In Levincia City's main square, the atmosphere was electric.
The crowd was still buzzing with excitement after Elara's incredible battle. Cheers and applause rang out across the plaza, echoing against the tall buildings and neon lights of the city.
With the match concluded, Volcarona glided gracefully back to Elara's side. Its sapphire-blue eyes sparkled like jewels, glowing with pride and affection.
"You were amazing, Larvesta!" Elara cheered, then caught herself with a laugh. "No… I should call you Volcarona now!"
She reached out eagerly, but before her hand could touch, the intense heat radiating from Volcarona's fiery wings forced her to pull back with a quick gasp.
Volcarona immediately dimmed its flames, lowering its heat so it wouldn't hurt her. The two exchanged a knowing look, their bond deeper than words could express.
"Hehe!" Elara giggled, turning toward her mother across the battlefield. "Mom, we did great, didn't we?"
Iono chuckled, her Rotom Camera whirring above her head. "You sure did, Elara. I lost fair and square!"
With a flourish, she handed over the gleaming Lightning Badge, her smile bright and proud.
"At first, your dad and I worried about whether you'd be able to handle the world on your own," she admitted warmly. "But now it's clear, you're not only holding your own, you've already grown so much as a Trainer."
"You're Mom and Dad's pride and joy!" She said firmly.
"Yeah!" Elara's whole face lit up as she clutched the badge tightly to her chest.
"Keep going!" Iono said with a playful grin. "Besides me, there are still five more Gym Leaders in Paldea waiting for you. Elara, spread your wings and soar high."
"Yes!" Elara shouted, her determination shining as brightly as Volcarona's wings.
Meanwhile, at the Paldea Pokémon League headquarters…
Geeta, the Top Champion, was watching the livestream with a rare smile.
"Rika, did you see that? Elara is incredible!" she said, her voice filled with awe.
Rika: "…"
She had grown used to Geeta's reactions, but she couldn't deny it, Geeta was right.
That Volcarona's strength was already surpassing the level of most Gym Leaders.
And what was even more shocking, Elara had only just turned eight years old.
Three badges already, at such a young age.
Rika couldn't help but imagine the League Tournament at the end of the year. If things continued like this, Elara could very well become the youngest Champion in Pokémon League history, an eight-year-old Champion.
Even Geeta, usually so composed, was already thinking ahead.
'When should I hand over the title of Top Champion to her?'
But then she shook her head. Not yet.
Elara was too young. Even if she somehow became Champion this year, she was still just a child, barely old enough to understand the responsibilities that came with the title.
The better choice would be to let her gain more experience first. Perhaps she could travel to other regions, sharpen her skills, and truly grow into her role. Then, when she came of age, she could return to Paldea, inherit the Champion's mantle, and allow Geeta to retire gracefully, no longer worried about Paldea's future.
"Dad, I got my third badge!"
On Naoki's Rotom Phone screen, Elara grinned ear to ear, holding up the Lightning Badge for him to see. Behind her stood Dragonite and her freshly evolved Volcarona, both looking proud.
Naoki: "…"
For a moment, he could only shake his head and laugh. It was a good thing he hadn't stepped in to cover for his wife during that battle, otherwise, Elara might never have pushed her Larvesta hard enough to evolve into Volcarona in the middle of such a fierce match.
"Yeah, I saw," Naoki said warmly, giving her a thumbs-up. "You did great! So… are you going to challenge more Gyms next?"
Elara nodded enthusiastically. "Yes! Principal Clavell told me that if I can collect eight badges by the end of the year, I'll be allowed to enter this year's League Tournament and battle Trainers from all over the world!"
"Okay then, Elara, Mom, Dad, Sorin, and Koraidon will definitely be there to cheer you on!"
Elara nodded eagerly, her eyes shining. "Yes!"
And so, Elara's journey continued.
Naoki kept track of the Gyms she was challenging, and through Elara's regular Rotom Phone updates, he always had a good sense of her route and the trials she faced along the way.
In May of the 210th year of the League Calendar, Elara reached Glaseado Mountain, where she focused on training Dragonite in the harsh cold, building its resistance to Ice-type moves.
She then challenged Grusha, the Glaseado Gym Leader.
Although Dragonite was eventually defeated by Grusha's powerful Ice-types, Elara pushed forward. With the blazing strength of Charcadet and Volcarona, she managed to claim victory and earned the Ice Badge.
In June, Elara arrived in Medali Town, the hometown of Larry. There, a kind restaurant owner gifted her a rare item that allowed Charcadet to evolve into Ceruledge.
To prove its strength to its trainer, Ceruledge faced Larry in a fierce battle. It went blow-for-blow with one of Larry's Pokémon, fighting to a proud one-for-one draw.
Later, Elara used Dragonite's Dragon Dance strategy to claim victory at Medali Gym, earning the Normal Badge.
In July, she reached Montenevera, home of the Ghost-type Gym. There, she encountered a mysterious man who taught her secret techniques for training Ghost-type Pokémon.
The next day, to her surprise, Elara discovered that this mysterious teacher was none other than Ryme, the Gym Leader herself!
A fierce battle followed, but Elara narrowly triumphed, earning her sixth badge.
At the same time, Elara also proved herself to the trio of Terapagos that had been watching her progress. They acknowledged her strength and chose to join her as companions.
With her team complete, Volcarona, Dragonite, Ceruledge, and three Terapagos, Elara was ready to face her final Gym challenges.
In September, she defeated the gym leader of Cascarrafa, earning the Water Badge. Along the way, she also picked up a knack for cooking from the lively Gym Leader.
By October, she arrived in Alfornada. There, she drew upon the spectral flames of her Ceruledge to overcome Tulip, the Psychic-type Gym Leader. With that hard-fought victory, she obtained her eighth and final badge.
With just over ten days left before the Paldea League Conference, Elara mounted Entei's back and began her journey to the grand stage.
Naoki had already received the news. He and Iono gathered their Pokémon and traveled to the League to support Elara.
Wanting to give her a surprise, Naoki kept their plans a secret.
Then, on the day of the match, as Elara walked onto the battlefield, a familiar cheer rang out from the front row of the stands.
Elara turned and gasped.
"Dad? Mom? Sorin here too? Everyone's here!"
"Go, Elara!" Naoki shouted, his voice booming with pride.
"Agashi!"
"Boni!"
"Bago~!"
Ogerpon and the others joined in, their cries echoing across the arena.
At that moment, Elara felt her determination ignite. Her inner fighting spirit surged to its peak as she locked eyes with her opponent.
"Volcarona, we can't let Dad and everyone else down!" she declared with confidence.
Volcarona gave a calm, resolute nod.
The referee signaled. The battle officially began!
Volcarona's wings shimmered with radiant energy as it began a Quiver Dance, its body surrounded by spiraling embers. Across the field, Pidgeot launched forward with a slicing Air Slash, the wind blades howling as they tore through the air.
But Volcarona's fiery dance had already transformed its body into a blazing whirlwind. The scorching flames wrapped around its wings, and when the air blades struck, they were consumed instantly, vanishing into sparks against the inferno.
"It's our turn! Volcarona, use Heat Wave!" Elara commanded.
The entire battlefield trembled as Volcarona spread its wings wide. A wave of searing heat surged outward, distorting the air itself. The temperature spiked so sharply that the audience instinctively shielded their faces.
Pidgeot was caught in the blast head-on. Its feathers curled and blackened under the intense flames, and with a sharp cry, it plummeted to the ground.
The referee raised a flag. "Pidgeot is unable to battle!"
A one-hit knockout!
The crowd erupted in shock.
"What kind of heat is this? Even from here, I can feel it burning!"
"That's insane, Volcarona's power is off the charts!"
"No wonder it's called the Incarnation of the Sun!"
Elara grinned as she looked toward the stands. Her eyes met Naoki's, and he nodded proudly in acknowledgment.
With the trio of her partners, Ceruledge, Dragonite and Volcarona, now fully evolved, the battle notes left behind by Red, and the incredible support of the three Terapagos at her side, Elara's dominance in the preliminary rounds was absolute.
As expected, she advanced straight into the quarterfinals.
In the first match, her Ceruledge clashed against a Gengar. After a fierce duel of shadows and flames, both fell at the same time, ending in a one-for-one trade.
In the second match, Elara's Dragonite soared into the skies and overpowered a Lucario with dazzling aerial maneuvers.
In the third match, Volcarona returned to the field, its fiery wings overwhelming an opponent's Ice-type with sheer heat and speed.
In the following rounds, her team continued to shine, their balance of offense and strategy carrying her all the way through.
Her strength and tactics secured her spot in the semifinals.
Three days later, the semifinals began. This time, Elara revealed the unpredictable brilliance of her Stellar Form Terapagos. The radiant shell reflected every type, making it impossible for her opponent to predict. Combined with the sheer information gap, she dismantled her opponent's strategy and advanced to the finals.
Two days later, the grand stage was set. The League Tournament Finals of the 210th Year of the League Calendar had officially begun.
Elara now faced a powerful challenger from the Sinnoh region.
His team was a fearsome lineup: Garchomp, Bronzong, Dragonite, Togekiss, Alakazam, and Honchkrow. Each one a battle-tested veteran, each one carrying the weight of Sinnoh's fierce competitive tradition.
Naoki, watching from the stands, felt his chest tighten.
This time, the opponent's strength and experience far outmatched Elara's.
However, once the battle began, everyone was stunned to see just how much Elara's battle style had evolved.
Her tactics and command were sharper, faster, more precise than ever before.
From the opening round, she predicted her opponent's lead, Bronzong, based on his past habits. She sent out Ceruledge, its flaming blades glowing with spectral fire. Using sheer speed and relentless offense, Ceruledge danced around Bronzong's defenses, striking with perfectly timed slashes.
In only a few exchanges, the Blade Pokémon cut through its opponent. Bronzong collapsed, defeated.
The crowd roared.
In the second match, Elara called on Dragonite to face Togekiss.
Naoki, watching from the stands, almost forgot to breathe as his daughter gave the command:
"Dragonite, Rain Dance!"
Dark clouds swirled overhead. With a flap of its mighty wings, Dragonite summoned a storm. Thunder rumbled across the battlefield. Then came her follow-up,
"Use Hurricane!"
The violent storm winds battered Togekiss, leaving it reeling. Elara's final command rang out, sharp and sure:
"Now, Thunder!"
A massive lightning bolt tore through the sky, slamming into Togekiss. The Fairy-Flying type had no chance to resist. It fell, knocked out in an instant.
The crowd gasped. Naoki's eyes widened. She had used his very own techniques, Rain Dance, Hurricane, Thunder, passed down from father to daughter.
In the third match, Elara revealed her ultimate trump card—Volcarona.
The Sinnoh Champion's ace, Garchomp, charged forward with draconic fury, its claws glowing with Dragon Claw. But Volcarona met it head-on, its six fiery wings radiating heat so intense the very air shimmered.
"Volcarona, Fiery Dance!"
The moth's incandescent flames engulfed the battlefield. Garchomp roared, struggling against the searing blaze, but Volcarona's firepower was overwhelming. With one final blast of flame, Garchomp collapsed.
The audience erupted into chaos, Elara had just toppled her opponent's strongest Pokémon!
From there, the battle snowballed. In the fourth, fifth, and sixth matches, with the support of her three Terapagos, Elara never lost control. Her strategies flowed flawlessly; her Pokémon executed with absolute trust and precision.
Finally, with the fall of Alakazam, the referee raised his hand.
The battle was over.
And in that moment, history was made.
At just eight years old, Elara became the youngest Champion the Pokémon world had ever seen.
In the stands, Iono couldn't contain her joy. She grabbed Naoki's arm, her voice trembling with excitement.
"Look, Naoki! Our daughter, our precious Elara, she's won!"
Naoki stood frozen for a moment, his eyes locked on the stage. An indescribable wave of pride and emotion welled in his chest. The flower he and Iono had nurtured for eight years had finally blossomed, here, on the grandest stage of all.
Their daughter was radiant. Their daughter was extraordinary.
The arena erupted with thunderous cheers, a celebration unlike any other.
Then, from the opposite side of the stage, the reigning Champion of Paldea, Geeta, stepped forward with a warm smile. She held the golden trophy in her hands.
"Elara," she said gently, "you were incredible. Congratulations on becoming the Champion of this year's League Tournament."
Elara's eyes widened. "Auntie Geeta!"
She reached out eagerly, but the trophy was almost too heavy for her small arms. She nearly dropped it, until Dragonite stepped forward, its massive claws steadying her.
Together, Elara and her six faithful Pokémon lifted the gleaming golden trophy high above their heads.
In the background, Entei, Raikou, and Suicune stood proudly, their gazes filled with approval and pride.
Click.
The cameras flashed.
The image of the youngest Champion in history, side by side with her Pokémon, was forever etched into memory.
...
Naoki Ranch
Elara carefully placed the gleaming golden trophy onto the bookshelf in her bedroom. The light from the setting sun caught its polished surface, scattering golden reflections across the room.
Naoki and Iono stood behind her, smiling warmly as they watched their daughter admire the prize.
"So," Naoki asked gently, "how does it feel to be a Champion?"
Elara's eyes sparkled like stars. "I'm so happy! It feels amazing to have everyone with me!"
Naoki chuckled at her excitement, then leaned forward slightly. "So… what's next? Have you thought about your plans for the future?"
Elara hesitated, her expression turning thoughtful. She remembered what "Auntie Geeta" told her after the League Conference. Now that she had proven herself, she had earned the right to challenge the Elite Four of Paldea and even face the Champion directly.
But Auntie Geeta was incredibly strong.
With her current strength, defeating someone of that caliber wouldn't be easy.
For now, the best choice was clear, she needed to keep training.
"We're going to keep training!" Elara declared firmly.
Naoki raised an eyebrow, intrigued. "And where do you want to train?"
There were three paths open to her.
She could travel to the World Tree to train alongside Mewtwo, Suicune, Groudon, and even Giratina.
She could stay at the ranch, where Calyrex and the other Legendary Pokémon could serve as powerful sparring partners.
Or, she could journey to a new region altogether, expanding her horizons.
Naoki had already prepared for all three possibilities.
If Elara chose the World Tree, he would contact Mewtwo and the other Legendaries to take her under their wing.
If she chose to remain at the ranch, he would personally oversee her training and have Calyrex and the others sharpen her skills.
And if she decided to travel abroad, Naoki had something very special prepared, a letter of introduction from Professor Oak himself, inviting Elara to begin a new journey in Kanto, starting from Pallet Town.
Her journey would take her across distant regions, collecting new experiences and growing alongside her Pokémon.
By the time she finally returned to Paldea, she would be more than ready to stand as its true Champion.