Chapter Text
(Cerulean City, Kanto Region, Pokémon World)
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(Cobalt POV)
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‘’It’s ringing.’’ Acerola informed him.
‘’This should be interesting.’’ Cobalt mutters quietly
Acerola was a social butterfly, able to form friends easily, especially with small children and all but the most shy of introverts. No doubt she’d get introduced to Oak quickly.
The call was quickly answered, as Oak’s face appeared on the screen.
‘’Hello. Oh, Cobalt it’s you, how are you? You don’t usually contact me unless you need something. Is this to do with that televised match of yours?’’ Asks Oak.
‘’Partly, but we’ll get to that, firstly, let me introduce you to Acerola. My longtime girlfirend and the niece of Nanu, one of the Island Kahuna’s of Alola.’’ Says Cobalt.
‘’A pleasure to meet you young lady.’’ Oak greets.
‘’And you professor.’’ Acerola replies.
‘’Now, what can I do for you Cobalt?’’ Oak asks.
‘’How quickly can you get to Cerulean City?’’ Asks Oak.
‘’A day, why?’’ Asks Oak.
‘’I’m due to meet with a group of agents, business people, and Agatha. All goes well, I’ll have formed a company. I’d like you to be there to ensure I don’t get screwed. Also to sponsor my food.’’ Says Cobalt.
‘’I can do that.’’ Says Oak. ‘’I’ll let Julie and Byro run things while I head to Cerulean.’’ Says Oak.
‘’Thank you.’’ Says Cobalt.
‘’I do have a condition however!’’ Cobalt can guess what that condition will be. ‘’I would like to examine your Alolan Pokemon when I can. Both you and miss Acerola’s. It’s a rare opportunity.’’ Says Oak.
‘’Fair enough.’’ Cobalt agrees with a small smile. ‘’See you soon Professor.’’ Says Cobalt as he logs off the call, just as the train had finished it’s arrival tasks after pulling into Cerulean Station.
‘’Let’s head to the Pokemon Center.’’ Acerola says.
‘’Yes lets.’’
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(POV Shift: Gary Oak)
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‘’This is Jules Grant, here live at Cerulean Station. The opponents for the fabulous Sensational Sisters have just arrived. One Cobalt Black and his partner, Acerola. Despite a number of tournament wins under their belts from far away Alola and one Gym Badge here in Kanto, these two are relatively unknown it’s not clear how or why they are getting a Televised match.’’ The broadcast from the news was playing. Gary tried not to ground his teeth. Cobalt was tough, he would acknowledge that, but only because he had a gap of ten to Gary’s eight Youth Tournament wins. But the knowledge that Cobalt was getting a Televised match gnawed at him.
It wasn’t so much why he was getting one as the fact he was getting one that bothered Gary.
He’d tried to convince gramps into gettting him his own, but was flatly denied. When he demanded to know why Cobalt got one, all that was told to him was to keep up to date with the news feeds. He wasn’t sure exactly what that meant, but until it was revealed, he’d contain his frustration.
Still, he did need that Cerulean Gym Badge, and finding a little more out about Cobalt’s team certainly wouldn’t hurt him if he and Cobalt came up against each other at the Indigo League Conference. So that was just another reason as to why he was in Cerulean City. Plus, the fact the match was televised meant that he would be able to review it in more detail later.
With any luck, Cobalt would only be fractionally more difficult to beat than Ash.
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(POV Shift: Ash Ketchum)
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‘’I can’t believe Cobalt’s already get a televised match.’’ Ash said excitedly.
‘’I’ll admit that it’s surprising he’s getting a televised match this early. Usually only the more critically acclaimed and well-sponsored trainers get an early than average televised match debut.’’ The newest addition to his journey, Brock, the Gym Leader of Pewter City Said.
‘’I can’t wait to be a Pokemon master, to show the world what me and my Pokemon can do on a televised stage would be great!’’ He said.
‘’I wonder how much stronger he’ll be since we last saw him?’’ Misty asks absently.
‘’Hard to say, his companion is also of interest to me, Acerola had several Pokemon I’d never seen before.’’ Brock said.
‘’Let’s hurry.’’ Says Ash, he was hoping to be able to catch Cobalt at the Pokemon Center.
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(POV Shift: Cobalt Black)
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Cobalt found himself not enjoying being in the spotlight all that much. He was solitary by nature, the realization that that had not changed was alright with him. He had always been private, the fact he’d been reborn hadn’t changed that. What had changed was that he was more open to the idea of being in the spotlight, he didn’t like it, wasn’t one to put himself out there like that, but he was hardcore against it like last time. He and Acerola were in their room, at the Pokemon Center.
They weren’t alone.
For whatever reason - and Cobalt suspected it was because of Agatha's involvement as well as the Sisters' demands for a televised match - the President of the Pokémon League Committee was there. Charles Goodshow was a small man with a long flowing white beard. Cobalt believed he'd be Santa Claus if he'd be a little taller and a lot fatter.
‘’This match is televised at the request of the Sensational Sisters. Therefore there's a few rules that must be brought to your attention. As this is not strictly a league match so much as an exhibition match, this will be a straight match, with no breaks in between for commercials and a timeout can only be called in the most serious circumstances. Additionally there will be no forfeits or surrender unless the referee determines that the situation is serious enough to warrant it.’’ Says Goodshow.
‘’I'm guessing that a mon receiving a serious injury or hurting itself as it goes down is such a reason?’’ Cobalt asks, hands behind his back as he looks out across the beautiful Cerulean City in the evening.
‘’Yes, that would be a valid reason. However if the referee also has concerns about a Pokemon's performance and their overall Health. He can call a stop to the match and depending on the trainers discretion, and how the Pokemon feels, the match may or may not continue with that Pokemon.’’ Says Goodshow.
‘’That's fair. Last thing I want to do is willfully hurt a Pokemon. Arceus knows my Charmander was rescued from that type of guy, Rockruff too.’’ Says Cobalt as he holds the shrunk Pokéballs in his hands containing Ruff and Charmander.
‘’Me niether.’’ Acerola says in agreement.
‘’That's good to hear, that means that it's not necessary to stress how important that is.’’ Goodshow says, before taking a sip from his glass. ‘’On a final note, there's a handful of sponsors in the crowd, they may or may not wish to meet with you after the battle. Although the league has no right to tell you who to sign with, we strongly urge you to use a Leagur agent to overlook any contracts they offer you as well as have any personal connections present.’’ Says Goodshow.
‘’My uncle is unable to make it. His duties as both the Kahuna of Ula'Ula and its highest-ranking officer on the island keep him from leaving Alola.’’ Says Acerola.
‘’And you Mr. Black?’’ Asks Goodshow. Leading Cobalt to clench his jaw.
‘’My mother's not coming.’’ There was nothing more he needed to say on the matter. She outright refused to attend. What was he supposed to do in the face of that?
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(POV Shift: Tapu Bulu)
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Tapu Bulu was within sight of friend. Bulu had crossed past Fini's domain and could feel friends energy.
Bulu was a good Bulu, and was almost going to see friend! But Bulu would need to rest, Bulu could not afford to fall asleep before he reached friend. Finding a dead forest in which Bulu could heal the land and sleep was easy, sleeping when Bulu was near friend not so much.
So close!
Talu Bulu was so close to seeing Friend again! Tasting Friends food! Sleeping beside friend!
But Bulu was a patient Tapu Guardian, he wasn’t like Koko who always rushed into things! Bulu could wait a little bit longer!
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(POV Shift: Acerola)
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Acerola was a little worried about Cobalt. His mother was known to detest Pokémon battles, considering the practice a bloodsport. His mother's refusal to attend his first televised match clearly bothered him, even if he refused to outwardly show it.
Regardless they could ill afford to discuss it now. The night had come and gone, and morning had arisen.
The match was going to begin soon.
Best to hope Cobalt wasn't too distracted, as much by his mother's absence as the Sensational Sisters often praised beauty.
She'd keep an eye on him, but her overall focus had to be on the battle itself. Same as his.
They had to make this one count, since they had a lot more than pride on the line here. This was their first televised match, a loss wasn't the end of the world, but it would make things Much harder in the long run.
‘’You ready?’’ She asked Cobalt as the Limousine pulled out in front of the Cerulean Gym.
This was a televised match, so certain expectations and appearances had to be kept.
‘’Does it really even matter?’’
‘’Your mental health is important Cobalt, especially to me.’’ Says Acerola, to which he gave her a long sad smile.
‘’Let's just win this. You can ask me again later, after we've won and we're alone.’’ Says Cobalt as he takes a long drawn out sigh, before he opens the door and steps out offering her his hand as they hop out and walk up the walkway to the gym together.
The highly publicized battle that had been promised, was about to happen in the next few moments!
What a feeling!
Even if the entire city wanted them to lose to the home Gym, it wasn't any less great a feeling. She hoped this wasn't the last time she'd get to experience this type Of sensation.
Or the last time she got to experience this type of fanfare…
It was like feeling like you're on top of the world!
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