~~~Celeste~~~
Celeste had arrived at the Regional League, stepping off a private helicopter on the roof of the resort/domicile area. Sylvia hopped off after her, her ribbons still wrapped around Celeste’s upper forearm, followed by Lucas looking calm, cool, and collected, he almost immediately tripped over by tripping over Sylvia while he tried to catch up. He did a quick flip and recovered without incident, and tried playing it off as if nothing happened. “Silvie?” Sylvia managed while looking at Lucas with concern. Lucas shrugged and chucked.
Celeste had missed the feeling of being in the official circuit, it brought back a strong sense of nostalgia, now, she spends most of her time traveling Alola and enjoying the sights, slowly working her way to the Alola League and challenging their ever-changing Champion since it was still relatively new. Beyond that, she has not participated in an official League in almost a year, ever since she claimed her fifth Champion title from Champion Alder in Unova.
Receiving a special invitation from the official Pokémon League came as a relative surprise to her. They had invited her to be a special guest of honor, participation is optional, but they did want her to participate in several exhibition battles with other fellow Champions, and be part of an event that allows other trainers to challenge regional Champions and other Hall of Fame trainers to battles to get the experience battling at that level and also feedback from the battle. Celeste could see what they were trying to do and it was a chance of a lifetime for these trainers to battle trainers of such caliber so they can see what they have to work towards, the potential where they can get to. She had wished she had gotten an opportunity similar to this when she was working on defeating the Elite Fours and the Champions. She saw it as a chance to inspire greatness and motivation for these trainers and decided to participate. Her team was ecstatic at the chance of meeting old friends again, in and out of battle.
The letter came enclosed with a card as well. The symbol indented onto the back of it was the symbol of Champion Diantha’s Mega-Keystone. A personal note that she had handwritten and enclosed with Celete’s invitation. Diantha was basically encouraging Celeste to go, promising that it will be a good time. She didn’t need more convincing but the personal request from Diantha absolutely made Celeste accept the invitation. Celeste had always been one of Diantha’s favorites ever since they battled so long ago, Celeste trying several times before achieving victory over the Champion for her first ever title. Diantha would always have a special place in her heart.
Celeste gave the helicopter pilot a thumbs up and the flying machine took off. Silence settled in once more and the air was repopulated with various Pokémon noises, too numerous to focus a single one out. She made her way to the entrance to the domiciles and was greeted by a familiar face, with hair fashioned into large and long twintails and a very imposing looking Metagross behind her.
~~~Ani~~~
Ani Humeri was a newer Spire Master back on Veritas Island. A few years younger than Celeste but also a very accomplished trainer in her own right, having claimed two Champion titles, one from Kalos, and another from Unova. She was dressed in her usual richly adorned backless white, violet, and purple Lolita-styled dress with matching boots, long fingerless gloves that ended mid forearm, and a small sling purse. Accentuated with a large violet colored hair bow and a large violet bow at the small of her back on her dress, with the centers being Pokéballs, a collar, and earrings, all with Pokéball designs on them. She was also wearing Z-Bracelet on her right upper thigh like a garter ring. She was carrying a matching violet and purple colored parasol that shaded her fair skin from the light.
“Wow, don’t you like to make an entrance?” Ani said, her voice was joyous and uplifting. Ani had arrived a few days earlier to check out all the excitement and scenes, she was not disappointed. She had received a similar invitation to Celeste and to participate in the same events, and not required to participate in the tournament itself, but she had considered it and might do so for fun.
“Just getting dropped off is all,” Celeste smiled at her, the two of them hugged like old friends, Sylvia and Lucas greeted the Metagross (X-Law) who nodded at the two. “Is Ceres here yet?”
Ani shook her head “No, she should be here though at any moment.” Ani had received messages from Celeste and Ceres that they were going to arrive this day.
“Is she coming from Unova? She never got back to me to where she was.” Celeste looked over the edge of the helipad at the resort areas, battle arenas, the various booths, shops and plazas below, it all seemed like a very good time.
“I don’t know, I thought that she would be in Hoenn around this time of year researching Pokémon near the Sky Pillar. By the way, the Alolan League Champ. JC is here. Saw her battling someone for fun down at the training center earlier.” Ani was just making conversation at this point. The two of them were waiting on Ceres now, so they could explore the area together. Ani had already been around, but she was paying more attention to the trainers and their Pokémon more than anything else, hoping to spot someone else of note.
Celeste turned away from her Pokénav, she was writing a message to Ceres “Oh really now? How’d you know it was her? She’s usually quite careful with her disguises and stuff.” She resumed her message she was writing to Ceres.
“C’mon now luv. It’s not hard to tell when one trainer completely outclasses another. And besides, how many shiny Umbreons do you see walking around… well there was the one that the trainer she was battling had.” Ani said aloud to herself, “but that’s beside the point.”
Celeste grunted in acknowledgement as she sent the message. “Perhaps she got the same invite we did. Or she could be the acting ‘Champion’ battle for the Grand Finals of the tournament since Alola’s League is still fairly new, it would draw quite the attention to the region if JC does well showing off Alola’s power… I hope she does well, it’s such a beautiful and wonderful place, I normally don’t like people all that much, but I LOVE the people there, they’re so nice and genuine. The amount of hospitality they have really makes it worthwhile to visit.
Ani nodded in agreement, she had visited the region a few years ago, challenging the island Kahunas and trials, there were a ton of fun and she got some neat items and accessories unique to the region. The League at the time was not yet established so she didn’t get a chance to challenge the Champion there. Just then Celeste’s Pokénav lit up with a response message from Ceres.
GYAAA!
A loud powerful roar boomed in the air startling the two girls. Sylvia flinched while Lucas and X-Law looked to the sky at the source of the sound.
~~~Ceres~~~
Ceres was riding on the back of her Salamence, Sorrin, curled up comfortably in her lap was Whisper, her Espeon. Ceres waved at her two friend in the distance on the helipad. Sorrin roared again, no doubt the entire tournament grounds heard him, he was always the happiest when he was in the air, and loved announcing his arrival. Ceres looked down and could see several people startled by the large dragon’s roars. “SO SORRY, I DIDN’T MEAN TO FRIGHTEN YOU ALL!” she yelled down the best she could but the people below probably could barely hear if at all.
Sorrin approached their destination extremely quickly, breaking his speed with a mighty flex oh his wings and then softly landing on the helipad. Ceres pat the dragon and Whisper cried out in approval. Sorrin watched the two climb off his back and tuned his gaze to his trainer. In addition to her usual casual dress, Ceres was carrying a large messenger bag, the front flap of it decorated with ornate gold designs of vines, feathers, and a large Pokéball. “Hello again, it’s been a while hasn’t it?” Ceres greeted the two other trainers with open arms. She hugged them both. Sylvia and Whisper danced around each other in joy before nuzzling their faces together, Sylvia partially wrapping her ribbons around Whisper’s chest before separating. Sorrin eyed Sylvia with a slight look of suspicion and caution. She returned his look with curiosity and wonder.
“Always good to see you Ceres.” Celeste said as she eyed Sylvia and Sorrin’s interaction.
Sylvia was at his feet now while Sorrin looked down at the little Fairy. Whisper watched the two of them with interest. Sylvia executed a playful flourish with her ribbons and Sorrin immediately toppled over and fake fainted. The thee of them laughed as Sylvia walked back to Celeste and Sorrin stood proudly behind Ceres, leaning his head down as Ceres wrapped her arms around him gently patting him on his head and neck. Whisper sat neatly with perfect posture next to Ceres.
“Good to see you again Ceres,” Ani curtsied slightly, “Your hair is also kind of messed up by the way.”
“Oh?” Ceres touched her head a few times then shook it. Her hair had been windswept but easily fell back into it usual style and place. “Better?”
Ani nodded with a smile.
“Well, I’ve keep you all waiting out here long enough, let’s head inside shall we? I saw some pretty interesting places around the tournament grounds that would seem like fun to visit.” Ceres smiled as the three of them headed into the domicile. Ceres received the letter but ignored it for some time until she was contacted by Celeste asking about it, to which she finally opened it and decided to attend to meet up with old friends, and perhaps make some new ones. Research was slow and the Battle Spire was in its off season. She was sure that her Pokémon were also itching for some good battles, they could only be idly lounging around and helping Ceres with mundane tasks for so long, she trained them as a competitive battling team after all, they belonged in the Pokémon arenas.
Ani returned X-Law while Ceres returned Sorrin.
Ceres and Celeste quickly got their room assignments from the staff once they presented their invitation letters. All three of their rooms were around one another on a higher floor for special guests. While inside the domicile the three of them were recognized several times, mainly Ceres and Celeste, but the trainers never approached them merely whispering and stealthily gesturing at them.
After the three of them briefly visited each other’s rooms they were eager to get outside and explore the grounds. They exited out the front door and agreed on visiting the training center first to see the other trainers there, and started to head towards their destination. Ani had let X-Law back out and was riding on top of him as it levitated through the air with its legs tucked up.
