Chronicle of World Champion Prologue

Prologue – The Overture of Crisis

It's been almost two years since the Team Plasma incidents in Unova region… Everything seems to be fine after I left New York and back into Japan. But…Ghetsis' escape continues to bother me even after I left the region. Would he be able to return and make even more terror to the region? I'm telling you, this is not the question of if; but when. Even so, something interesting had triggered my return to the region, and this is the story about it…

January 1st, 2013. Even though it was New Years Day I still decided to stay in my office with my friend Alex to kill some time. Alex is the kid I met a year earlier in his school during his costume contest. He is bright, smart, and most importantly, he is Red's little cousin. It was snowing that day in Goldenrod City. The dark cloud kept covering traces of the sun, thus made the sky unusually dark, even in the middle of the day. The both of us stayed inside the building after we chickened out from the coldness during our training on the Patio.

"Pokémon World Tournament?" Alex asked, looking at the paper I had on my hand.

"Yeah, looks like that was Hilbert's idea…" I replied, sitting leisurely on the couch with eyes scanning at the paper just mailed in that day. The letter gave out the description about the Tournament itself to decide who would be the world's top Trainer. "It says it's going to be held in Unova region at March…"

Alex sat down next to me. "You are going to join this tournament, aren't you, Hanbei?" I shot a glare at him right on the eye. "Whoops, silly me."

"This thing sure has some strict requirements…" I scanned the paper again. "At least 8 badges or someone invited can join the regular tournament… And whoa, you can even go straight to the finals if you are either a current Gym Leader, Elite Fours, Champions, or someone special invited by the committee…"

"And obviously you were invited to the finals, aren't ya?" Alex sarcastically asked.

"Well, duh!!" I laughed. "But even though it says March, I think I'm going there earlier."

"Why is that?" Alex asked.

"Well… there is some unfinished business I have to take care of over there…" I slowly said, looking toward the window.

The "unfinished business" can be traced back to about a week ago. It was… let's see, the Boxing Day, December 26, I believe.

* * * * *

Tsim Sha Tsui, Hong Kong, China. I silently walked on the waterfront walkway of the Avenue of Stars. I stopped next to the statue of Bruce Lee and leaned myself on the railings. I looked toward Hong Kong Island across Victoria Harbor and enjoyed the million dollar night view of the city. Just a day before this very spot I stood on was packed with tourist who wanted to watch the special edition of Symphony of Lights. Compared to now, there were only around 7 people or so walking on the waterfront.

7:55 pm…five minutes until he shows up… I thought looking at the watch. Then a hand suddenly gave a gentle pat on my shoulder. "Sorry to keep you waiting, Max," the men behind me said. "I just got here anyway," I replied and turned around toward the 23-years-old, green-haired young man. "Natural."

N smiled and leaned on the railing next to me.

"Hilbert said you need to see me urgently, what's up?" I turned to him and asked.

"Ghetsis," N said, continue to stair toward the opposite shore.

"They found him?" I asked.

"No… he…"

"Don't tell me," I turned myself toward N while interrupting his speech.

N sighed and nodded.

"I knew it," I murmured. "He's gonna revive Team Plasma, isn't he?"

"And making them more ruthless then before," N replied.

"Looks like we knocked out the true nature of the beast, didn't we?" I sarcastically said. N looked at me, and he wasn't laughing.

Suddenly the green lasers and lights started shooting out from skyscrapers from both sides of Victoria Harbor. I looked up around the sky and immediately looked at the watch. Eight o'clock. The Symphony of Lights were about to start.

"So I'm taking that you want me to come help flushing him out, don't you?" I asked.

"You are going back to Unova for something else anyway," N said matter-of-factly. A jolt of memory reminded me what he was referring to.

"Oh yea, that tournament Hilbert was behind of," I remarked.

"That's correct, my close subje—no, my old friends in Team Plasma informed me that Ghetsis is planning to destroy the tournament at all costs," N lowered his head. "And…"

"And what?"

"And apparently he is planning to control the third dragon in Unova region to do it."

"Third dragon… you mean… Kyruem!?" I exclaimed. N nodded.

"Unfortunately, you are right," N sighed. "I know you would definitely be in this reaction, thinking that Kyruem has chosen yo—"

"Hang on," I interrupted him. "How did you—"

"Reshiram told me," N replied.

"Sure he did…" I murmured. "Are you coming with me then?"

"I'm going to lay low, and consider some variables that can affect the formulas that can and might turn the whole event into somewhere we can't expect," N said. "But Hilbert said he's going back earlier as well."

"Gotcha," I replied. "I'm going to contact him soon."

"Max…Be careful."

I laughed. "I'm not afraid of anything, as long as I have my Pokémon with me."

N smiled. He pat on my shoulder and the both of us turned back toward the Symphony of Lights and the night view of Hong Kong Island.

* * * * *

"So Hanbei," Alex started. "Mind if I tag along with you?"

"Huh? Why?" I curiously asked.

"I wanna take a look at the region, challenge the Gyms, and train myself a bit before I take on the tournament."

"You sure you mom's gonna let you?" I lifted a braw and asked.

"I'm not that little coward like I was when we met two years ago, am I?" Alex asked.

I laughed.

Alex gave his Raichu, who was standing beside him all these time, a nice, gentle pat on his head. "Besides, it's about time I take my chance to set out of Japan on my own…"

That's how my plan of traveling alone failed again. With Alex, and perhaps Hilbert, my new journey on other side of globe started again…