To be a Pokémon Champion - Chapter 6

DISCLAIMER: I OWN NOTHING.

Hello everyone! I wasn't expecting to have another chapter out so soon, but here we are!

I'm also looking for a new Beta Reader, so if you're interested please PM me and I'll get back to you.

Once again, shout out to Bass and Relden Calder for helping me (a lot) with this chapter.

GLOSSARY

"Hi." - Halkegnian language (going to assume it's French)

"Hi." - Thoughts in Halkegnian language

'Hi.' - Kanto language (going to assume it's Japanese)

'Hi.' - Thoughts in Kanto language

'Hi.' - Spell/Pokémon move

*Hi* - Signing

-Hi- - Pokédex

REPLIES TO REVIEWS

Venomous Dragons Bite - We'll find out in a few chapters time!

NuggetMuncher - Thanks, I hope you enjoy this chapter too.

New Universe Returns - Derf shows up in this chapter, let me know what you think!

Captiosous - TYSON's definitely within the first 3 Generations :)

SilentMech - I've not seen/read Sekirei, but sounds interesting - the John from accounting bit had me laughing haha!

MasterXMaster - I'm basing it more off the Anime for the moment, but I'm hoping to make a start on the Light Novels soon. In terms of the worlds, it's of the Pokémon - Halkegenia variety, and there will be artefacts/Pokémon showing up here and there.

Descriptions of Pokémon come from Bulbapedia.

-Chapter Start-

Two weeks into her training Louise had decided it was time for a break, and managed to convince ORANGE that they should go and visit the nearby town seeing as he had never been there before. While excited at the prospect of showing him the sights and sounds, she and NOAH was currently stood watching her mentor attempt to put a saddle onto a non-cooperating EDDIE. "Are you almost done?"

"Almost … there…." ducking under underneath an errant claw, he pulled and made the final connection. "There," he breathed, wiping the sweat off his brow. "Done!" he exclaimed happily, jumping out the way of EDDIE's jaws that were occupying the space he had just vacated. "Right," clapping his hands together he looked expectantly at Louise. "You can ride EDDIE and I'll ride NOAH."

"W-what? Why do I have to ride EDDIE? He doesn't look too happy at the idea…" she tailed off as the POKéMON glared at her.

"Because he'll have thrown me off long before reaching our destination. Plus, you didn't put the world's most uncomfortable saddle on him so you're good in his books."

"Why do you even put it on him if he hates it so much?"

"This is just a spare I have in case that one he likes is lost, damaged or stolen. The harness in question is currently gathering dust in another dimension, so he'll have to suck it up and live with it for now. I'll make him another one when I get the chance," he muttered, eyeing the current saddle.

"Why aren't we flying together then? He won't throw the both of us off!"

"Because on this beautiful morning we are going to have a race! EDDIE versus NOAH, the skies versus good ol' mud, wings versus legs - who will win!?"

"You're way too excited for this," she deadpanned whilst the two participants perked up, excited at the thought of beating their teammate.

"What?" he replied defensively, moving across to NOAH. "They enjoy little competitions like these! For example; DAISHI, EDDIE and LEE love to wrestle, INARI, PYTHIA and NOAH regularly enter beauty contests, whilst JACK, GWGRI and TAGSIE enjoy holding scaring contests. Anyway, while EDDIE is slower than NOAH, he can go in a straight line whereas she'll have to slow down for corners, avoid traffic, blah blah bah."

Louise sighed as she made her over to the grumbling fire salamander, shaking her head bemusedly. "Would you mind if I flew with you today EDDIE?" After sizing her up, he huffed and nodded begrudgingly, crouching down so she could climb on. After getting settled, she looked down at ORANGE who had made himself comfortable on top of a pawing NOAH. "So what now?" she called out to him.

After receiving nods from both racers, he cleared his throat. "Ready …. GO!" Louise screamed as EDDIE launched himself into the air while ORANGE whooped with glee as NOAH took off. "See you there losers!" he called out behind him.

"Oh no you don't, let's beat them EDDIE!" she shouted into EDDIE's ear. Roaring in response, he shot forward, closing in on the opposing team.

"Looooooser!"

ORANGE scowled, looking away from Louise. "We were held up by caravans! The most you got held up by is a mid-morning snack for EDDIE!"

"You got beat by someone slower that you," she laughed, giving a thumbs up to EDDIE. "Are you pouting? D'aww, you'll win next time," consoling him by patting his lower back.

Swatting away her hand, he looked around the square they had finished the race in. "So, what's the plan for today then?" he said, keeping an eye out on some of the more adventurous children who were slowly edging their way towards them.

"Firstly, we'll go the weapons shop for you-"

"Let me just stop you there. Weapons? Why? Are you not seeing the giant flying flame salamander that can melt rock no problem lying next to me?" pointing to a disinterested EDDIE.

"And he was nowhere to be seen when Guiche decided to drop you," she replied patiently. "You need something to defend yourself with!"

"I alrea-" NOAH barked at her Trainer and nudged him forward with her nose. When he resisted and pushed her back, she planted her paw on his back and shoved him into Louise. "Fine! Fine. I'll come with you but I ain't buying Tauroshit." Cursing under his breath, he sent out INARI and motioned for her to follow.

"Why is she coming with us?"

"Because she is the least likely to get in the way of our activities whilst attracting the least amount attention. And she wants some new brushes for her fur."

"...I'm pretty sure a golden-white fox with nine tails will attract a fair amount of attention."

"Less than say, DAISHI, who will punch his way through anything he can't fit through," he shrugged. "HATHOR has a habit of accidentally setting perches - in this case roofs - on fire when he flutters his wings. GWGRI tends to-"

"You've made your point," she said hastily, scratching INARI behind the ears. "If you're both ready, then let's make a move!" Getting a hold of his forearm, she began to drag him in the direction of the nearest street.

After sending NOAH a glare that promised punishment later (one which she chose to avoid by looking at the beautiful fountain beside her), he sighed as Louise lead him towards their first stop, catching glimpses of wares in shop windows and market stalls as they sped past. "Don't you think that we should slow down a little!?" He cried out, narrowly avoiding a speeding cart taking off the front of his face and hurled abuse at the driver. Louise suddenly stopped, causing a distracted ORANGE to trip over her and hit the floor. "It should be somewhere here, Kirche said it was right next to Viemont's elixer shop…" she trailed off, bobbing and weaving around passing patrons find the shop.

"Look behind you," ORANGE groaned, his reply muffled as he slowly peeled himself off the cobblestones.

Louise turned round, her face lighting up as she found what she was looking for. "Great! Let's g-" She stared at ORANGE, who looked like it had gotten into a fight with the ground and lost, leaving an angry imprint of the cobbles on the right hand side of his face. Wincing, she motioned to his injury. "You've ah ... got something ... there..." she paled at his stony expression as she and INARI hurried inside. Tentatively touching his face, he hissed in pain and cursed loudly, causing several passers-by to stare in shock. After taking a while to calm down and compose himself, he begrudgingly followed them inside after muttering his apologies.

Stopping slightly as he entered, he saw Louise at the far end of the room experimentally swinging what looked to be a rapier whilst the man behind the counter was extremely enthusiastic in selling his wares. "That is one of our finest blades Miss," he gushed, watching keenly as she swung the sword in a chopping motion. "It would make a fine companion for you during your travels!"

Louise spotted ORANGE eyeing up a nasty looking mace on the wall and called him over. "You'll like this!" she said excitedly, sheathing the sword and pressed the hilt into his hand. "Give it a go!" Despite his scepticism he decided to humour her, drawing the blade out,he held it along his eyeline and inspected the straightness of the blade as INARI watched on with interest. "What do you think?"

After admiring the gleaming weapon and its gemstone encrusted hilt and pommel, he sheathed it with a heavy sigh. "While it is a pretty little thing, it's not what I need."

Her face fell. "What!? Why not?"

"When you're in a small area such as a cave where DAISHI's accidentally dropped a fist with enough force to destroy the sizeable boulder in your way and smack the sleeping POKéMON underneath it right in the kisser, you'll sharp find that you have neither the time nor space to use it as the now (rightfully) aggrieved POKéMON is busy rearranging your face."

"You look like you need a doctor, not a weapon," the salesman grumbled, unhappy at the loss of a sale to a noble who was drawn to the gilded blade like a VENOMOTH to a flame. Adjusting his posture, he shifted his attention to ORANGE.. "Nevertheless, if you're looking for something in confined spaces, might I suggest one of our daggers? Forged from the best metals and enchanted by the finest mages, you won't find a better blade!" he exclaimed.

Rolling his eyes at the theatrics, he nodded and motioned for the the man to hand him a weapon. Sighing at the ornate blade in his hand, he frowned as he judged its weight and balance. Scowling, he drove the dagger into the counter. "It's all wrong, who the hell made this piece of shit? I'm not after ornaments," he growled at the spluttering salesman. As ORANGE tried to remove it, the handle came clean off the tang, leaving the blade embedded in the wood. Staring at the handle in his hand in disbelief, he slowly looked back up at the so-called weapons master.

"Are you trying to sell us knock-offs?" Louise demanded angrily. "I should never have listened to Kirche!"

Before the salesman could reply, ORANGE grabbed his collar and hauled him over the counter, holding him up easily with one arm. "No," he started slowly, peering at the struggling human. "This has nothing to do with Kirche," shaking the man to get his attention. "Have I wronged you in any way since I've stepped into your shop?"

The salesman shook his head feverently. "N-no Sir!"

"Have you any grievances against the Vallière family?"

His face paled as he stopped struggling against ORANGE's grip, eyes locking onto an angry Louise. "She-"

"Oh? You know that name? Can you imagine what her mother would do to you?" Chuckling darkly at the thought, he gave the man another shake to regain his attention. "Now the way I see it, you've just tried to kill me by trying to sell me a blade that wasn't fit for purpose. Would you agree with that statement Louise, INARI?"

Both females nodded in agreement.

"While I could just throttle you and be done with it or watch her mother take several pounds of flesh from your bones," pausing for added effect he glared at his mewling captee, "I have something much better in mind. You see INARI here?"

"Yesyesyesyesshe'safinespecimen-"

"She can curse you for 1000 years."

Whatever colour was remaining in the man's face left faster than an ABRA using TELEPORT on Route 25.

"Can you imagine a man, all alone, in a space filled with instruments ranging from causing severe discomfort to piercing holes and breaking skulls with a curse of a 1000 years? Either the man in question is going to have a very short life, or he is going to have a very long, painful one."

"I'msorryI'msorryIthoughtyouweren'tgoingtouseitand-"

ORANGE laughed in disbelief, staring at him incredulously. "You think I would come in here and wave some bits of metal around, just to stroke my ego? I would buy it because it would look great on my hip or that it would help me impress the ladies? And before you even go there, I certainly don't need to compensate for anything."

INARI yipped, reminding ORANGE he was in the presence of women and that kind of talk wouldn't be tolerated. Snorting at the impressive shade of red Louise was currently wearing, he nodded at them before returning his attention to the salesman. "So, what do I do with you?" He mused.

"He could give us a free weapon?" Louise suggested, looking uncomfortable and regretting her decision to bring her mentor here.

Quirking an eyebrow, he turned back to Louise. "You think would be a suitable reparation?"

"No, I just want to be out of this wretched shop," she replied bluntly, meeting his angry gaze.

Chuckling, he dropped the struggling salesman to the floor. "You heard the lady. What can we take?"

"Try the crate over there," he rasped, gingerly massaging his neck as he pointed to the corner.

"They're second-hand blades! They-"

"-ve seen use and are therefore more trustworthy than any of the weapons that he was peddling earlier," ORANGE interrupted, motioning to the crate. "Seeing as this was your idea, why don't you pick a blade?"

Nodding slowly, she made her way towards the corner, rubbing her hands anxiously. "Now let's see …" she muttered, carefully sifting through the various weapons that had been dumped unceremoniously inside the crate. After searching for a while, her hand found the handle of a sword sheathed in a battered and dirty scabbard. Pausing in her search, she ran her fingers over the pommel and the well worn leather. Frowning as she tightened her grip, she shook the blade free from the the other weapons and pulled it out of the crate.

"You want that thing? Out of everything in this shop?" ORANGE asked, blowing the rest of his breath through his nose. "Did you not listen to a word I said earlier?"

Choosing not to say anything she drew the weapon, wincing as the rusty blade ground against the inside of the scabbard. Upon closer inspection, it seemed as if the rust was only on the surface - nothing a good clean wouldn't fix. Swinging the blade experimentally, she nodded to himself in satisfaction. "I did, but I want this one."

Sighing in exasperation, he rubbed his face irritably. "Just because you want it doesn't mean it's going to be any good for you - that's like INARI eating CYNTHIA's bunch of grapes and proceeding to throw up all over the rug that was gifted from royalty," ORANGE grumbled, earning him a light slap from one of INARI's tails. "Oi, do you know how much it cost me to get that damn thing cleaned? t was black! Black! What did I even feed you that morning?"

"While I certainly prefer a feminine touch, don't get a say in this life-changing decision?" the blade squawked, its guard squeaking as it moved to its voice.

The room was silent as everyone stared at the blade in Louise's hand. "Why is it talking?" he asked Louise as he continued to stare at it.

"INARI can curse someone for 1000 years, HATHOR can substitute the sun and LEE can jump over an entire castle without breaking a sweat, but you're freaked out by a rusty bit of metal that just so happens to talk?"

"I am not just some rusty bit of metal!" it replied, affronted by the statement. "I am The Great Derflinger!"

There was a silence in the room as everyone tried and failed to remember the name. "Haven't heard of you," Louise replied, shaking her head.

ORANGE shrugged, looking down at the blade. "He? It? Whatever the swords pronoun is, I guess Derflinger talks and is coming home with us."

-The slot for the mildly irritating talking companion within the party has already filled!-

"Now listen here kiddo!" The sword interrupted. "I'm a six thousand year old talking sword forged and enchanted by a mage to serve his stupidly overpowered magical warrior girlfriend of a familiar. Are YOU a familiar?"

Louise shook her head. "Newp."

"Do you instinctively know how to wield any weapon ever conceived just by coming into contact with it?"

Again, Louise shook her head. "Newp."

"Then piss off and let me wait for my next partner." The blade snapped.

ORANGE scoffed. "And exactly how long have you been waiting for?"he asked, approaching the two. Scowling, he gently prised the sword from her hand and brought the hilt to his face. "Surely it's better to be in the company of good people rather than gathering dust and rust in the corner whilst watching someone swindle their way to an early grave?"

Derflinger opened his guard to say something, but left it open for a few moments before closing it slowly. "Who did you say you were again?"

"I didn't. My name's ORANGE, and I'm an ex-POKéMON Champion."

"Why the 'ex'?"

"I relinquished my title so that I could challenge the Champion in the next region."

"And what does being a 'Champion' involve?"

ORANGE sighed heavily. "Well, to be the Champion you first have to defeat all other competing Trainers in battle. After that, you have to defeat the Elite Four and the current region's Champion - if there is one holding that position. After that, it's a lengthy interview and lengthy probation period to see if you cut the mustard. Resolving POKéMON or political disputes, hosting seminars, teaching the younger generation about becoming a Trainer, aiding research and development and promoting the League and region are all part of the job."

"You just left all of that to pursue your own goals? Do you not honour your commitments as a Champion?"

"Don't question my commitment. Every region I've represented has benefited from my work."

"Oh?" Derflinger challenged, raising his proverbial eyebrow. "I don't suppose you would so kind as to provide an example?"

"Destroying a cult that was 5 seconds away from raising a POKéMON that would've absorbed all the surrounding life force in not only the region I was standing in, but well beyond its borders."

The blade scoffed. "I don't believe you."

"They estimate at least 200 cult members died in the blast, not that there was anything really left to count afterwards; the damage to the surrounding area was last calculated at around 1.73 billion, without including the cost to the environment which is unlikely to ever recover," he said dryly.

Louise gasped at the count, looking horrified at ORANGE. "What … did you do?"

"I did what I had to," he shrugged, looking resigned. "I chose the biggest, baddest POKéMON under my command and ordered him to obliterate everyone and everything in and around that facility."

"Why didn't you reason with them, or try to bring them to justice?" Louise asked angrily, storming up to ORANGE.

ORANGE groaned. "Sweet ARCEUS, I get enough of this Tauroshit from PURPLE," he muttered under his breath. "Listen," he said impatiently. "I gave them one chance to surrender - I even said what I was going to do them if they didn't! Lo and behold, the bastards didn't listen to me and let the timer run down to 5 seconds, after which point I responded by erasing both them and that weird cocoon from existence."

"... That's a pretty heavy-handed response," the blade muttered. "That's not the only time you've taken life, have you?" he asked quietly.

ORANGE breathed in through his nose, mulling over his response before sighing heavily. "No, it's not."

"Do you ever regret it? The loss of life and the irreparable damage you cause?"

ORANGE shrugged. "Ask PURPLE." he grunted.

"Who's PURPLE?" Louise asked curiously.

"Someone who has the answer you're looking for," he replied bluntly. "Anyway, moving on from this topic I don't want to talk about, I have a proposition for you Oh Mighty Derflinger."

"I'm not interested in joining someone who so readily takes lives, even if they are for noble reasons without being willing to face the consequences."

"You're a weapon that's impaled, maimed and killed hundreds, if not thousands of people and other beings. Have you met with the families of the bereaved to tell them you were personally responsible for their deaths, or did you lay the blame at your welder's feet? Have you seen first hand the destruction you've wrought upon the land and made every effort to repair the damage done, or did you choose to hide in your scabbard? Have you forced yourself to stand in front of the entire world to lay bare your shortcomings, or did you choose to be silent and inanimate?"

Derflinger didn't respond, causing ORANGE to scoff and pass the blade back to LOUISE. "I don't think you have had to face any consequences for what you've done during your life," he said quietly, glaring at the blade. "Believe me, I know of consequences. Thousands have died during the one time I didn't act, and I refuse to make that mistake again," clenching his fists as he started off into the distance. INARI padded over towards ORANGE and rested her head against his legs, her tails waving slowly behind him. Smiling gently, he knelt down and ran his calloused hands through her fur. "Sorry, I didn't mean to make you worry." INARI yipped and nuzzled in the crook of his neck, causing him to chuckle and pat her back in response "Gotcha," he grinned.

Derflinger attempted to cough to gain ORANGE's attention. "So what is this … proposition you have for me, Ser ORANGE?"

"First off, I'm not a Ser. Secondly, you should ask Louise seeing as she picked you out of that ARCEUS-forsaken barrel after all," he drawled, nodded at his current wielder.

"Why don't you join me?" Louise asked the blade. "We may not necessarily agree on his methods of dealing with things," she said, nodding in his direction, "but at this moment in time I don't have caught or befriended any POKéMON of my own, and I could do someone teaching me self defence with a blade."

"Why don't you ask him?" Derflinger asked irritably.

"As good as he his with his dagger, I need someone who's had decades - centuries, even - of experience fighting against all manner of weapons."

"Hah!" the blade scoffed, but with the state of its guard it came out as an ear-piercing squeak, causing everyone to flinch. "Don't try to low-ball me, girlie! Centuries? Try millennia! I am the Great Derflinger! Other swords are as butter before me! Axes? Axe me about the Vindian Berserker! Polearms? They have reach, but I have flexibility! Bows? That's a mighty fancy name for firewood! Daggers?" Derflinger hocked and pretended to spit. "Why wait for a death of a thousand cuts when one will do! No other weapon can compare to the Great Derflinger!"

"So I'll take that as a yes?" Louise asked dryly.

Derflinger snorted. "Now listen here, Ms. Vallière-"

"Just Louise is fine."

"Louise," he repeated slowly. "I may enjoy my ego being polished as much as I do my steel, but don't think you can trick me to do your bidding by merely appealing to it. It takes much more than that to manipulate one such as I!" The blade paused as it mulled over the options. "That said, I will acquiesce your request for tutelage. I see potential in you young lady, and I'd consider it a great shame if this gentleman took all that you could offer this world and lead you down a path ill-befitting of your position and talent. You need a more ... refined influence in your training. And as you say, who better than the Great Derflinger to provide it!"

"I don't know whether that's a win on our part," ORANGE muttered to himself, shaking his head.

"Of course it is!" Louise cried out, poking him lightly with the sword. "We" she emphasised, glaring at ORANGE, "would be honoured to have you by our side."

ORANGE's protests were cut off with a quick jab of the sword.

-Chapter End-

Thank you for reading this chapter, any feedback would be much appreciated.