Chapter 5: CHAPTER FIVE: BLAKE 3
There Is More To Life Than Just Battling!
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9th February, 1998, Cinnabar Island…
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Blake stepped into his private space, the excitement of the battle still lingering in his muscles. He had enjoyed that Gym challenge more than he had anticipated. Raul had given it his all, and for that, Blake had respect for the young trainer. But now, after the whirlwind of the battle, he craved something quieter. Something comforting.
As he passed through the hallway, he noticed Blaine seated at the table, quietly sipping tea. The TV was on, and the channel that broadcast the Gym Battle was showing.
The elder man glanced up as Blake entered, his usual warm smile never faltering.
"You seemed to have fun today..." Blaine commented, his tone light, a playful edge to it.
Blake chuckled softly, the sound surprising even him. "It's been a while since I enjoyed a Gym challenge, Gramps. But yeah, you're right, it was fun."
Blaine's eyes softened, a knowing smile pulling at the corners of his lips. "I'm glad."
Blake took a seat across from Blaine, the quiet hum of the room offering a momentary reprieve. He could feel a slight tug of guilt. His mind had been so consumed with his own plans and the constant work surrounding his Gym leadership that he had neglected the one person who was always there for him. Blaine was practically the only family he had left. Maybe it was time to reconnect, even if just for a moment.
"Gramps," Blake began, his voice quieter than usual, "I remember you working on that fossil resurrection machine. How far till we can use it?"
Blaine's eyes lit up at the mention of his project. The passion that Blake often saw in his grandfather's eyes when talking about his inventions was contagious. Blaine's entire demeanor shifted to that of a giddy teenager, his hands gesturing enthusiastically as he leaned forward.
"Oh, absolutely! It's a little more complicated than I thought, but I've been refining the process. It's all about finding the right balance of energy, temperature, and—well, a few other things I'm not quite ready to share yet, but I'm getting closer! We should be able to use it by the end of the year! Imagine, Blake! Bringing back fossils—ancient Pokémon that haven't walked this earth for centuries. It's going to change everything!"
Blake couldn't help but smile at his grandfather's childlike excitement. It was hard not to admire his passion. He always threw himself into things, whether it was the Gym or his research, with an unwavering dedication that Blake respected deeply.
"You know," Blake said, leaning back in his chair with a thoughtful expression, "I remember we used to spend so much time doing different projects together. I guess I've been a little distracted recently." He hesitated, unsure if he should say more, but the words came before he could stop them. "I think... I think I've missed our talks. We should catch up more often."
Blaine's smile softened, his eyes warm. "I'd like that, Blake. I really would."
The two sat in companionable silence for a while, sipping their tea, the gentle clink of the cups the only sound between them.
It wasn't often that Blake opened up like this, but something about the calm presence of his grandfather made it easier.
He wasn't alone in this world, not really. Not as long as Blaine was here.
…
…
The evening at the Pokémon Center was warm, the quiet hum of conversation and the clinking of silverware providing a peaceful backdrop. Raul sat at the table with his friends, but his mind wasn't fully present. His body was here, but his thoughts were still out there—on the battlefield.
Ash and Misty were in the middle of some animated conversation, laughing about their latest adventures. Brock, ever the calming presence, was listening from the side and adding a few bits and details here and there. Raul, however, was quiet, only half-participating as he absentmindedly poked at his food.
"Raul?" Ash's voice cut through his haze. "You alright?"
Raul blinked, looking up to find Ash's concerned expression. He managed a small smile, though it didn't quite reach his eyes. "Yeah, just thinking."
Misty, noticing the shift in his mood, leaned forward. "About the battle?"
Raul nodded, letting out a quiet breath as he picked up his cup of water. He didn't feel defeated, not exactly, but the battle had been a lot. A chance to prove himself, and though he had lost, he had given it his all—and learned more than he expected.
"I thought I had it," he said slowly, his fingers lightly tracing the edge of his cup. "But even when things were tough, Ursaring fought with everything we had. It's... not just about winning. It's about what you take from the battle."
Brock gave an acknowledging smile, "Exactly! Battles aren't just about the win. They teach you so much about yourself, your Pokémon. You did great, Raul. I mean, Blake was hailed as the next champion… although I have no idea why he never challenged Champion Pryce nor Champion Lance.. But even so, he has defeated the current and previous Elite Four members a few times! Not many can push him like that."
Raul's smile grew a bit wider, but there was a hint of contemplation in his eyes. "Yeah. I've got a lot to learn still. But... I'm not backing down. I want to be a better trainer. I want to be my best self!"
Brock looked at him with a thoughtful expression. "You've already shown that you are an experienced and strong trainer. Not every battle is about victory after all. It's about testing yourself, learning from your mistakes, and pushing through the next challenge with even more heart. I saw that from you today."
Raul nodded, his mind already turning over the details of the battle, how he could have adjusted his strategy, and how to use his Pokémon's strengths even more effectively next time. He wasn't lost in self-doubt; he was focused on how to improve.
"I think... I think I will go meet Blake now, he invited me for a talk." he said, his voice steady but with a hint of excitement. "There's a lot I want to ask him."
Ash raised an eyebrow, "What do you think he'll say?"
Raul shrugged, a spark of amusement in his eyes. "Maybe he'll have some tips. Maybe he'll give me special training. I don't know. But I'm sure I'll get something from him." he said in a teasing tone.
"Hey that's not fair!" Ash pouted at Raul. Everyone laughed at Ash, even Pikachu.
Raul stood up, slinging his coat over his shoulder, his posture straightening with a sense of purpose. "I'll be back later. I'll meet you guys at the ferry in the morning. Let's catch it to Pallet Town together, alright?"
"Got it, buddy!" Ash called, giving him a thumbs-up.
Raul gave a small nod, his eyes lingering on his friends for a moment before he turned and left the Pokémon Center. His steps were purposeful, his heart full of questions and curiosity, but above all, determination. He hadn't won today, but that didn't matter. He had proven something to himself—and now, he was ready for the next step.
…
…
Blake sat in the quiet of his office, the battle already a distant memory. He had enjoyed the Gym challenge—Raul had made him move a bit—but it hadn't left him feeling tired or rattled. Instead, he was energized, his thoughts sharp as ever. He had no time to waste. Giovanni's activities weighed heavily on his mind, and the reports were piling up with each passing day.
Skimming through the most recent data, Blake's eyes narrowed at the discrepancies. It was as if Giovanni had been blindfolded, stabbing around in the dark, and somehow—somehow—he'd managed to unearth something Blake had missed. Something that was going to complicate things.
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Subject: Discovery of Unidentified Stones
Date: February 9th , 1998
Location: Abandoned Research Facility- MS-00001021998
Summary: A series of unusual stones were discovered in the research lab during investigation of resources. Their origin remains undetermined, though they appear to have been sourced from a location near the Portal 10 years ago. These stones exhibit a unique energy resonance that correlates with specific Pokémon, though the precise nature of this energy remains unknown.
Observations:
Resonance:Each stone produces distinct energy signatures that seem to align with specific Pokémon species. Further testing required to identify exact correlations.Properties:Current analysis suggests the stones may possess a latent function, but no definitive purpose has been established at this time. The potential effects on Pokémon or humans remain unclear.
Recommendation: Immediate further investigation is necessary to determine the full scope of these stones' capabilities. The discovery of similar stones in other locations could provide further context. Additional resources should be allocated to study their potential connection to the Portal and any possible applications.
End Report.
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Blake's jaw clenched as he read the words again. His irritation flared.
"Mega Stones..." he muttered under his breath.
He knew exactly what they were, and he was pissed that Giovanni had gotten his hands on them first.
The stones had always been a theoretical anomaly in this world—supposedly tied to a different dimension that had never intersected with this reality. It was a concept that had intrigued Blake for years, something he'd planned to study when the time was right. But now Giovanni had found them. And from what it seemed like… 10 years ago even!
Blake slammed his fist on the desk, causing the papers to rattle. He was annoyed—not because Giovanni was a threat—Giovanni had always been a threat—but because the man had stumbled across something Blake himself had searched for before but couldn't find any traces of. And now, Blake had to deal with the fallout.
"Of course he'd find these before I did," Blake grumbled, staring at the report. "Mega Stones. What next, Giovanni? You going to bring out Ultra Beasts from this Portal?… I might have jinxed myself…"
It wasn't the stones themselves that bothered him, not really. Mega Evolution was a dangerous and unpredictable power, sure, but that was always a given. What irked Blake the most was the idea that Giovanni had the upper hand, at least for now. Giovanni didn't understand these stones, not like Blake would, but that didn't matter. What mattered was that Blake had missed his chance to beat Giovanni to the punch.
There was, however, one small saving grace. Giovanni hadn't found the Key Stone yet—the one piece needed to fully harness the power of the Mega Stones. Without it, they were just relics. Useless. But Blake knew it wouldn't be long before Giovanni found it too, and that was a problem.
Blake stood, his annoyance simmering beneath his calm exterior. He had work to do. Giovanni's little treasure hunt was far from over, and Blake needed to make sure he was the one who got ahead this time.
"I can't let this slide," Blake muttered, running a hand through his hair. "I need to get my hands on these stones from the research team... but that is going to be hard… And I really don't want to have the talk about how I know about them…"
Blake felt his head hurt, when a plan formed in his mind.
'Why do I need to confesticate them? I can just tell Lance that I can research on them better as I have less responsibility now that the circuit was over… Yeah that would be much, much simpler…'
Blake's thoughts were still swirling as he ran a hand through his hair, trying to focus on the next steps. The frustration from the report still simmered beneath the surface, but he couldn't afford to let it consume him.
Blake's assistant knocked softly at the door, pulling him out of his thoughts. With a sigh, he motioned for the assistant to enter.
"What's the matter?" Blake asked, his voice calm, though his thoughts were still on the Mega Stones and Giovanni's latest find.
"The guest you mentioned, Raul, has arrived," the assistant replied. "He said he has an appointment with you."
Blake's eyes flickered for a moment, then he nodded. "Right... I told him to come. Set up the usual guest space. I'll be there in ten minutes."
The assistant nodded and stepped back, leaving Blake alone again. Blake exhaled sharply, running his fingers through his hair as he turned his attention back to the reports scattered across the desk.
The discovery of the Mega Stones had thrown a wrench into his plans, and now, with Raul coming to speak with him, he couldn't shake the feeling that these were all some kind of sign...
'Maybe Raul needs to understand the weight of what's going on, he can help me better than most people…' Blake thought, as his gaze shifted toward the window. 'We're both reincarnators after all, but he has a lot more to learn. I'll need to make sure he's prepared.'
Blake took a deep breath, straightening his posture.
He glanced at the clock and then stood from his desk, smoothing his clothes. It was time for the talk with Raul. He needed to figure out where his fellow Reincarnator stood in all this.
…
…
Raul sat alone in the guest room, his right leg tapping the floor in a steady rhythm—nervous energy he couldn't seem to shake.
He hadn't been sure exactly what to expect from this meeting. The air felt thick with anticipation, and he found himself running through the possible ways to start a conversation with Blake, hoping to avoid an awkward silence or, worse, sounding like he was being interviewed.
His mind drifted back to when he'd first suspected Blake was a reincarnator. At first, it was the simple fact of Blake's presence. Someone like him—a cool, confident Gym Leader with an aura more powerful than most Champions—wasn't a figure he recalled from the games, anime, or even the deeper manga stories.
Blake was… original, and in a world so established, that stood out. Then there was Blake's naming sense: the unintentional Easter eggs, his careful nods to things that only someone from their world would understand. It was enough to make Raul pretty certain of the truth, but he hadn't wanted to assume anything outright.
He sighed, rubbing his palms together. What was Blake going to ask? Would this feel like an interrogation?
Just then, the door swung open, and in strolled Blake.
"Well, hello, hello! Glad you could make it Raul." he said, his signature greeting rolling off his tongue in a way that was effortlessly charming, a mix of friendly and disarmingly warm. Raul could feel himself relaxing, even if just a little.
"Hey, Blake," Raul returned, hoping his tone sounded casual enough.
Noticing the flicker of awkwardness on Raul's face, Blake first took his seat and got comfortable, before adding with a smile, "So, two fellow reincarnators meeting up in this messed-up world of Pokémon, huh? Sounds like the start of a bad joke."
Blake went for an easy humor to break Raul's tension.
Raul couldn't help but let out a slightly nervous laugh, grateful for the humor that seemed to dissolve the initial tension. He tried to respond, fumbling over a few polite remarks, but Blake only chuckled, lifting a hand as if to say Relax.
"I can see you're not exactly the extroverted type, so I'll lead," Blake said with a grin. "Tell me, my fellow drifter—what gift did you get when you reincarnated here?"
Raul blinked, his confusion almost visible as if there were question marks floating above his head. "What?… gift?"
Blake's smile faltered slightly, and he looked back at Raul, genuinely surprised. "You know, like how I got Acnologia as my starter. His base stats are off the charts—600 instead of the usual Charizard's 534.
Not to mention I got this…*Opens up a small portal and takes out a cola bottle before the portal closes* inventory space thing. Maybe not amazing because of the storage technology we have in this world, but hey, it helps. And I've got Bulbapedia knowledge on basically everything up to when I landed here. So, what about you? Anything special?"
Raul's eyes widened in utter bafflement. He glanced at Blake, then back at the empty space in front of him. "We're… supposed to get gifts?"
As the laughter faded, Blake leaned back, shaking his head as if he still couldn't believe it. "So, no gifts, no powers. And here I thought I was the unlucky one… But look, you're making it work just fine! By the way," he said, leaning forward, "when did you, you know… regain your memories?"
Raul took a deep breath, calming himself as he recounted, "It was on my tenth birthday. I'd fallen down a ditch at one of my family's excavation sites… My father, Byron, thought it'd be a brilliant gift to let me dig up my own fossil. And, well… the memories just sort of came flooding back right then and there."
Blake raised an eyebrow, momentarily speechless before Raul, trying to lighten the mood, shot back, "How about you? When did everything click for you?"
With a casual sip of his cola, Blake replied, "Since I turned four, actually. I've pretty much had the chance to plan my path from the start."
Raul's eyes went wide. "Wait, four?! And… when did you start training?"
Blake blinked, as if the answer were obvious. "Officially at ten, like everyone else. But I started working with Pokémon at six. Acnologia hatched from an egg that year, so I got a bit of a head start with him."
Raul felt his veins pop in mild disbelief. "So you're telling me you've been training for fourteen years already?"
Blake chuckled, giving a relaxed nod. "Technically, yeah. I ended my circuit runs when I was fourteen—took on the four accessible leagues in my first 4 years. Won them and didn't bother to look back. I'd have been the Champion of Indigo already if not for a few… politics.
But hey, being the Gym Leader of Cinnabar isn't half bad… much more relaxing for sure. Though," he added, with a smirk, "I'd just have prefered, just about anyone else sitting on the Champion's throne other than that lizard bastard. Freaking Blackthorns…"
Raul let out a laugh, with Blake joining in, the tension between them loosening. Then, Raul's tone softened, admiration clear in his voice. "Man, you've accomplished so much. Winning four leagues… That's insane man. And all before you turned fifteen? Your first league was Indigo right? I remember you beating Lance on your first league to get the win!"
Blake smiled, a flicker of nostalgia in his gaze as he thought back on the journey. After all, that was the year, Acnologia earned the title of True Dragon after beating Lance's Dragonite into the ground.
But it wasn't until the destruction and pursuit of Giovanni that Acnologia gained his current title, The Disaster Dragon.
If anyone asks Blake, he would answer that his first year as an official trainer had been the most fun. He specially enjoyed beating Lance a few times, not to mention how funny he found how Lance took him as his rival and friend… Good times, good times…
Now Blake was 20 and a lot of things have happened in his life... he just wished he could have solved the Giovanni issue by now…
Meanwhile, Raul sighed, admitting, "I haven't had much luck with any of my runs. Didn't even make it past the quarter finals in Hoenn."
Though Blake already knew that, he hadn't gone into the details before. Curious, he leaned in. "Who'd you lose to?"
Raul gave a wry chuckle. "Of all people, my quarter-final matchup was against Steven Stone. My luck, right?"
Blake again burst into laughter.
Blake leaned back, a thoughtful look on his face as he mentioned, "Yeah, Steven Stone... an anomaly of a trainer. I don't blame you for losing to him. He raised to the level of Champion so fast that it's scary…
Had an exhibition match with him last year, and let me tell you, he's a cut above most. The man managed to knock out four of my Pokémon. That hasn't happened since my second year's tournament final match. And the one that accomplished that was Lance…"
Raul raised an eyebrow, clearly impressed, and Blake continued with a hint of admiration. "Honestly, I'm sure that in a few years, Steven will be one of the strongest Champions around. And that's saying something, considering Lance holds the Indigo title, and… well, I've got my thoughts about Lance, but I'll give it to him. He's a solid Champion."
He paused, and then, with a slight smirk, added, "And Cynthia, of course. Hard to forget her. All three of them are setting a pretty high bar for anyone coming next."
Raul's face shifted at the mention of Cynthia. He sat forward, looking at Blake intently. "Have you ever battled her?"
Blake sighed, shaking his head. "No. Haven't had the chance, and I don't think I will unless they set up another exhibition. But… yeah, I've got a feeling she'd be one of the hardest opponents for me yet."
"Think she can bring you down to your last pokemon?" Raul teased a bit wanting to see Blake's reaction.
Blake closed his eyes and thought a bit before answering, "Hard to say… last year, probably… this year… I doubt she has any pokemon that can face my Alduin… My Dragon baby has become a force of nature himself." Blake smirked at the end.
Raul felt awed at the confidence. Only if I could have confidence like that! I want to be the Champion of Sinnoh… and to do that I need to beat Cynthia… That will need so much work…
Raul sighed before changing the topic, and for a moment, the two sat in companionable silence, each mulling over their experiences in this world. They exchanged stories about their lives here, and fragments of the worlds they came from, breaking down the strange realities they'd adapted to.
Raul found himself relaxing, letting the tension ease, which didn't go unnoticed by Blake.
Blake's tone shifted, his expression hardening as he leaned in. "Alright, Raul, let's talk about what's really going on here. You might have heard bits and pieces on the news—Team Rocket's plans, Giovanni's disappearance. But there's a lot more happening beneath the surface."
Raul's surprise turned into steady focus as Blake laid out the situation, one revelation after another, each piece heavier than the last. Blake's voice was calm but carried a hidden fire, a fierce determination Raul hadn't often seen. "I'm telling you this because I need you ready. By the time the Indigo League rolls around, we might be dealing with a lot more than just a tournament." He paused, letting the weight of his words settle. "So prep hard, Raul. We're going to need everyone at their best."
Blake stood and walked to the window, gazing out at the port of Cinnabar, where the sea stretched wide under the afternoon sun.
Trying to lighten the mood, Raul joked, "I mean, as long as we aren't facing the three-headed legendary bird and Mewtwo at the same time, we should be fine, right?"
Blake turned, giving him a look of pure incredulity.
Raul let out an awkward laugh, scratching the back of his head. "I… might've jinxed it, huh?"
Blake facepalmed, muttering under his breath "For the love of…", clearly not amused.
...
...
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[A/N: Lumi here!
Hope you guys are liking this fic so far. I posted a new chapter of Naruto: of Shadows and Sharingans earlier. Do check that out ;)]
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