Pokemon: Champion's Path

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"How's the water temperature?"

Eric stood outside the bathroom, holding a neatly folded set of Naranja Academy uniforms that had been dried and cleaned by his Pokémon.

"It's perfect!" Nemona's energetic voice came from inside, mingling with the sound of water cascading onto tiles.

Eric nodded, placing the clothes in a basket by the bathroom door. "Your uniform is here. Serperior and the others have already washed and dried it for you."

"Got it~"

Hearing Nemona's cheerful response, Eric smiled but quickly let his expression settle into something more serious.

The creek wasn't far from his house, only about a ten-minute walk, and it had been less than half an hour since he'd pulled Nemona from the water.

Though his mind churned with anxious thoughts about the kidnapped children Nemona had mentioned, all he could do for now was wait until she finished her shower and pointed him in the right direction.

Stepping outside the house, Eric surveyed the Pokémon gathered before him: Luxray, Dragonite, Serperior, Swampert, and Aegislash. Mimikyu, as usual, stood quietly by his side, its presence barely noticeable.

"All right," Eric said, his tone firm. "Our top priority is ensuring the safety of the kidnapped kids. Understood?"

"Lux!"

"Dragon!"

"Serp!"

"Swamp!"

"Aegis!"

"Mimikyu~!"

His Pokémon responded with confidence, their loyalty and trust in Eric evident.

Satisfied, Eric returned five of them to their Poké Balls, leaving only Dragonite out. He patted Dragonite's warm, soft belly, reflecting on the situation Nemona had described.

She had run away from home after a petty argument with her family. The reason? Nemona didn't want to become a Trainer she wanted to help her family's business, just like her older sister.

Eric found the irony hard to ignore. 'The future battle maniac doesn't want to be a Trainer?'

Nemona's plan to cool off by hanging out at a nearby beach had been foiled when she was abducted by a group of kidnappers operating near Little Spoon Town.

She had woken up in a dark warehouse alongside other children, some younger than herself.

The kidnappers' plans were horrifying: they intended to sell the other kids to Team Rocket in Kanto, while Nemona would be held for ransom.

Her captors had been watching her for some time, waiting for an opportunity to strike. Her decision to run off alone had made their job easy.

What saved her was a Diglett that had burrowed into the warehouse and bitten through the ropes binding her wrists. Nemona managed to escape, but the other children were still being held.

These criminals are a blight on my peaceful life, Eric thought, clenching his fists. With Nemona's knowledge of the kidnappers' hideout and Dragonite's speed, they could catch the group off guard.

When Nemona emerged from the bathroom, her hair still damp and her uniform neatly pressed, she was filled with urgency.

"Big Brother, let's go save them!" she said, her voice trembling with determination.

Eric nodded and scooped her up, setting her gently on Dragonite's back before climbing up himself.

"Hold on tight. This will be fast," he said with a reassuring smile.

Nemona clung to his shirt, nodding nervously.

With a fierce yet calm expression, Dragonite beat its wings. The sheer power of the gusts flattened the surrounding grass as the three of them soared into the sky.

Nemona marvelled at the scenery below. Buildings and trees blurred together as they zipped by, and she couldn't help but ask, "How is it so fast? I can't even feel the wind!"

"Dragonite uses Flying energy to create a shield around us, blocking the wind. Otherwise, we'd be blown off its back," Eric explained, keeping his focus on the horizon.

Nemona nodded, her curiosity momentarily satisfied.

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Meanwhile, in an abandoned warehouse on the outskirts of Paldea…

Three figures entered the dimly lit space, their frustration palpable.

The leader, a burly man with a scruffy beard, spat on the ground and turned to the shortest of the trio. "You let a ten-year-old escape? You're useless!"

The shorter man said nothing, enduring the verbal abuse with a clenched jaw.

"Boss," the lanky man on the other side began, trying to mediate, "maybe—"

"Shut up!" the leader snapped, glaring at him before continuing. "The girl's probably drowned or been rescued by now. Either way, we need to move. We'll sell these kids to Team Rocket, then head to Lumiose City for bigger targets."

The lanky man nodded quickly. "Good plan, boss."

The shorter man, meanwhile, released three Ninjask from his Poké Balls, muttering, "I'll keep watch."

The leader scoffed. "This time, don't screw it up."

As the other two went to prepare the children for transport, the shorter man's eyes glinted with suppressed fury. One day, I'll make you beg for mercy, he thought bitterly.

"Daddy's home" came a calm voice from above.

Startled, the man looked up to see Eric and Nemona descending on Dragonite.

His eyes widened in panic, and he opened his mouth to warn the others, but Eric and Dragonite didn't give him the chance.

Five Poké Balls flashed open as Eric's team sprang into action.

At the same time, an overwhelming Dragon's Intimidation surged from Dragonite, pressing down on the man with crushing force. He collapsed to the ground, unable to move.

The Ninjask barely had time to react before Dragonite flapped its wings, releasing three blades of sky-blue energy. The Air Slash struck true, knocking all three Ninjask out instantly.

"Monster…" the man choked out, trembling as he stared at Eric in awe and terror.

For the first time, he understood what true strength looked like. This man wasn't just any Trainer he was a Champion.

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