Top Sixteen

Julian's third round was a water type battlefield and his opponent was some rookie trainer and he sweeps him away using Venusaur, his fourth round was in the ice battlefield and his opponent was an experienced trainer who had a really strong Nidoqueen, but Julian's Venusaur also swept his entire team single-handedly, leaving Julian the only trainer to use only a single pokemon to enter the top 16.

Julian was now walking towards the Indigo Stadium as they will announce the Top 16 name to have a battle inside the stadium, even though everyone knew who have been qualified it was like a ceremony to represent the top 16.

Top 16 of a league was a very precious title as trainers who entered in this list can be classified as the strongest pokemon trainers documented in the registry of pokemon trainers after the elite-four, the champion and above all the Pokemon Master, there might be other trainers who are stronger but if they are not registered they are not recognized.

(A/N - I did some research and found out that just being a champion of a league doesn't mean the trainer has become a pokemon master, the creators of the Pokemon franchise has always kept the detail of Pokemon master a mystery, we only know that a pokemon master is way stronger than a regions champion but to what level no one knows.

Even though my research might not be hundred percent legit, I will keep it that way in this novel.)

Julian entered the Indigo Plateau Stadium and saw 15 trainers standing before the Moltres torch, as Julian entered the crowd cheered for him, he was one of the most voted trainers to win the league by the fans, the other trainers looked at Julian and each of them had a different expression on their face, only they knew what was going inside their mind, Julian ignored those stares and joined the group of trainers in front of the Moltres's flame.

Then a short old man with a long white beard walked in front of them, this was the president of the League Competition Committee, Charles Goodshow.

He walked in front of the Moltres flame then turned around to look at the 16 trainers in front of him as he nods in approval.

Goodshow "I congratulate all 16 of you as you have defeated many opponents to reach here remember this, even if you fail, be proud of your self as you have gone through many difficult battles to reach here so don't give up on your ambitions just because you might lose, well now that this is over lets announce the names of the trainers who are in the top 16"

A lady comes up towards the platform with a card in her hand with the league's symbol and stands next to Goodshow.

Goodshow "You may proceed"

The lady nods and starts to talk.

Lady "The trainers that are represented as the strongest 16 trainers of this year's Indigo league are Andrew, Ash, Assunta, Benet, Daniel, Felci, Jacob, Julian, Kurt, Melissa, Pablo, Ritchie, Suzy, Tansy, Van, Zoe"

The naming ceremony goes on and the sixteen trainers are given a special badge.

Goodshow "Let's hope all of you will put on a great battle, now you all should go towards the registration area to find out your next opponent"

All the trainers leave the Stadium as the final top 16 will start tomorrow.

Julian doesn't waste time and nither the other trainers as they go to the registration area where they previously checked in for the preliminaries.

Julian walks towards a receptionist.

Julian "How will they select my next opponent"

Receptionist "That water tank right there is filled with Magikarp and you have to fish one out, the Magikarp you fish will have a letter and a number similar to your opponent, hence the number which matches your Magikarp will be your opponent"

Julian nods as he receives a fishing rod, he reels down the fishing line as he waits for a Magikarp to grab it on, he doesn't have to wait much longer as a Magikarp grab on to it as he reels it in, the Magicarp comes out of the water tank with N-12 written on it.

Receptionist "N-12, wait a moment"

She enters the information in the computer and it displays a picture of his next opponent.

Receptionist "Your next opponent is Van, it will be the second match tomorrow, be there on time"

Julian walks away from there and goes towards his room, he sits down in front of a computer as he looks up the recent information about Van.

Julian 'Van, won his last battles by using only two pokemon and every other battle he had, he has already reviled his five pokemons, them being Blastoise, Beedrill, Arbok, Ninetails, and Machoke, the remaining are unknown, tomorrows battle will be a three on three as it is only top 16 so I should finish it quickly, lets see if this Van has an element of surprise up his sleeves'

Julian turns off the computer and goes out to have lunch, on his way to the restaurant he sees a screen which is currently displaying the battle card of the league on it, he stops and takes a quick look of it.

{ Andrew VS Pablo

Julian VS Van

Ash VS Ritchie

Assunta VS Daniel } Tomorrow

{ Benet VS Melissa

Felci VS Jacob

Kurt VS Tansy

Suzy VS Zoe } Day After Tomorrow.

After seeing the battle card he continues to go towards the restaurant, as he starts to eat his lunch but he is again interrupted but this time it's Ash, Misty, and Brock and they are with their new friend Ritchie.

Ash "Julian, it looks like our battle is right after yours, we will defetny cheer for you"

Julian "Thanks"

Julian then looks at Ritchie and it hits him.

Julian 'Isn't this fellow Ash's complete rip-off, with the same pokemons that Ash has?'

Ash "So what are you doing here?"

Julian looks at Ash with a questioning look.

Julian 'Can't he see that I am having my lunch, he is really dense'

Misty slaps Ash's back head and shows him Julian food, seeing that Ash laugh awkwardly.

Ritchie "Hi I am Ritchie, I can't believe I am talking to you, I became your fan after watching you battle"

Julian just nods his head and continues eating, the atmosphere turns awkwardly silent so Misty comes forth and drags everyone away leaving Julian alone, Julian did this on purpose so that he doesn't get bombarded with questions while he is eating.

The day goes on as night falls and a new day begins, Julian is currently inside the waiting room as he watches the ongoing battle between Andrew and Pablo, they are having a very furious battle as the crowd cheers for them, the atmosphere inside the waiting room is complete silence as Ritchie and Assunta are concentrating on the ongoing battle, Julian looks at them then goes back to meditation to clear his mind as he waits for his call.

The battle between Andrew and Pablo is finally over as Andrew comes on top after going all out with his Flareon and wins the battle against Pablo's Weezing, Julian just opened his eyes once to look at the winner as he closed them again and minded his own business, soon an hour passed as the battlefield was patched up and fixed and Julian received his call, he got up and soon walked towards the gate as he entered the battlefield the crowd welcomed him as they shout his name.

Soon his opponent Van also enters as he also receives the same crowd reaction, Julian and Van look at each other as their eyes lock onto each other.