Red's POV

"Red, I was expecting you." Said Bruno. "It's been a while."

The cold wind entered the room through the small glass window. I woke up from my dreams, pulling up the blanket, covering my head. It was about time, it was almost time to go back home. Just a few more days, just a few more days of effort if I may rephrase.

"I'm late!" I panicked, looking at the time. I was supposed to be at the stadium. I picked up my belt and rushed to the stadium in my pyjamas. It was quite embarrassing, but no one was gonna be there to watch me.

Bruno was standing on the other end, waiting for me. He smiled, probably at my pyjamas.

"I know what you're gonna say." I said. "Red, I was expecting you."

"Not at all." Said Bruno. "I didn't even know you were going to battle me. I didn't even know you were participating in the Johto league."

"Wait, I thought that was announced..." I said, finally realising my little time travel shenanigan. "Oh, it's- nevermind."

"I'll be using 4 Pokemon. Uh, I hate Johto league, it's just easy. Anyways, I'll be using stronger Pokemon for you as you know." Said Bruno. "I hope you lose. Go Gligar."

I pointed the Pokedex towards the Pokemon.

"Gligar, a Fly Scorpion Pokemon. It usually clings to cliffs. When it spots its prey, it spreads its wings and glides down to attack." Explained the Pokedex.

"Go Espeon." I said, sending out my first Pokemon. "Use Psychic."

Gligar seemed to be powerful and the attack didn't affect him much. Bruno smirked.

"Gligar, use Slash." Espeon was badly hit.

"Espeon, use Confuse Ray."

Gligar was confused. "Gligar, use Slash." The attack hit Espeon. Espeon fainted.

It wasn't possible. How can a Pokemon accurately hit while in confusion.

"Come back." I said. "Go Blastoise."

"Gligar, use Poison Sting." Said Bruno.

"Blastoise, Water Pulse." Gligar fainted.

Bruno constantly smirked, as if the match was in hsi favour. Whatever it was, I hoped it didn't surprise me.

"Go Poliwrath." Bruno sent his second Pokemon out of the four.

"Blastoise, use Skull Bash." Poliwrath was mildly hit.

"Poliwrath, use Submission." Poliwrath advanced towards Blastoise, grabbed him, and dived into the ground. Blastoise was hurt, but Poliwrath seemed to have hurt himself too.

"Blastoise, use Water Gun." I said. Blastoise's attack missed.

"Poliwrath, use Brick Break." Said Bruno. Poliwrath swiftly used a karate chop which had a lot more power than a karate chop.

Blastoise fainted.

"Come back, Blastoise." I said. "You were really great, Go Charizard."

"Are you serious? That was a terrible choice." Said Bruno. "Anyways. Poliwrath, use Hydropump."

Charizard was critically hit. I was being reckless, how could I even do that after learning so much, it should be in my instincts. Maybe the time travel was changing me.

No! That shouldn't be an excuse.

"Charizard, use Dragon Rage." I crossed my fingers and prayed to save Charizard.

Poliwrath fainted. So someone was actually listening to my prayers.

"Wow. Come back Poliwrath." Said Bruno. "You have a really nice luck. It happens when the stars align. Go Machamp."

"Charizard, use Flamethrower."

"Machamp, finish it with a Dynamic Punch."

Charizard fainted. The attack was too powerful. I had no idea how I was going to beat Bruno, or if I was even going to beat him or not.

"Charizard, come back." I called him back into his Pokeball. "Go Ditto. Transform."

Ditto transformed into Machamp.

"Machamp, use Karate Chop."

I checked the attacks Ditto could use. "Ditto, use Seismic Toss."

"Machamp, use Karate Chop."

"Ditto, Dynamic Punch." Machamp fainted.

Bruno's smile was wider than ever. "Come back, Machamp." He said, grabbing a Pokeball from his belt. "Go Blaziken."

"What's that?" I said, surprised. I pointed the Pokedex towards the Pokemon.

"No information provided. Unknown Pokemon." Said the Pokedex.

"Seems like a fire type to me. But Bruno uses only Fighting types." I mumbled to myself.

"Ditto, Transform." I said. Ditto transformed into the Pokemon.

I pointed the Pokedex at Ditto to check for the Pokemon's attacks.

"Ember, Double kick, Blaze kick and Sky uppercut." I said, reading the attacks.

"Blaziken, use Double kick." Said Bruno. Ditto fainted.

"Come back, Ditto." I said. "Go Pikachu."

"Blaziken, burn him with Ember." Said Bruno. The Pokemon - Blaziken, used Ember.

Pikachu was burned. He was hurt by the burn.

"Pikachu, use Quick Attack." Pikachu moved at his top speed, getting rid of the burns.

Blaziken was badly hit.

"Blaziken, use Sky Uppercut."

"Pikachu, use Thunderbolt." Blaziken was critically hit.

"Blaziken, use Blaze kick."

Pikachu fainted. I messed up. The only Pokemon I was left with, was Ivysaur.

"Go Ivysaur." I said, losing all my hope.

"Blaziken, use Blaze Kick."

Blaziken's attack missed. "Ivysaur, use Giga Drain."

Blaziken's health was drained. Blaziken fainted.

"I wasn't expecting that." Said Bruno, surprised. "Good job, kid."

I felt bad only because I won out of pure luck. And I knew I had to change my team, just to win the next few battles. But it didn't feel right, just by the thought of using my stronger Pokemon felt like cheating.

I had to consult someone about this matter. I went outside and immediately video called Professor Oak from the Pokecenter.

"Oh, Red!" Said Oak. "How have you been? I was thinking about coming to watch the finals. I hope you win this."

"I'm fine, Professor. I wanted to ask something." I said, constantly thinking.

"What is it?"

"I almost lost 3 of my Elite four matches. I won out of pure luck and it's no secret that my current team is not as strong. I wanted to ask if I should use my older Pokemon, cause to me, using Nidoking or Lapras feels like cheating."

"Well, it should feel like cheating even when you're using Charizard or Pikachu. Especially Pikachu, it's your dad's." Said Professor.

He was right, and that made me realise the most important thing. I was the one who trained my other Pokemon, so it shouldn't feel like I was cheating only because I brought my Pokemon to the stage their at.

My Pokemon and I both worked hard just to become stronger.

"See, Red. If you think you've completed another region before and that your Pokemon are stronger than the trainers doing this first time, it's okay to feel that way, everyone does." Said Oak. "But if you feel like you want to keep it fair, then it's up to you."

I didn't seem to convince myself in using my strong Pokemon, I just wanted to stick with my current team.

"Good luck, Red." Said Oak. "See you at the final match."

Oak hung up the call.