Tapu Koko.
Or like Blue accidentally discovering a crack leading to an Ultra Wormhole.
So the three of them, with nothing better to do, walked inside, strolled through Ultra Space, and casually caught a few Ultra Beasts that looked powerful but were actually unremarkable before returning to the Kanto Region.
It's worth mentioning that before leaving, Green secretly went back to the Battle Tree for another match, utterly crushing Red's record.
Back in the present, Red realized that in this world, the Alola Region hadn't even started establishing its League yet.
"Looks like they should start setting up the League over there soon, right?"
A cunning smile touched Red's lips as a plan formed in his mind.
"When the time comes, I'll have Ash take a trip to the Alola Region and snatch the First Champion title."
Surely the First Champion of this world couldn't also be an idiot spinning in circles in front of the Pokémon Day Care, right?
Red began to exert a little more force, rocking back and forth in his armchair as if enjoying his retirement.
On the television, the battle had officially begun.
The Royal Mask's Incineroar attacked first. It let out a great roar, and its body erupted in a fierce red light, causing its muscles to swell and harden.
Then, it raised its claws, forming a cross with its body, and began to spin wildly, its body igniting like a rushing flame.
The power was immense and overwhelming!
"That's Incineroar's Darkest Lariat!"
The announcer called out the name of the Move.
Although it was a fighting competition, many Moves were still usable, such as Bulk Up and Darkest Lariat—Moves that were clearly related to martial arts.
Of course, Moves like Flare Blitz, U-Turn, Snarl, and Fake Out could not be used.
So, strictly speaking, the Incineroar right now couldn't be considered the number one Pokémon in the universe, only barely one of the top ten.
On the other side, however, the brown bear Pokémon remained as still as a mountain, like a master martial artist, assuming a receiving stance.
It only burst into action when the Incineroar was a few meters away. Its movements were as fast as a phantom, keenly breaking through Incineroar's offensive pace. With just a single sideways thrust, it shattered the latter's formidable Darkest Lariat.
"Hmph, Urshifu, let this young'un see our true strength!"
Master Ma revealed the brown bear Pokémon's name.
Urshifu!
Suddenly, Master Ma's eyes flew open. He slammed both fists to his sides and assumed a horse stance.
Then, his body leaped like a coiled spring as a terrifying white aura erupted around him, as if he were transforming.
"Hah!"
Master Ma threw off the green hat from his head, and the jacket he was wearing instantly shattered, revealing the brilliant yellow training uniform underneath!
In an instant, he became incredibly lean and aggressive, with a set of well-defined, symmetrical muscles. He struck a starting pose, channeling his energy for a punch.
He looked nothing at all like the scrawny old man from before!
(A note for those who might not understand.)
(After finishing the League, the Alola protagonist takes on the Battle Tree. After a 20-win streak, they will encounter Red and Green.)
(Master Ma is a new character from Sword and Shield, a former Galar Champion, Leon's teacher, and specializes in punching.)
(end of chapter)