Pokémon: Above the Top

[Ladies and gentlemen, welcome aboard flight BW12138 of the Sinnoh League Airlines, member of the Pokémon League, heading to Lily of the Valley Island in the Sinnoh Region.]

[The plane is expected to land in ten minutes. Please fasten your seatbelts, open your window shades, and stow your tray tables...]

Hearing the standard announcement from the speakers, the three of them -Sato, Mark, and Joseph- finally perked up, full of anticipation for their new journey.

In Sato's arms, Ralts blinked its crimson eyes in confusion and let out a lazy yawn.

"We're almost there. Wake up a bit, we'll be heading out to eat soon," Sato tapped Ralts lightly on the forehead. The little Pokémon gave him a sleepy glance, then started dozing off again.

"…Go ahead and sleep. I'll just give your share of Sweet Milk to Umbreon instead. No point letting it go to waste," Sato grinned and said casually, knowing this trick always worked.

The next second, Ralts suddenly sat up, groggily shaking its head with a bit of grumpiness, trying to stay awake as it looked out the window like it had never seen the world before.

Soon, the plane landed safely. The three of them collected their luggage and had just reached the airport exit when they spotted two stylish young men holding up a giant welcome sign.

[Welcome to the youngest, most talented, and most handsome Gym Leader of the Johto League, Sato!]

Even with Sato's thick skin, he was stunned by the sign's message. For a moment, he didn't even want to approach them.

"Boss, look~ Someone's here to pick us up!"

A second later, Mark shouted excitedly, immediately drawing the attention of the surrounding crowd.

Joseph quietly shuffled two steps to the side, pretending not to know them.

Unfortunately, Sato's arm had already been grabbed by Mark, leaving him no chance to escape.

In the end, under everyone's watchful eyes, Sato was forced to meet up with their greeters, then quickly lowered his head and fled the scene.

Meanwhile, the culprits -Mark and the one holding the enormous welcome sign, Flint- leisurely trailed behind them.

One was carefree, the other totally oblivious. Not long after meeting, the two already saw each other as rare kindred spirits in life.

That's right, before coming to the Sinnoh Region, Sato had gotten in touch with Flint and Volkner, whom he had met once before.

The enthusiastic Flint happened to work at the Sinnoh League headquarters in Lily of the Valley Island, so he eagerly volunteered to pick them up.

Of course, among the group that left with heads down were not only Sato and Joseph, but also Volkner, who had been coerced into coming by Flint.

Once the five of them got in the car, Volkner silently took the driver's seat and didn't say a single word the whole way.

Flint and Mark, on the other hand, were chatting up a storm, saliva flying everywhere -one with explosive hair, the other with bedhead- at first glance, they really did look like long-lost brothers.

If they suddenly embraced and yelled…

"Big bro!"

'Tsk… that would be a scene too beautiful to witness.'

But just like that, whatever little awkwardness had existed among the five of them instantly dissolved.

"Volkner and I will take you to check out the Sinnoh League HQ first. There's an senior who wants to meet you, and after that we'll take you out to eat and have some fun," Flint finally got to the main point after chatting for a while.

"A senior? May I ask who it is?" Sato raised an eyebrow. He couldn't recall knowing any "veteran" from the Sinnoh League.

"You've never met her, but you've definitely heard of her, one of the Sinnoh Elite Four, Bertha!" Flint didn't keep him guessing and answered directly.

"Bertha? She wants to see me?" Sato was taken aback. He didn't think he even knew her.

"Yeah, I casually mentioned your name to her two days ago, and then old woman said that when you arrived, I should bring you over to have a chat." Flint spoke as if he had nothing to do with it.

Sato: "…"

At the mention of an Elite Four, the car fell into a rare silence. Everyone couldn't help but recall some stories about this Bertha.

Bertha, the younger sister of Kanto's Elite Four Agatha, both born in Lavender Town.

Since both sisters possessed exceptional talent as Trainers, they were once called "Phantom Sisters", and their reputation was tremendous.

But for reasons unknown, Bertha suddenly left Kanto, crossed the sea alone to Sinnoh, and gradually rose to fame for her Ground-type specialization; eventually becoming an Elite Four member in almost the same year as her sister.

Looking at it that way, it seemed that the younger sister Bertha might have had even more talent. After all, before coming to Sinnoh, she too had used Ghost-type Pokémon.

But the exact details were unknown to outsiders. In any case, both Bertha and Agatha deliberately avoided appearing in the same public occasions, something considered an open secret.

That made Sato even more confused. If he excluded any connection to Agatha, why would Bertha want to meet him?

'Or maybe… she was just being polite?' For a moment, Sato had no clue, so he stopped dwelling on it. It's not like Bertha was going to eat him.

The vehicle moved forward slowly, with Flint enthusiastically promoting all kinds of Sinnoh specialties and Pokémon, making the time pass quickly.

When the five of them finally arrived at the Sinnoh League headquarters, Volkner spoke for the first time since the trip began.

"We're here. Get out."

The Sinnoh Region had developed quite well overall, and the headquarters building was grand and imposing. League staff busily moved through the offices.

But upon seeing Flint and Volkner, everyone showed signs of respect and made way for them.

"Flint, what position do you hold here at the Sinnoh League? Everyone seems to admire you a lot," Mark casually asked.

"Haha, I don't really hold any position. I'm just a League-certified Pseudo-Elite Four Trainer." Flint laughed heartily, though Sato and the others could clearly hear the pride in his voice.

A "League-certified Pseudo-Elite Four Trainer" was essentially a reserve Elite Four candidate. Once their time came, they could formally challenge a current Elite Four member.

If they won, they would become the new Elite Four.

"Tsk tsk tsk… Then what about you, Volkner?"

Mark actually had no clue how impressive Flint's title was, so he just feigned astonishment before quickly shifting his question.

The thick-headed Flint didn't notice anything and even urged his best friend to quickly announce his own title.

Volkner glanced at Flint, then gave Mark a look as if seeing through everything before lazily replying, "New Gym Leader of Sunyshore City… one of the eight official Gyms in the Sinnoh Region."

"Wow, that makes you just like our boss~ Amazing!" Mark casually patted Volkner on the shoulder with a look of approval.

Volkner: …

"We're here. Elite Four Bertha is inside. She told us to go in directly."

While chatting, the group finally arrived outside Bertha's office, and Flint received a message from her at the same time.

Sato and the others instinctively straightened their backs, tidied up their clothes, and did their best to appear formal as they prepared to meet Elite Four Bertha.