The next day, the day of the exhibition match arranged solely for Anthony and Glen between Hana and Ben Dover, Anthony and Glen kept in touch the whole morning, just one step away from having a video call, even while they were taking a bath if not for the fact that the two kids doesn't have a phone and need the PC to talk. Glen and even Anthony are truly excited, after all, it's not always that they would be able to watch a battle between two champions in anything except a title.
Furthermore, the current champion of the Indigo League is like the champion of Hoenn, Wallace, is more on elegance in battle, something that children like them (even though one is an adult mentally) won't equate with 'champion', though of course, Anthony can understand strategy, so he still know that those two are monsters, very, very strong monsters.
After taking a bath, Anthony put on a set of semi-casual clothes: a tucked-in black polo, trousers, and suspenders. He also brushed his hair up using wax from his dad. He must say that his countenance would look better if his hair were longer. Going back, the trio alongside Charizard and Blastoise in their Pokeballs while Zubat perched itself into Anthony's head met with Glen's mom and Glen himself with Treecko that bowed. In contrast, in Glen's shoulder, the two families then went to the bus station and stopped at one of the empty training fields designated by the Fuchsia government for trainers to train or have exhibition matches.
On their way their, they saw two people whom Anthony wanted to see the most... among other canon characters, Fuchsia City Gym leader of the Fire Red games, Koga and Gym leader of the same city in the Gold and Silver games, Janine, in them are a camera set that they would apparently use as a filming tool for a new analysis video of gym leader Koga using the father and son's face.
Anthony, wanting to have an autograph session between him and the two gym leaders, suggested using his mom and dad's battle video as the battle to be analyzed, that way, the already precious voice of Koga as a gym leader and his insights will be amplified by using the battle of the old titans as the face he wanted to analyze. In the end, the current Poison Gym Leader of the Indigo League approved of this, and as an adult, he seemed to be able to smell the ink from the money (though the Pokémon world is starting to revolutionize monetary transactions through credit cards), Koga even decided to become the referee and leave the filming to his daughter.
Anthony and Glen went with her, but they were given the silent treatment, so they didn't bother her, though Anthony wondered if Gym Leader Janine was really that introverted or if she just got out of her shell 3 years after the Red storyline was over, and her father became an Elite 4 and she took over the gym.
Just as when the group entered the field, a group of teenagers noticed the appearance of the 3 of the most popular people in whole of Fuchsia, which prompted them to run towards the field and ask for autographs, which Ben, Hana and Koga didn't refuse, causing a chain reaction where even adults working out for their kind of late morning jog to go to the field and have an autograph, the adult then through their ability to have random chats learned that an exhibition match only for Glen, Anthony and Janine is bound to happen, so the people who had their shirts, notebooks, shoes, breasts (?), forehead (??), etc. signed stayed, making the bench of the field quite cramped.
No one is surprised at this outcome, especially when Hana (who sometimes rejects autographs, especially if it would be at the expense of her precious private time with herself or her son) is already with Ben, what would they expect from a city with a Pokémon League-accredited gym?
"Wow, champion-level trainers are really popular, huh?"
Glen's mom, who's sitting in the VIP seat alongside Glen, Anthony, and Janine, who already started to roll his camera, whispered, which made Anthony, the son of the said champion-level trainers to nod. He then looked at Glen's mom.
"It makes me wonder why I rarely knew of their non-Pokemon league-related exploits..."
Glen's mom looked at Anthony for a moment before looking back at the preparations of Ben and Hana.
_Why won't you talk to me..._
Anthony sighed- indeed, such a matter is just too confusing because, think about this: Would Aristotle's background in physics, mathematics, meteorology, music, and more be censored by him just because he's mostly known as a Philosopher? No, that would be stupid logically and in terms of being vain as a human nature.
_Furthermore, the exploits are seem to get erased not just from the mouths of my parents but also in the internet, everytime I searched for their name all I see is 'Champion level trainer Hana Murasaki marries genius Ben Dover!' or 'Ben Dover Retires' while some 'Hana Murasaki sets record for most wins against elite 4 in any regions in the World of Pokemon!' and nothing about their journey as associate field researchers... the only thing I know is the two census research they have co-authored..._
Anthony once again thanked his rather non-expressive face, which needed a punnet square to determine which side it came from as he mulled over this matter. Soon, he heard the Poison Gym leader, Koga, speak, his tone plain, but his standing made his voice carry the weight of authority.
"Kids, young ladies and gentlemen, please be quiet, as the battle we will witness is a battle that should normally be handled by the arena erected by the Indigo League. If you don't listen to my instructions as someone who personally knew the recklessness of these two, some casualties might be inevitable."
Hearing this, the kids became nervous while the adult nodded solemnly. Glen and Anthony also looked nervous, though Anthony couldn't help but lampoon.
_That's some Baki-level exaggeration... But Charizard can use Hyper Beam and Blastoise can use water-type moves... and water is the most destructive force of nature, at least in my opinion._
While Anthony was thinking, Koga continued.
"I want all of you to retreat one seat away from your current seat, anyway, the ones in front are small children so adults wouldn't have problem in watching, even though the barrier for high-level Pokemon battle is already erected which are usually not required if the stadium is as big as a league arena, like I said, reckless people are reckless."
After saying this, Koga, the gym leader that he is, has his words immediately heeded, though Anthony can see that his parents have a sullen expression because their recklessness is continuously introduced to the crowd. After about 5 minutes of disciplined clamoring, Koga confirmed the position of the crowd before retreating out of the barrier.
Normally, this barrier wouldn't exist as the arena for champion-level fights is always either outside the cities or the arena of the Pokémon League itself. It just so happens that the outside of the city of Fuchsia is a pathway for trainers. If the outside is like Mt. Coronet of the Sinnoh region, for example, then they wouldn't be using a stadium.
"Alright, you two know the rules already. For the amusement of the people, the only banned move is Hyper Beam of Charizard and Surf of Blastoise; everything can go. If you two got too absorbed in your battle and endangered anyone, I will use my own Pokémon to make you 4 faint to end the fight immediately."
Koga looked at the two participants who were already tossing the Poké Balls of their respective partners in their hands before continuing.
"The first Pokémon to end up unable to battle will be the loser."
Koga then raised his hands, causing the onlookers to hold their breath in anticipation; even Hana and Ben stopped playing with their Poké Balls and gripped them tightly.
"Begin!"
Hana and Ben's curved up lips shot up further as if it was about to reach their ears, and in sync, they threw their Poké Balls while shouting:
"An old enemy has appeared! Go! Charizard/Blastoise!"
The appearance of the two Pokemons alone caused a stir from the crowd. The kids shouted their favorite starter while the adult clapped their hands, their excitement being dampened by the excitement of the kids; nevertheless, Hana and Ben basked in the feeling of being able to face each other one more time.
Or perhaps, one last time, thus they immediately commanded their similarly smirking partners.
"Charizard, Flamethrower!"
"Blastoise Hydro Pump!"
The two Pokemons immediately adhered, two streaks of red hot flames and condensed, surging water were apt out, the flames from the mouth of Charizard and the water from Blastoise's cannon muzzles. In the blink of an eye, the two opposing elements collided, causing a massive explosion to reverberate in the whole arena.
After such an explosion, hot steam immediately spread out within the barrier and barreled against it, to no avail.
The first collision didn't disappoint, causing the crowd to erupt in a cacophony of cheers. However, like Koga had anticipated, the two battlers are too immersed in their nostalgia; soon, another bout of commands rang out.
"Use Rain Dance, Blastoise!'
Ben shouted, and the Pokémon immediately obliged. It started dancing strangely, putting its hands in front while lifting its feet up and down repeatedly; however, how can Hana and Charizard just let such a fire-dampening move succeed? Hana flicked her fingers and calmly commanded.
"Dragon Claw."
A resounding flap was immediately heard, dispersing the hot steam up in the air and revealing the charging Charizard with its right Claws elongated and glowing. Ben clicked his tongue silently before giving out another command.
"Dig!"
Blastoise immediately jumped as paradoxical to its supposed heaviness and used its hands to dig, successfully evading the fast approaching Claws of Charizard.
_Damn, Earthquake would have been useful..._
Hana sighed before ordering Charizard to go up in the sky. Ben immediately flinched at this and ordered Blastoise while still underground.
"Hydro Pump to the full power!"
The command is almost simultaneously adhered to, causing a large bulge in the middle of the ground wherein the gushing laser-like stream of water accurately targets Charizard. This confused the viewers, because normally, the best course of action if a Pokémon used Dig and another decided to fly high is to enter a temporary deadlock to make their Pokémon rest.
_They really knew each other very well..._
Anthony, who was watching, knew this sequence well. He looked at his mom, and as he expected, she was smirking.
"Watch out for the change and use Sunny day."
Hana calmly commanded while warning Charizard, who immediately roared, causing a miniature sun to appear beside him. Anthony, Hana, and Ben smirked, albeit Ben quite awkwardly, at this sight. One of the main reasons why Hana's Charizard is troublesome despite having a type disadvantage is that it somehow learned how to use two of the most complementary moves in the Pokémon world.
Sunny Day, which increases the power of Fire attacks (and not to mention it can be conjured faster than Rain Dance) and...
"Solar Beam."
Charizard smirked, as if asking how Blastoise would block such a command, because of the Sunny Day, Solar Beam can be conjured in an instant and with increased potency, thus with a little exhale, Charizard immediately spewed out a green-colored condensed light that came from the energy of the small sun beside it. The onlooker closed their eyes for a moment as they were blinded by the almost all-consuming light.
Even Ben squinted a little; however, his smile didn't fade. He knew how his wife would have done things; however, the last one to retire as a Pokémon trainer was he, thus he knew that there might be lapses in the knowledge of his wife.
"Dragon Pulse."
The moment such commands were heard, the crowd went silent, shock evident in all their faces.
Ben Dover never used such a move before! Besides, they never knew Blastoise could use Dragon Pulse!
Again, of course, the Pokemons and their trainers that are fighting ignored such gasps; they silently watched as the glazier formed by Blastoise exploded once more, splattering rocks in all directions, making them back into the barrier before letting out a dragon-shaped beam that fearlessly collided with Charizard's Solar Beam.
Another defining explosion ensued as the two beams collided, causing the barrier to unreliably sway for a moment before it stabilized once more. Thankfully, the two beams only clashed for a moment before both exploded. Light followed by dust obstructed the view of the audience, making them unable to see the situation.
However, common physics would entail that a flying Pokémon would be at a disadvantage against a Pokémon with a foothold in such a powerful clash of energy. They looked up, and indeed, they saw Charizard slowly falling; his body sustained some degree of injury.
_Yes, that's my husband, his outside and inside Dragon Pulses are both strong..._
Hana's lips curled up for a moment before again flicking her fingers. This caused Charizard to puff its cheeks and again, dispersed the dust by Speed blitzing through it, and in one fluid motion, the Pokémon is already right above the hole Blastoise has just dug.
It spat out green energy coming from its mouth.
Another Solar Beam has come Blastoise's way.