Pokemon: Arceus' Champion

"Welcome back everyone, to another exciting episode of May's Expeditions! Today we're traveling down the cycling road in Kanto! Not only is the cycling road the longest bridge in both the Kanto and Johto regions, but it's also made exclusively for non-motorized transportation! Meaning you can walk or bike across it, but cars and such are a no-go unless you're an emergency responder!"

I smiled wryly as May spoke to her Rotom drone as it flew around her, while all of us rushed down the right side of the road on the cycling road.

The cycling road, as May already stated, was a massive suspension bridge connecting the west side of Celadon city to the shore west of Fuchsia city. The road itself was separated into three different lanes, the lane for those heading south to Fuchsia city, the lane for those heading north to Celadon city, and the lane in the middle that was all grass for pokemon. And running on it right now was Mightyena, Houndoom, Lucario, and Koraidon as they all kept pace with us.

"Hey Ace, is there going to be a place where we can set up camp for the night?" Dawn asked me suddenly, as it was already getting to be late afternoon.

"Yeah, there's three different areas set up for travelers to stop at along the road. There's camping zones about a quarter of the way into the road from either the Fuchsia and Celadon city entrance, and there's even a Pokemon Center halfway through where the drawbridges are."

"There's draw bridges?"

"Yep!" Chloe spoke up this time. "They're located around the halfway point, one for incoming ship traffic, and the other for outgoing traffic. Between them is the Pokemon Center!"

"What she said." I stated after Chloe gave her explanation.

"Is there a cycling road in Sinnoh too?" Joy asked her suddenly.

"Yeah, it connects Eterna city and Oreburgh town. But the entire road goes over land since there is a large chasm between the two. The terrain there is very rough and difficult to go through, so they built the cycling road to make travel easier. Unlike this road though, people can take certain cars onto it as well."

"Huh." I uttered as Dawn finished explaining the specifics of the Sinnoh cycling road. Of course there was one in Hoenn as well, but May was little too preoccupied streaming herself live for May's Expeditions to tell us about it. Not that I could blame her.

The bridge was superbly maintained despite how long it was, with even the grass in the middle lane being mowed to a short enough length that it didn't interfere with the pokemon running on it. And with the sun setting beside us, it turned the ocean a beautiful orange that sparkled and shimmered in a way that the waves looked more like an ocean of fire.

"..."

"Tch."

I clicked my tongue as I sensed something coming towards us, which ruined the tranquil mood we were in as we biked down the road.

"Heads up, we're about to have some company." I told the girls as we slowed to a halt, while Houndoom, Mightyena, Koraidon and Lucario took a stance in front of us.

"What is it Ace?" Chloe asked worriedly, even as her Yamper began to bark from the basket that it was sitting in.

"Feels like trouble." Lucario answered in my place, and the others immediately tensed.

"Go Poliwrath!" Misty declared as she sent out her pokemon, which had recently evolved after she accepted one of my Water Stones.

"Glaceon, spotlight!" Dawn cried out as she sent out her Gaceon.

"Kangaskhan, you're up!" May stated as she sent out her own pokemon as well.

By the time our pokemon were out and ready to fight, we could hear a faint rumbling noise while several figures appeared on the horizon.

"Are those.....morotcycles?" Misty asked incredulously as we watched them rapdily approach us.

"Looks like it." I replied while using my aura to enhance my vision.

"So much for no motorized vehicles..." Chloe commented dryly as they got closer.

"Somehow, I don't think these guys are exactly law abiding citizens." I commented right before the rumble from the motorcycles grew so loud that they drowned out everything else.

In total there were five of them that were coming at us, four smaller guys that were riding on either side of the fifth, who was so large that he was riding a trike instead of a normal motorcycle. All of them were decked out in black leather and spikes, while the guy riding the trike also had an eyepatch covering his left eye.

The larger guy that was obviously the boss pulled up right in front of the girls and I while the others circled us in what was obviously supposed to be an intimidation display. Thankfully, they all cut their engines as soon as they had us surrounded.

"Welcome to our turf." The big guy said, his voice a low rumble as he looked over each of us. I noticed his gaze linger on each of the girls momentarily, before he focused on me.

"I am Cueball Cross, one of the Captains of Cycling Cyclopses. This here bridge is OUR turf, and anyone passing through needs to pay the toll." He stated in what was obviously a feigned attempt at being diplomatic.

"And if we say no?" I asked while keeping track of every guy surrounding us.

"Then your fee just went up, Ace Ketchum." Cross stated while smiling savagely.

"So you know who I am, and yet you want to try and extort us?" I asked with undisguised exasperation. After all, not only did I win the Inter-League Tournament, I also led the trainers on the SS. Anne into combat against Team Rocket, took on TWO Legendary grade pokemon in the True Alpha Beedrill and Articuno, AND I rode Zapdos into combat against the latter. And all of this had been broadcast live through not just Kanto, but the whole world.

And then there was the fact that my father was the new Indigo and Silver League Champion, making me one of the most protected people in either Kanto or Johto. I could only wonder what idiots would be willing to pick a fight with me NOW.

"That's right Ace Ketchum. And I'm sure your father will pay niiiiiiiicley to ensure your safety." Cross sneered while looking us over, his gaze lingering on the girls noticeably.

"And if I don't feel like ensuring YOUR safety?" I asked in return, my fingers crackling with the aura of Zapdos.

"..."

I could feel the nerves of the guys surrounding us spike as my fingers crackled with electricity, while Houndoom and Mightyena both crouched low and growled as they prepared to pounce, only awaiting my order to do so.

"I would say you're not too smart. After all, while we're fighting, who could ensure the wellbeing of those nice girlies with you?" Cross said without the slightest hint of fear. And on either side of me, I could feel the girls bristling with anger at being regarded as damsels.

"Humph." I snorted, canceling the aura of Zapdos. "Mightyena, Houndoom, Koraidon, stand down."

"""!?!"""

I could feel the shock of all the pokemon and the girls at my orders, aside from Lucario that was.

"Smart move." Cross sneered as he tossed out his own pokeball. "If they try anything, rough them all up Toxicroak."

"Chihihihihi!" Cross' Toxicroak snickered in a sinister tone as it swaggered up to my pokemon, leering at Lucario as if daring him to challenge it.

"I wouldn't count my Piplups before they hatch if I were you." I told him with a smirk.

"Huh?" Cross uttered in confusion.

*CRASH!*

At that moment, a concentrated beam of grass type energy suddenly struck the bridge between Toxicroak and Lucario, forcing the former back while my partner never so much as twitched a muscle.

"Cross of the Cycling Cyclopses. By the authority granted to me by the League, you and your cohorts are hereby under arrest." Declared a firm yet feminine voice, courtesy of the young woman flying side-saddle atop a large Tropius, with three more following behind her.

"Is that-?"

"Yep." I answered the rest of Misty's question, as Erika of the Celadon city Gym came to our rescue.

"Grrr! I wont let some Gym Rattata stand in our way! Boys, show those bitches who's boss!"

"""YES!"""

At Cross' command, the four grunts readily sent out their own pokemon as Erika, and the three girls accompanying her, swopped down at us.

"""Go Muk!"""

"""Go Weezing!"""

A foul stench filled the air as several muk and Weezing appeared, the former being responsible for the stench while the latter filled the air with their haze.

"Go Exeggutor!"

"Go Bellossom!"

"Go Victreebel!"

Three grass type pokemon suddenly appeared around us to combat the nine poison types, before Erika dove down towards us on her Tropius.

"Take care of this, Tsareena!"

Appearing between Lucario and Toxicroak was the same pokemon that Chimchar and I battled against a few days ago, Tsareena.

"Reena!"

The elegant pokemon trilled as she launched herself at her enemy, ignoring the type disadvantage as she rained down a barrage of attacks onto it.

Meanwhile, the three grass type pokemon around us were also holding their own really well against their numerous opponents, helped greatly by their trainers and the Tropius they were riding on.

Bellossom was busy scattering Sleep Powder everywhere, Victreebel was lashing them all viciously with Vinewhip, and Exeggutor was doing the most damage as it attacked with potent psychic type attacks. But they weren't the only ones fighting back.

"Use Smog!"

"Use Haze!"

"Use Sludge Bomb!"

The numerous poison type pokemon did was they did best, make the arena as hazardous as possible for their opponents to battle on in order to slowly whittle down their health.

"Go ahead and give them a hand, Chansey and Miltank." I said, calling out the two pokemon.

"Chansey~!"

"Mil mil!"

Both Chansey and Miltank chimed happily as they appeared, before a sound similar to a bell filled the area.

"Much appreciated, Ace Ketchum." Erika stated in thanks, as both of my pokemon used Heal Bell to combat the poison in the air.

"No problem." I answered, even as one of the girls following Erika used her Tropius to create a breeze that blew the Smog and Haze away, clearing the air so we could all breathe a bit better.

...

"And that is that." Erika stated firmly as she checked the five bikers thoroughly, making sure they were all tied up tightly with the vines from one of their Tangrowth.

"Nice timing." I told Erika once she had finished.

"We were lucky to arrive when we did. Though I doubt you needed our help." Erika replied while also giving the girls a nod of greeting.

"True. But its always nice to not have to do the fighting for once." I replied with a smirk.

"Then perhaps you can inform your father of this incident the next time you see him." She requested.

"Oh? Why? Did something happen?" I asked her curiously.

"You could say that." Erika said as the rest of the girls leaned in closer to hear. "For the next year, almost every single Gym Leader, myself included, has been put on probation. If we fail to meet Champion Red's standards by the time he pays us all a visit a year from now, we will be stripped of our titles as Gym Leaders."

"""!?!"""

"He can't do that!" Misty immediately stated.

"Actually, he is well within his authority to do so." Erika stated, before I could feel a shift in her aura, almost meloncholic.

"Because of the rise of Team Rocket right under our noses, Red has passed several new requirements for us Gym Leaders, starting with us needing to clean up each of our respective territories. Aside from becoming more proactive in battling the crime in our territory, we also have to possess a certain number of Gym Trainers that serve under us, and we have to start being harder against challengers when they come to us. Now we need to use at least one of our actual team against each challenger.

"Not only that, but when Red pays each of us a visit a year from now, we will have a battle. Those of us who do not meet his expectations as Gym Leaders, even if we complete his other requirements, will be stripped of our titles."

"""..."""

The girls were all stunned from the information that Erika just gave us, while I figured this was more or less to be expected.

"Why is he taking such a hard stance against the Gym Leaders...?" Misty asked quietly, obviously thinking about her sisters in the Cerulean city Gym.

"Well, three of the eight Gym Leaders in Kanto were a part of Team Rocket, the rest of them didn't do anything about the criminals operating within their respective territories and cities, and I'm sure there is a whole slew of other issues that Red is trying to fix by putting the Gym Leaders under probation." I ticked off on my fingers.

"Basically." Erika said in confirmation, before adding, "That is also why my Gym Trainers and I came to the cycling road. We were specifically ordered to come and deal with the Cycling Cyclopses, which have been terrorizing those traveling on the road."

"Need any help dealing with them?" I asked while gesturing to the group of tied up bikers.

"No, we do not. I already put in a call to the Captain Jenny in Celadon city, and she is sending a car to come and pick them up."

"I see... Well we'll be setting up camp at the rest point just up ahead. You're all welcome to stay with us if you don't feel like heading back to the city this late."

"I appreciate the offer, but we would not want to impose." Erika readily answered while bowing her head politely.

"Its no problem. We have a Pokemon Center that we take with us via Capsules. There's more than enough room for all of you."

"I see... Then we shall accept." Erika said, prompting a surge of shock and indignation amongst the three girls that served under her. The reason? Me of course.

I had been pointedly ignoring the dirty looks that all three had been giving me ever since they had dismounted from their respective Tropius. As expected from an entire Gym of notorious man-haters.

"Please ignore my trainers, they lack manners." Erika said ithout even giving any of them a glance.

"Well, I AM a notorious lady-killer. Its only to be expected that women distrust me at first." I told her. Though I rarely, if ever, received the hostility that these three girls were showing me now.

"Well then, we will catch up once these criminals have been taken into custody by Captain Jenny, if you would like to go ahead." Erika said, and we did just that as night quickly fell.

The sun had already set beyond the horizon by this point, and the sky was growing darker by the second. The bridge was lit fairly well for night travel, but none of us were too interested in setting up camp too late either.

So we resumed our journey in the cool evening air, biking down the path as it grew increasingly dark until we finally reached the camp site.

"It looks like a place for tourists." May said in observation, as there were several benches, pavilions and binoculars scattered about, and several tents scattered amongst them. Accompanying those tents were a couple dozen trainers, gathered around a few scattered campfires as they prepared whatever they had on hand for dinner.

"Hey!" I called out to them, earning myself all of the attention as they turned towards me.

"Who wants an actual bed and meal provided by the best Nurse Joy in all of Kanto?" I asked them, as Joy stepped forward and puffed her chest out with pride.

Soon, just like the previous campsite we stayed at on our way to Saffron, the tents had all been broken down and we had set up our Capsules to stay in for the night. And just as I did then, I readily challenged any of the traveling trainers who wanted to a battle, giving more of my pokemon a chance to get stronger.