Duel of the Fates

"You're joking right?" Karen stuttered. "Right, Hudson?"

"Karen, you know that I would be laughing if I was." Hudson, Kanto's Prime Minister, assured her. They were in her prep room as he was about to inform her about his early leave; he was about to head to the House of Commons, where a parliament session was about to begin and the main topic was about Mega Evolution's fate.

"B-But Mega Evolution made Kanto, it played a massive role in our history and culture, we couldn't just outright ban it." Karen argued to the Prime Minister. She knows that this was white-washing to their precious culture that created the country she resides in.

"Imperial Kanto. The Kanto we know today is different. It tried to run away from its past by creating this facade called 'Metropolis'." Hudson muttered.

"And what did that new Kanto do? Killed its greener and nature loving past for what? corporations, business and to be on-par with the west? To become an economic power at the cost of killing the culture that many people loved?" Karen argued even further. She saw Kanto's rise to economic power but it was not a positive one; she saw many people were slaves to loan sharks as they thought that moving here would give them opportunities, abused many Pokemon for free labor since human laws don't apply to them, destroyed many livelyhood of the former Pallet town by buying farms and turning them into economic centers. For her, this new Kanto is not the Kanto she grows up in.

"All of this could've been avoided if the Pokemon League's political power wasn't stripped." Karen sighed. As she looks at herself in the mirror.

"Remember the last time when the Indigo League was given political power? They nearly killed our people for the sake of protecting Pokemon. That was just 6 years ago, Karen." He understands the frustration that Karen was in but after the event that took place 6 years ago, the populace and Saffron decided to strip away the Indigo League's representation in the government.

"I know know. The Indigo League was used to be run by indoctrinated megalomaniacs. Especially that shitfest Lance." She said, She saw the former elite 4 nearly killed the people of Saffron city and they were lucky that the majority of them are finally gone with a major exception of Lorelei.

"Lorelei." The prime minister muttered the name of Karen's friend.

"She just tagged along because of fear. She was blackmailed by them. Join them or they'll kill everyone in the Sevii islands, her hometown." Karen said in a deeper voice as she tries to hold on to the anger she has against Lance and his old peers.

"She only wants to represent her people to the Kantonese parliament and since she's not keen on politics, she trained herself and her Pokemon to become stronger and became an Elite four member just for that reason." She continued. "She never abused nor used her power for malicious intent."

"And how is she now?" Hudson felt empathy for Karen's explanation about Lorelei. The Indigo League's main goal is to protect Pokemon but the people who are in it usually abuse their power but Lorelei was an example of good people using their political power for the greater good for everyone.

"She's currently an MP for the Sevii Party. She's doing well recently albeit retired from the League. You can talk to her if you want but she's a busy person." She said as she looked at Hudson one more time before sitting in her chair.

"I see. Well, I've got to go now. Parliament waits for no one. I'll try to minimize the restrictions to Mega Evolution and might bring back some political power to the league but with the current situation. They're betting on the boy. If he wins then it's over." He said as he walked to the door and looked at her one more time with worries.

"Good luck." He said as he left her room. Leaving herself, looking at the mirror as she was having a turmoil inside of her thoughts.

She was facing two choices and both would have severe consequences.

If she wins, she would be able to bring restore Mega Evolution and political power to the Indigo League but at the cost of losing the boy and allowing Giovanni to return and to become a god; or

If she lets him win, Yoake would be able to defeat Giovanni and put to rest all their problems of the past: avenging Trevor's death, saving the world and bringing peace but at the cost of Mega Evolution being banned and making a domino effect down the line.

It was a battle for the future and fates.

She looked to herself in the mirror one more time and saw that she was no longer the girl she was before, the girl that loves Pokemon and hoped for a bright future but now, she's nothing more than The Duchess of Darkness of Kanto. A figurehead but with little to nothing to do to her subjects.

"Miss Karen." A staff member entered the room. "The Battle is about to begin."

-

The two trainers panted for breath as they looked at each other with full concentration. Their Pokemon's swords were pointing to one another as they patiently waited for their respective trainer's words. The sandstorm has finally set and everyone was hyped for this moment. The night for the victor of the round and today is for the victor of the league. Will they have a new champion or not? But either way, it will be the most anticipated battle of contemporary Pokemon battles.

With nothing more to say, the two continued the final moments of their battle.

"Greninja, now!" Karen said. Greninja jumps from the ground and swings its sword towards the Gardevoir; she then swings her own sword and parries it. The two were trying to push one another but Claudine immediately formed another sword from her left arm and swung it at Greninja.

Greninja jumps away as it dodges the second blade. Claudine then returns her secondary blade and charges. The two blocked each other's attack once more. The two Pokemon looked at each other dead in the eye; Greninja saw the malicious intent on Claudine's red eyes, it was as if hatred was grown to this Pokemon. The Gardevoir then used its telekinetic powers and pushed Greninja, breaking the two's block. She charged once more but instead of parrying it, Greninja tumbled to the side and threw a water-shuriken at her. She was struck by it and this made her even furious.

She swings her sword at Greninja but the Ninja Pokemon tumbled as it dodge the attack. Claudine then gravity-pinned Greninja to the ground and raised her sword in an execution style but the ninja Pokemon threw another shurkin at her face; which nearly made her blind - a small time frame for it to get up and jumped once more as it readied another attack.

Greninja lunges its sword and attacks Claudine, giving her deadly blows but it was not enough. She was knocked back for a few seconds as she slowly recovered herself. For a brief moment, the crowd thought that Karen was winning. Claudine slowly got back, angrier and furious than before, throwing her sword at Greninja as if it was a dart. Greninja blocked it with his but Gardevoir immediately charged him as she created another sword and attacks. The Ninja Pokemon parried it once more, instead of just pushing Greninja, Claudine begins to bombard him with continuous blows of her sword; raising it and immediately attacks - it was nothing more than to see the immense power that Claudine actually has.

Karen realized how dangerous Claudine has become and seeing how her trainer is being quiet for the entire time; she was worried that Battle Bond is fueling this and the hatred that she has was just its side-effects.

Claudine gives one last swing and Greninja blocks it; instead of continuing her bombardment, she decides to play dirty by creating a Moonblast and throws it at the Ninja Pokemon. Greninja immediately broke his parry as he jumped and dodged the attack; Claudine took advantage of this as she used her telekinesis to push Greninja at a distance, giving her enough space to use her special powers instead of her sword. Greninja was thrown to the other side of the stadium, hitting one of the barriers and stumbling upon the ground, getting weaker and weaker. He slowly stood up, removed some of the dirt on his body and looked around; he noticed that Claudine was nowhere to be seen.

Even from Karen's perspective, she couldn't find Gardevoir on the battlefield.

Greninja turned its head from left to right as he tried to find Claudine. Realizing that she might be everywhere, he found a boulder nearby - big enough to cover and hide him from any surprise attacks. He hid on the boulder, pressed his slimy body to the rough surface of the rock, peeked his head as he took a few glances of the battlefield. She was still nowhere to be seen.

The ninja Pokemon took a deep sigh as he took the small amount of peace he had. He peeked his head once more and boom. The boulder was struck and blew to different pieces, Graninja rolled to the side as he dodged the attack - he looked around and thought that Claudine was nearby, he drew out his sword as he readied for any possible attacks.

A moonblast was thrown at him once more and he sliced it in half with his sword. He felt something unnerving as his opponent was nowhere to be seen yet its attacks were visible. Karen gulped as Yoake was still quiet and hadn't said anything, she was worried that Claudine is the one controlling the situation and Yoake was being held captive in his mind.

'Where is she?' Karen asked herself until she noticed a boulder was being left from the sky. She then finally saw Claudine, she was hiding in one of the leftover pillars and patiently let her anger grow.

With her anger, she only managed to lift only one stone and she threw it at Greninja. The Ninja Pokemon immediately rolled as he dodged the attack and ran towards the Gardevoir. Claudine continues to raise another boulder and throws it at him once more; he dodges it and prepares his sword as he is getting close to Claudine. She throws one last stone and lands it on Greninja; the Ninja Pokemon sliced it in half and continues to charge at her. Instead of just running towards her, he decides to circle around her and begins to throw water shuriken at her. Bombarding her with these watery-spiky blades while evading her Moonblasts.

Agitated from the bombardment, she gravity-pinned him to the ground and gave her an opening to charge and swung her sword at him. Greninja tried to block it but the gravity pin was too strong, he barely lifted his arm, leaving him defenseless as Claudine attacked him with her sword. Her sword was blunt and it hit like a bat and Greninja felt that for every time her sword hit his body. He slowly grabbed something in his pocket and immediately threw it at the ground. It created a pocket of gray smoke, Claudine coughed and covered her mouth as soon as it covered her view. Greninja managed to escape and jumped at a distance.

He decided to run around her once more while throwing his water shurikens at her, he realized that Claudine was getting weaker and weaker, she was wobbling as she tried to create another moonblast to hit him but since she was crippling in power, she was vulnerable. She fell to the ground, weak but not yet fainted; Greninja stopped as he saw the embrace Pokemon fell; he then drew out his sword to do one last blow to the enfeeble Pokemon, he waited for his trainer's one last cue before he could finally defeat Claudine.

This was the moment where Karen had to make a decision. With one single word, she could change the fate of the world. She was panicking on the inside as she didn't know what to do nor even make a decision. She wants to protect Mega Evolution and to restore the political power of the Indigo League but she also wants Giovanni dead. This kid is the key.

Upon seeing the weak Gardevoir, she felt a familiar memory being poured at her. She remembers herself, her younger self. She sees her younger self in Claudine's position, weak but filled with anger all the while someone was looming above her.

'Pathetic.' Karen remembers the familiar voice, it was the former champion, Lance.

He defeated her in a battle a few years ago, a battle that she wouldn't forget. She was filled with anger and hatred towards Lance as she knows that this man killed a lot of people and abused his Dragonite by forcing them to prematurely evolve. She wanted to take vengeance but she was weak.

'You created a philosophy that was loved by many people but I guess not every Pokemon was given the better chance.' Lance mocked her.

'You should've known better.' Lance continues as he turns around and slowly walks away. Karen curls up to a ball, weak and vulnerable.

'Boom!' a loud gunshot was heard. Karen turned around and saw Lance bleeding on the floor. She was shocked to see the champion on top of his pool of blood. She then saw a person enter the room, it was none other than her old friend, Takeshi.

'Takeshi? I-I.' Karen stuttered upon seeing her friend with a gun in his hand.

'I couldn't help to see an old friend being tormented. That asshole deserves it.' Takeshi muttered.

'But- But who'll be the champion then?' Karen asked him.

'You. I want you to become the next champion.' He stated.

'You lost to him but since the rules stated that if the current one dies, the opponent would immediately become the champion.' He explained to her.

'Listen Karen. You're a good person, you deserve this position more than he does." He continued. "But I fear this will be the last time we will meet."

'What? what are you talking about Takeshi?' She was shocked to hear her friend being way too serious than his usual composure. It felt like a different person.

'He's after us Karen. He wants both of us dead.'

'He wants the twins as his puppet for world domination and the only person I can entrust it to is you.' He then pointed his finger at her chest. 'Please Karen, you're the only person I can trust. Please, keep an eye on the kids. I know you wanted to be the champion because you want to preserve Kantonese culture but please, for the sake of the people who sacrificed themselves to kill the monster, please.'

This was for the first time Karen saw crying and begging at her. She usually sees her to be the happiest man but seeing him in such a depressing mood, she was empathetic. She looked down and gave her friend one last hug before going on their own paths. It was the last time that Karen saw Takeshi and it was the first for Trevor.

With her remembering the choice she has made a few years ago, Karen decides to not let Greninja attack Claudine and lets them embrace Pokemon to attack him instead. It was hard for her to accept her loss as she's been always eager to fight for her cause but with troubling times slowly crawling towards them, she has no choice.

Seeing Greninja standing and doing nothing. Claudine immediately took advantage and attacked him, fainting the Ninja Pokemon in the process; making Yoake the new Indigo Champion.

The crowd cheered as Yoake was finally announced as the victor. Confettis popped off from the rear of the stadium as the crowd continued to chant his name. The link of the battle bond slowly disappeared and the two returned to their original state. Karen returns Greninja back its Pokeball and walks towards Yoake with a small confidence on her face as she hopes that her decision is the right one.

"You did well. Kinda reminds me of your father. We battled a lot back then, I can still see his battle style being passed on to you." Karen complimented the black trainer.

"Thanks." He thanked her.

"You and your Pokemon worked hard for this. The blood, sweat and tears that you've spent for this single moment. All of it was worth it. 'Always look back at this battle' and remember your first step towards victory." She said as she raised his arm and the crowd went wild as the new champion was being hailed at.

-

Later that day, Yoake decided to go home and leave his stuff so that he could tag along later with the rest of the specialists as they celebrated the newly titled champion at Ellix's gym. As he leaves his bag at his bedroom, he sees his old trophy cabinet. Seeing how far he has gone through, from being a virtual league title holder to becoming the actual thing. It was a small step but a giant leap for anyone at his age. He felt some prideness on his part but most of it came from the acknowledgement that his Pokemon carried him to the championship. He is a proud trainer to such an extraordinary team.

He left his house and headed to Professor Oak's laboratory where he would walk to the sanctuary and release his Pokemon. He entered the sanctuary and saw the green scenery of this place, all-natural and nature loving while having the futuristic city of Pallet city looming nearby it.

It was a small sanctuary for monsters in a world of humans and they made the most of it. Many stories of family and love came from this small field; all of it was being created by the loving creatures that many called Pokemon.

He takes out five out of six of his Pokeballs and throws it at the grassy fields in front of him. Victreebel, Fear, King, Urshifu and Claudine jumped out from their Pokeball and appeared to their trainer. All of them were exhausted from the battle earlier but they were fed and relaxed as they know that they've done their part.

"I'm proud of all of you. You guys did a great job throughout our entire adventure. I'm surprised that you guys still listen to me after getting exhausted because of my mistakes." Yoake told his Pokemon. All of them chuckled upon hearing their trainer's words.

"Like I always said Yoake, we're always here for you even with thick skin." Claudine assured him. Yoake couldn't help but to smile as he saw his Pokemon were delighted to be with him.

"All of us reached our dreams huh." Yoake stated. He looked at Victreebel and saw the happiness on the flycatcher Pokemon; the long awaited dream of him being able to soar the sky finally happened because of him.

He looked at Fear, even if he didn't participate in the league, he was proud and supportive to his comrades. He became the happiest Fearow the world has ever seen.

He looked at King with utter joy. He knows that King was in a form of deformity and he still accepted him as his own. He was mistreated by his own species but was taken care of by this new family of his. He learned many things not only from the trainer but from Claudine as well.

He looked at Urshifu and remembers the time when he was still that persistent Kubfu. Training day and night just so he could eat a piece of toasted jam. Now, he's an unstoppable force as an Urshifu, training but taking the time to enjoy the little things in life.

And finally, he looked at Claudine. The Pokemon who have been with him since the very beginning. From being a small and weak Ralts to becoming the ace of a champion. She may have access to battle bond but her dedication was something unmatched for.

"Well, I guess this is a good bye huh." Yoake told his team as he lays their Pokeball on the ground and left it there. Upon seeing her trainer was about to free her, Claudine immediately stuttered and protested.

"Wait!? You're releasing me? But why? What about Charizard and Zapdos?" Claudine asked her trainer. She was panicking as she was foreign to the wild world; she was used to accompanying Yoake and being surrounded by man-made delicacies. If she was released, it's more likely that she wouldn't last a few seconds.

Seeing his Pokemon panicking, he made a small chuckle as he took back Claudine's pokeball and put it in his belt.

"I was just joking Claudine, I know that you wouldn't survive out there but they can." He said as he looked at his four Pokemon behind the Gardevoir; he walked up to them and everyone braced a hug one last time before taking their own paths.

After that hug, the four walked to the forest behind them, gave one last goodbye to the trainer that helped them accomplish their dreams. All of them found new lives in Professor Oakido's sanctuary, a life of peace and serenity.

Later that day, the two finally arrived at Ellix's gym and celebrated the two's victory. All of the specialists were present in the party, even Maxie was there. They all watched movies, played a lot of games, shared stories and such. They were having a fun time. It was like the night after graduation, an after party where people could celebrate a special occasion.

As they continued to party, Leaf went outside and began to dial a number. It was the number that Karen gave her, a number that would finally lay to rest her quest of finding the answer of where Red and Blue could be. She puts her phone near her mouth as she patiently waits for the receiver to pick-up her call. It didn't take long before the call was picked up and Leaf was excited to hear her old friend's voice once more.

She took a deep breath and finally greeted me. "Hello?"

"Blue!? You're alive." She said upon hearing her friend on the other end of the line.

"I was worried about you for 2 years now. Why didn't you just tell me that you were in Alola." She said in a furious tone.

"Fine. Apology accepted but next time, inform me if you're gonna go missing, again." She sighed as she heard her friend's apology.

"Alright, I'll call you tomorrow morning. Today is a busy day. Hope you two boys are having a great time over there." She said as she ended the call. She was relieved that her two friends are alive and are doing well; she was frustrated but them being safe was enough to cancel out her stress.

She enters Erika's house once more after having a brief phone call. Upon entering, she noticed that Yoake and Ren were already asleep with Ren sleeping on Yoake's shoulder while he was sleeping on her head. She smiled as she saw the two siblings getting along after seeing them in a rough spot the month prior.

"Should we carry them to their beds?" Brock suggested to Leaf. She nodded as an answer. The two carried the two trainers to a bedroom and were tucked into their own beds.

"You're one proud mother Leaf even if they weren't related to you." Brock complimented her as they walked back to the living room. They noticed that Erika, Misty and Ellix were hooked onto the news being broadcasted on TV.

It was done. The parliament has passed the bill that would finally be the final nail in Mega Evolutions coffin. All of the specialists who spent years perfecting this craft were being thrown away. All of them were disheartened but it was for the best.

"It's the end of a generation huh." Misty muttered after hearing the newscaster continue commenting about the newly passed bill.

"Well, what are we gonna use now then?" Brock asked.

"They're gonna replace Mega Evolution with Dynamaxing. With yesterday and today's event. It's unsurprising that people are more likely to watch Dynamaxing than Mega Evolution. It's possible that they'll renovate the gyms and follow Galar's form of Pokemon League." Ellix stated.

"Galar…"Erika said as she took a sip from her tea.

"I guess Kanto has really fallen." She commented and looked at Leaf. "Leaf, is this the right decision?"

"I.. don't know." Leaf said as she looked down. She doesn't want to doubt Yoake's ability but she has to accept that the future is bleak.

"Let's just hope that she'll take care of the rest." She continued.

"She?" Everyone was curious on who Leaf was referring to. Instead of answering their question directly, she takes out her phone, scrolls through her contacts and reveals the name of the person she was referring to.

They all read the name upon Leaf revealing it.

'Lyra'

To be continued in Volume 2: The Johto Heist

A/N: Wowie, a year worth of writing this fanfic.I just want to say, thank you everyone for reaching the end of the volume and to those who have been with me since the beginning, I deeply thank you for your support. I have two important announcements to make:

I will be taking a long Hiatus. I've been writing this fanfic for nearly 2 years now and with volume 1 finished, I can finally take that long break. School is getting close so I would focus on that first and I would return for writing probably next year.

I will be importing volume 1 to Royalroad and Wattpad as well to expand my audience. I would be posting the official links on my discord server.

If you want more news and updates from me, I highly recommend joining my server since I'm very active on discord. So if you want to join, here's the link:

https://discord.gg/MJbcZwY4X4

see ya there and see yall next year!