"One Pokémon took out three opponents in the semifinal? I've seen it all!"
"Slowking is incredible!"
"Caster's Slowking is frighteningly strong. Almost freakish!"
"Strong and so steady. How can a Pokémon be this dependable?"
"Just sent you Dragonite's Draco Meteor! Keep it up, Caster!"
As the commentator announced the result, gifts poured into Caster's livestream.
Caster had made it to the final!
His fans were proud of him too.
From their perspective, their gifts had carried him here. Supporting him one gift at a time felt like raising a character in a game. They felt as if they had watched Caster grow, and that made them deeply invested in his success.
Now that he had reached the Indigo League Conference final, they felt as though they had made it there themselves.
***
In Blackthorn City, Johto.
The regional conferences usually began around the same time of year. The Indigo League Conference was underway, and Johto's Silver Conference was about to open.
At Blackthorn Gym, Clair was enjoying a rare break, relaxing in the sun on the lawn with her Pokémon.
With tournament season underway, the Gym had been seeing fewer challengers.
Bored, Clair opened PokéStation on her phone. Her inbox was overflowing, and her posts were packed with comments.
"What's going on?"
Puzzled, she checked the messages and scoffed. "Can Gyarados learn Flamethrower? Of course it can't! Why would anyone ask such a basic question?"
Then she tapped a video and saw an enormous Gyarados breathing fire. Her eyes widened.
Holy crap. Gyarados really could use Flamethrower!
A moment later, she recognized the Gyarados. Then she spotted the familiar figure behind it.
"Oh, it's Caster. That explains it."
She had already seen him make Gyarados fly, so its fire-breathing seemed easier to accept.
"He's made it to the Indigo League Conference final? Could he actually win the whole thing?"
After learning who had posted the video, Clair's eyes lit up. "A regional title in his first year on the road? Kanto really does produce champions!"
A regional tournament title wasn't the same as becoming League Champion, but it was still a remarkable achievement for a rookie Trainer who'd only been traveling for a year.
It was the kind of result that made history!
Clair wasn't the only one to hear about Caster. Water-type specialists Wallace, Juan, and Siebold learned his name that day and grew curious about him.
After the match, Gary and Caster stayed on the field and walked toward each other.
"This is as far as I can go with you, Caster."
Gary held out his hand, his expression serious. "Ash and I are counting on you now. Carry our hopes with you and keep winning!"
Though he'd lost, a weight had finally lifted from Gary's shoulders. He could relax again.
Finishing in the top four at the Indigo League Conference was already an excellent result.
"You too, Gary! I want us to stand on the podium together."
Caster shook his hand and met his gaze. "I want to share that honor with you!"
Gary sobered, the relief giving way to nerves again. His tournament wasn't over. He still had the third-place playoff ahead of him, and it would decide whether he made the podium.
"Then let's both give it everything we've got!"
Gary squeezed Caster's hand, his fighting spirit rekindled.
A 15-minute break followed their match.
Zeke and Assunta came out to the roar of the crowd and took their places beside the field.
From the competitors' lounge, Caster and Gary watched closely. One would face Caster in the final; the other would meet Gary in the third-place playoff.
The match began.
Zeke opened with his big, round, purple Gengar again, while Assunta brought out Persian.
Gengar was good at hiding, but Persian used Odor Sleuth to pick up its scent wherever it tried to conceal itself.
Their Ghost- and Normal-type attacks did little against each other, so both had to rely on moves of other types.
Persian used several Dark-type attacks that should have troubled Gengar, but none made much difference. Venoshock finally brought Persian down.
Assunta sent out Venomoth next.
She was still relatively inexperienced, and several of her Pokémon, including Rhydon, Ivysaur, and Tentacool, had yet to reach their final forms. That put them at a disadvantage.
Zeke's Pokémon were powerful, and he handled them skillfully. Once Venomoth fell, Assunta's team began to collapse.
"We have a winner!"
As Rhydon went down, the commentator's voice rang out over the speakers. "All six of Assunta's Pokémon are unable to battle! Advancing to the final is Zeke from Lavender Town! Let's give him a big round of applause!"
Zeke stood beside the field, waving as the crowd cheered. Gary watched him with a grave expression.
Zeke might not have exceptional potential, but he was much older than Caster, Gary, and Assunta, already well into middle age. All those years of experience had made him a formidable Trainer with almost no weaknesses.
Gary looked worried about Caster. "Do you think you can beat him?"
Caster seemed completely untroubled. He laughed cheerfully. "I've got this!"
Gary frowned, unconvinced.
Was he serious?
Had Caster been holding back even more?
Then Gary remembered that Caster's Gyarados had hardly ever fought seriously, and his frown eased.
After all, Gyarados was Caster's true ace!
With the semifinals over, spectators and competitors began to file out. As Caster was leaving, a staff member came to escort him.
Soon afterward, Caster found himself in a meeting room with Goodshow and Lorelei.
"Do well in the final, Caster!"
Goodshow knew Lorelei had something private to discuss with Caster. He greeted them, offered a few words of encouragement, then left.
"Caster, congratulations on reaching the Indigo League Conference final!"
Once Goodshow was gone, Lorelei smoothed back her red hair and smiled at him. "As we agreed, you'll be one of Kanto's young Trainer representatives this year. You'll come with me to Hoenn for the regional exchange."
"Really? That's great!"
Delighted that his place was confirmed, Caster asked excitedly, "Does that mean I can have Mudkip now?"
"Yes!"
Lorelei smiled sweetly. "I'll speak to Professor Oak in a little while. You can pick up Mudkip whenever you like."
"Yes!"
Caster pumped his fist.
He'd wanted that Mudkip for so long. Now at last he could have it. His wish had finally come true.
Lorelei couldn't stay long. As an Elite Four member, she had plenty to do.
Caster could hardly wait. He swung onto Dragonair's back and took off for Pallet Town.