The former Indigo Elite Four had all been defeated, including Lance himself.
"Hah~ it's finally over… I'm exhausted to death…"
Watching as Lance and the other three were escorted onto a helicopter, Blue finally let his entire body relax. He patted the back of his neck and muttered under his breath.
This had truly been exhausting. The battle dragged on for far too long, and even his main team had completely lost their ability to fight.
Maintaining such intense concentration throughout the entire battle, this was the first time Blue truly felt mental fatigue through his whole body.
"You've all worked hard. The Chairman is already personally preparing a banquet at Indigo Plateau to celebrate your great victory."
Officer Jenny Zero spoke gently to the five of them, her eyes shimmering with admiration.
Although these new Elite Four were all quite young, they were undeniably impressive.
"This is what we should do. But honestly… I don't think any of us have the energy to attend a banquet right now."
N, who was currently spraying medicine onto Zekrom's wounds, answered with a bitter smile. At the moment, all they wanted was to rest properly — where would they find the strength to attend a banquet?
"That's understandable. I'll inform the Chairman."
Jenny blinked for a moment, then smiled lightly.
"Miss Zero… may I ask, what is the League planning to do with Lance and the others?"
Red hesitated for a moment before asking.
Hearing the question, Blue raised an eyebrow and looked toward Jenny as well. Enemy or not…
One had to admit, Lance's strength was truly overwhelming. Even as his opponent, Blue couldn't help but admire him.
Though they won, it was a bitter victory and to be honest…
They had the advantage in numbers. After all, Lance's side only had four people, while they had five.
Not to mention N also had Zekrom. But even with that advantage, their victory was still extremely hard-fought.
For such a strong trainer, it really was a pity.
"That will depend on the Chairman's decision. Lance and the others… after all, they were once great contributors to the League. If they are willing to repent…"
"I believe the Chairman will not make things too difficult for them."
Officer Jenny Zero's smile faded slightly as she thought for a moment before answering.
She was not Loki, after all. Only Chairman Loki could decide the punishment for Lance's group.
But the Pokémon League had always valued benevolence, and the Chairman had always held a very favorable attitude toward Lance.
Even though Lance killed many council members, as long as Chairman Loki was willing, all of that could be covered up. Lance would not receive a severe punishment.
Of course, that depended on whether Lance was willing to turn back.
Hearing this, Red and the others fell silent. That was how things should be… but knowing Lance's pride, would he ever bow his head and admit fault?
"It would be such a waste if he ended up rotting in prison forever. I really wanted the chance to defeat Lance in a fair, direct battle."
Sensing the heavy atmosphere, Blue shrugged and slipped into his usual habit of showing off.
"Although I hate to burst your bubble, Mister Oak… you probably wouldn't be Lance's opponent at all," Caitlin said, blinking her beautiful eyes and offering what she considered a "gentle reminder."
"Miss Caitlin, as a refined lady, shouldn't you be a bit more… delicate?"
Blue was thoroughly displeased at being hit so harshly.
"And even if my odds aren't great right now, I'm a genius, you know! Give me some time — I'll definitely have a chance."
Blue argued stubbornly. He reluctantly acknowledged that he might be juuust a tiny bit inferior to Lance at the moment…
But he was still young!
N and the others laughed at Blue's stubbornness. Truth be told, even though he liked showing off, Blue's personality wasn't unpleasant at all.
Especially in battle — Blue was a remarkably reliable teammate.
"Oh, I agree with that. Blue, maybe next year you'll be able to defeat my cousin Lance."
A teasing familiar voice rang out from nearby…
"Lucas, so you really were here."
N turned around, and there he saw Lucas dressed in his pure white cloak, with his two reliable companions Green and Marnie right beside him.
"So, you were the one who summoned Kyurem and Eternatus. I knew it."
Blue wasn't surprised. Those two suddenly appearing legendaries clearly didn't show up out of nowhere to fight Shadow Lugia.
"Haha~ the Chairman invited me to watch from the scene. And all of your heroic battle moments… well, I had Marnie record them for you."
White chuckled lightly, pointing at the camera in Marnie's hands. Marnie looked absolutely like a professional videographer now.
Watch the battle? More like the League's trump card kept hidden in their pocket…
Blue silently grumbled. That crafty old chairman really was something — inviting Lucas without telling them.
If he'd known Lucas was watching, why would he have fought so desperately?
"But I truly didn't expect you guys to actually defeat Lance. I was originally waiting to step in and save you when you inevitably couldn't hold on anymore."
Lucas rubbed his chin and teased them lightly.
"After all, Lance is my cousin. I really don't want to fight him."
Lucas spread his hands innocently.
"Excuse me… didn't you smash him pretty mercilessly back in Saffron City?"
Blue couldn't hold back and complained. Lucas was talking about loyalty and family affection — but wasn't Saffron City the place where Mega Rayquaza beat the life out of Lance?
"That was in the past already."
Lucas waved his hand casually.
"How's that Shadow Lugia? It looked a little… off."
N skipped past the previous topic and asked what he was really concerned about.
"It definitely had a problem. After defeating it, I had the two Lugias take it away. Now we need to look for a solution."
Lucas didn't hide anything. Shadow Lugia's malice and corrupted will were being suppressed for now, and Lugia along with Mother Lugia had taken it to the Whirl Islands to keep it contained.
Once they could get Kyogre or Palkia's help, they might be able to purify the evil in its heart.
"That's good… And it's a blessing you were here. Otherwise, no one would've been able to stop Shadow Lugia."
N nodded. Shadow Lugia's power far surpassed theirs, and later it even went berserk.
Even if they defeated the former Elite Four, if Shadow Lugia remained unchecked, the incident would never truly end.
"Officer Jenny, please send my greetings to the Chairman. And also, if he allows it… please ask if I may visit my cousin when time permits."
Lucas smiled softly, turned toward Officer Jenny Zero, and offered a polite bow.
"Of course, Mister Lucas. I'll make sure to inform him. I doubt the Chairman would refuse."
Jenny Zero returned the bow. This wasn't a big request and Lucas indeed contributed greatly to the Vermilion City incident.
"In that case, excellent. N, all of you, feel free to visit Blackthorn City sometime. I'll treat you well."
Lucas smiled and bid the group farewell before departing with Green and Marnie.
"Somehow, Lucas feels even more like a proper young master now."
Watching Reshiram's elegant white figure disappear into the distance, Blue stroked his chin thoughtfully.
"Well, Lucas is the young master of the Blackthorn Clan. After leaving Team Rocket, it's only natural he returned to normal life."
Caitlin said calmly.
"Speaking of that… Blue, aren't you also the eldest young master of the Oak family?" N turned to look at Blue, his expression subtly strange.
Among the five of them, Zinnia was a Draconid, though the Draconids were an ancient lineage, she herself didn't come with much special status.
Red was just from an ordinary family.
N… well, N didn't even know who his parents were. Or rather…
He wasn't even sure if his parents were human.
It was said he was the descendant of a human and a Pokémon… though what kind of Pokémon specifically…
Blue and Caitlin, on the other hand, came from remarkable families.
Caitlin was the heiress of a prestigious noble house in Sinnoh — and she fully embodied that noble aura. Graceful, elegant, refined — she was the very picture of delicate aristocratic beauty.
Her appearance and demeanor were impeccable.
Blue, meanwhile, was the grandson of Professor Oak, the heir to the Oak family. But as for Blue's personality…
Well, perhaps to outsiders he appeared fittingly like an aristocratic young master — confident, proud, even arrogant.
But to those who knew him well…
He simply loved showing off!
"That's right! I am the young master of the Oak family!" Blue proudly raised his chin and swept a hand through his bangs, clearly satisfied with himself. But…
"Hey hey hey?! What's with those looks?! I'm not lying! I have a birth certificate!!"
Meanwhile…
"Hey, Lucas… you're not going to rescue Lance?" Green asked, hugging Lucas's waist as they rode on Reshiram's back.
Lucas always had complicated feelings about Lance.
Yet he just stood there and watched Lance get taken away.
"It's not the right time. Lance's mindset is probably still a mess."
Lucas shook his head. He would talk to Lance, but not now.
Lance had just been defeated — this was the time when his emotions would be the most fragile and confused. Leaving him alone to think was the best choice.
To Lance, this defeat would be the most soul-shaking loss of his entire life.
He lost to Lucas but Lucas was his cousin, wielding legendary Pokémon. Lance grudgingly accepted that.
He lost to Giovanni but Giovanni was the rat he despised most. Losing to him only fueled Lance's obsession with power. He wanted to win.
But losing to Red, N, and the others… that was what confused him.
Lance could not understand. His Dragon Legion should have been stronger.
Even if they were outnumbered at first, once Agatha and the others arrived, the situation wasn't hopeless at all.
Yet he still lost.
This defeat would force Lance to face something he had never believed before — he was not an untouchable chosen one. He could lose to ordinary people like his juniors. (TN: Lmao ordinary people.)
His ideals were not unbreakable. If they were, he wouldn't have lost like this.
"My dear cousin Lance… I don't think he'll disappoint me."
Lucas smiled faintly. Human stubbornness could lead one into the abyss — but those who climbed out of their obsessions…
Had no weakness left.
They might still have their ambitions, but they would no longer fall into distortion.
And such a person was worth recruiting.
Lance was Lucas's ideal candidate for Johto Champion.
"Well~ as long as you have your own plan. Anyway, this is good too. Indigo is finally peaceful again."
Blue exhaled, resting her cheek on Lucas's back, smiling sweetly as she admired the scenery below.
The four former Elite Four were defeated. Their influence was destroyed. Team Rocket in Kanto had been wiped out. The Johto branch was hiding in the shadows, unable to stir up trouble.
Indigo was finally peaceful.
"Yes. Peace is good. Peace is necessary."
Lucas nodded softly.
"In a little while… we can begin."
His eyes flickered slightly. Now that Kanto was stable, he could finally start preparing for the Johto League's establishment.
After some time passed and the uproar caused by Lance's group died down, N and Zinnia could propose the concept of the Johto League.
As long as nothing unexpected happened, Loki would never refuse.
Indigo was huge, and Lance's group still had too much value to waste. Loki would never let them rot in prison.
Even thinking about it, it was obvious.
By evening, Lucas returned to Blackthorn and the moment he landed, his communicator rang.
"Moshi moshi~ Uncle."
It was Giovanni calling.
"Lucas, we have news from Kalos."
"Oh? That is… excellent."
Lucas raised an eyebrow. So, the information had finally arrived — the Arche Valley and Hoopa!
(End of Chapter)
(AN: Kalos arc begins. To be honest, I'm not fully satisfied with how the Elite Four arc ended — I wanted to write more about their schemes, more about Lance's psychological changes, but it would have dragged too long, and the protagonist would've been sidelined too much. So yes, the ending is a bit rushed… Next up is the Kalos Hoopa arc.)