Red the Conqueror 11

Blue put down her cup, sighing in contentment.

Red looked at the chocolate milk he'd been served. He looked at it intensely.

"Is anything wrong with it?" Johana asked, putting down her own cup of chocolate milk.

"If it's about the price please don't worry about it," Misty said, "like I told you, I have cheap hobbies so- this really doesn't put a dent on my savings," she said.

"You own a motorcycle and a fishing rod worth a fortune," Blue pointed out idly.

"The former of which was somehow cheaper than a bicycle and the latter of which I've had for six years, and which I'm looking at replacing in about a decade from now, a fancy café won't break the bank," Misty said with a bright smile. "Besides, it's the least I can do after... that."

Blue winced.

Johana giggled. "All's well that ends well," she said.

Red took his cup and then finally acquiesced, drinking the cup of really expensive, and inexplicably super tasty, chocolate milk. A treat from Misty. The little café near the center of Cerulean they were in was expensive to begin with, but she had then decided to treat them to the most expensive item in the menu, chocolate milk made with the most expensive chocolate and milk from a strangely colored Miltank.

There was a picture of the blue Miltank that had given the milk.

It was... delicious. Stupidly so.

But so very very strange to find upscale chocolate milk of all things.

"You said you had something to discuss with us, right?" Blue asked.

"Well, specifically with you Johana," Misty said, turning to the Sinnoh native. "You see..." she said, closing her eyes, linking her fingers, "I can't exactly sit here and do nothing. As a Gym Leader I'm compelled by my education, training and my principles to act when I believe I have the ability to correct a wrong."

"But the way things are - unless you could get the Champion of a Region to step into something, then there'd be nothing anyone could do, the Contest scene is- like a tumor on Sinnoh," Johana said.

"About that - I can't get the Champion for you, but-"

"I suppose I would be the next best thing. My apologies for being late," someone said, stepping into their private booth at the upscale café, a young man with red hair that poked out of his hooded cloak. He pulled the hood off of his head and gave them a smile, sweeping his arm in a grand gesture that turned his cloak into a sort of cape, revealing his pristine uniform, and the spiky red hair on top of his head.

He was a figure well known across most of the world.

"Yo. The name's Lance," the man said, bringing his balled up fist to his chest and then pointing with his thumb. "I'm the Leader of the Elite Four and acting Champion of Kanto," he said. "And I've heard you have quite the bomb in your hands," he said. "Sinnoh may not be under the purview of the Indigo Plateau, but they are affiliated with the League," he explained. "I do believe I might just be able to help you."

"Oh my go- Lance!?" Blue called, pointing at him. "That's Lance! Dragon Master Lance! You, you're- You're the strongest Trainer in Kanto! They say you're only not the champion out of respect for the retired former champion!"

The man smirked. "You flatter me. I'm the humble second best," he said. "Regardless of that," he said, "I do believe I have at least some degree of influence that I can use to help."

Johana gaped for a few moments. "I just- I'm having trouble believing this," she said. "You said... you came for me right?"

"That's correct," Lance said.

"And you- you believe me?" Johana responded, blinking.

"A Gym Leader with more than half a decade of experience and in good standing believes you. That's good enough for me to investigate the matter," Lance said. "And we've heard disturbing rumors on the grapevine. Having someone who knows the scene inside out- well, to be entirely honest, the rather seedy underbelly of the Contest scene has been the reason why we've refused to let it even start setting up in Kanto," the redhead said. "We've never had proof, or witnesses who came forward... but you, you're presenting us with an opportunity we've never had before."

Then he extended his hand to her. "That's why I'm asking for your cooperation. With your help, I can definitely start actively moving towards an international investigation," he said.

"But- but, the most- you can't interfere in Sinnoh's business, and-"

"You're right, I'm not the law in Sinnoh," he said, "but they're part of the Pokémon League, and I don't want to brag - but I do hold some degree of authority in the League," he said. "I might not be able to directly prosecute them... but I can set the wheels of justice in motion. With your help."

Johana closed her eyes. "I don't know - I never, I never thought there'd be a day-" she clenched her hands. "I don't know if I should, or if I even can-"

Red put his hand on top of hers. He was seated to her left, and barely reached. He squeezed her hand, then nodded.

She looked at him, and at his hand, and then returned his nod, a smile blossoming on her face. "No, you're right. I want- I want to start cleaning house too," she said. "I never wanted to let it bother me, to be a ball and chain that's dragging me down, but-" she looked at Red again. "This isn't just for me. This is for all the others who went through something similar. All the ones that had it worse than me. And maybe, some day, my own kids who might develop an interest in contests," she said, then she stood up and took Lance's hand. "I will help you, everything and anything I can do - as long as we can move towards justice."

Lance firmly shook her hand. "Excellent," he said, his smile broadening. "I promise you that we will do everything within our power and then some to see this through to the end!" he said, his voice rising by the end, raising his other hand and clenching it, as if he'd crushed something.

Johana let out a small laugh, and then sat back down. "Oh- I-"

Blue laughed as well. "That was kind of amazing- I never thought I'd meet the leader of the Elite Four like this!"

"You must be Blue," Lance said, nodding. "And that is Red, correct?" he added. "You have a good reputation. Keep it up," he said, "with some luck we'll meet again before too long, and I hope to meet you as challengers then!" he said, before he readjusted his cloak, covered his face so only his mouth was visible, and smirked at them. "Johana - someone will be by to collect you soon. We'll give you some time, but we'll really need you at the League building to start our investigation in full. This isn't something we can even start without you, your knowledge of the matter is invaluable. It might get... long," he said, before turning around. "Until then - farewell!" he said, walking out of the booth.

"So that's what the Elite Four are like huh? Felt like he came in like a storm, took over the room, and left as impressively as he arrived," Blue said, whistling.

"Yeah he kinda does that. They don't call him a Dragon Master for nothing," Misty said, "some said he's even learned to imitate the presence of a Dragon," she spoke, a little hushedly, "but he's a good guy, really! When I was struggling he was one of the few who believed in me! Well, him and the Champion, it's thanks to them that I became a gym leader!"

"Really?" Johana mused. "... to be honest, all of this is still a little hard to believe. A little bit too good to be true. I mean, I'm not- not about to look a gift Rapidash in the mouth," she said, "but it's- I never thought it'd be something I'd have to worry about."

"I..." Misty closed her eyes. "To tell you the truth, it seemed like you were trying to solve it yourself, but I just couldn't sit by and do nothing. I'm sorry if this ruins your plans or anything," she said.

Johana shook her head. "Getting more eyes on the topic, especially of clean authorities, will be way better than just setting up a time bomb and waiting for it to go off. I would rather minimize the fallout to the people that don't deserve it anyway," she said. "A lot of coaches and agents are clean," the blue haired woman added, almost wistful.

"I'm happy to hear that," Misty said with a smile on her face. "Oh - I didn't, I didn't consider that you wouldn't be able to travel together if you, if you were busy with this whole thing," she said. "I'm so sorry, I should've-"

Blue put her hand on Johana's shoulder. "Look, I'm not the only one here who thinks that just because we're not currently together, we're never gonna see each other again. As soon as you have the ability," she said, "you can always come see us!" she said. "Right Red?"

Red shrugged.

"Red says that's right," Blue supplied. "Besides you know our route, we're going through Saffron to Celadon, and then we're gonna double back to Vermilion, and then Fuchsia," she spoke, "there's a ferry service that'll take us to Cinnabar, then we'll go to Viridian and check if the Gym Leader's back, then the league. Simple!" she said. "Right?"

Red nodded.

Misty nodded. "That sounds good," she said. "Though remember to be careful in Celadon, many a young trainer's lost everything to their parlors!" she warned.

Blue winced.

Red hummed.

Johana giggled. "I don't think gambling's gonna be their choice of entertainment in Celadon," she said, laughing. "Still - I don't know how to thank you for what you've done for me," she said, looking at Misty, her eyes reflecting nothing but sincerity. "So if there's anything I can do-"

Misty looked aside.

There was a moment's pause.

The Gym Leader's cheeks were red.

"I... you know... I'm a bit... curious- about, you know," she said, her finger drawing circles on the café table between them.

"Oh... Oooooh," Johana said, then her face turned into a smirk. "Don't you worry, I'll take care of that riiiiiight up," she said. "You just had to ask," she added with a wink. "I consider it a privilege."

Blue and Red looked at each other, then shrugged, not really following.

"You guys don't mind going to the hotel ahead of us right?" Johana said. "I have to, uhm, talk to Misty in private a little bit," she said. "Don't you guys worry, I'll be... right behind you," she said with a wink.

"O-okay," Blue said. "Well! I want to get some shopping done before we start thinking of going to Saffron," she said. "It's a bit of a walk after all!"

Red nodded.

"We'll leave you two to it, whatever it is," Blue said. "Uhm- about the-"

"I'll pay!" Misty said, a little hurriedly, face turning red. "Just go, don't worry about it!"

"Ok!" Blue said. "Come on now, Red!"

Red nodded, and then walked out alongside Blue.

They left the little café behind them and went off towards the clothing stores that were almost all lined up on the same street, but as they rounded a corner, a blur of yellow and black crashed onto Red, knocking him to the ground, and covering his face. Not too far away, the clack of plastic gave away that something had crashed, attracting the eye to a set of very stylized headphones, with long black cables dangling from each end.

The person who had crashed onto him was a blonde in black tights and a yellow minidress, who was currently seated on Red's face. She took a moment to understand the situation, and then, like a bolt of lightning, she jumped to her feet, and immediately began apologizing.

"O M G I'm soooooo sorry!" she said, bowing repeatedly, though doing so in a manner that suggested she was not terribly familiar with the act. She had an accent that suggested she was from pretty far away, even moreso than Johana's Sinnoan accent.

Red stood up and waved his hand, as if dismissing the incident.

"Did I hurt you?" the woman asked. "I'm soooo sorry, I hit you little guy," she said. "Aw, I haven't even met Uncle Surge yet and I've already messed up!" she said, helping Red to his feet.

Red, however, looked at her with a rather bemused expression forming on his face.

"Sorry did I- did I say something wrong? I'm sorry, I'm from Unova, I'm not really familiar with what's considered rude and not."

"Well you did call him short," Blue pointed out. "Red, she didn't mean it, she doesn't know okay?"

Red let out a frustrated sigh.

"My name's Blue, and that's Red," she said.

"Oh!" the woman said. "I'm sorry, I didn't mean to insult you," she said. She was a bit on the taller side - but being from Unova, it made perfect sense. "Sorry again!!"

It didn't quite take the sting off but at least she was apologetic, and it was in a way a bit cruel to hold it against her so much.

"My name's Elesa," the woman said, striking a pose and regaling them with a smile, only then realizing her headphones had fallen off.

Red picked them up, and handed them to her.

She dusted them off, put them on, and then struck the pose again, the long cables dangling from the headphones shooting about as she did. "I'm Elesa, I'm an aspiring model and a Gym Leader in training," she said.

"Oh! That's neat," Blue said. "Waaaaaait, Gym Leader in training?"

"Yes," Elesa said, "I came here to receive training under my uncle Surge!" Elesa explained. "Although I seem to have taken a wrong turn somewhere. This... isn't Vermilion, is it?" she asked.

"This is Cerulean," Blue said.

Red looked up at the sky to check the position of the sun, then pointed south.

"Can... can we pretend that I totally came here to check out the clothing stores, and I didn't somehow wind up going North from Saffron instead South?" she said.

"You're in an all new region all on your own, mistakes happen," Blue said.

Red shrugged. He certainly wouldn't be telling anyone.

"Thanks, thank you so much," Elesa said. "I guess I'll go find a room for the night and then move on tomorrow," she said. "Say - you wouldn't happen to know a good inn or hotel around these parts, would you? Preferably one that's reasonable on price?"

Blue and Red looked at each other.

"You know, we just might," Blue said.

"Oh! Great!" Elesa responded, smiling brightly.

Well... that was... new.