Blaine, a retired individual with eccentric and explosive behavior.

"Kid, you've ruined my secret gym accessible only by the elites."

A bald old man with black glasses and an inverted V-shaped mustache grumbled as he looked around the arena.

"I built my gym underground so that challengers wouldn't easily find it. I made sure that to access it, one had to find the answers to my riddles, and only the worthy and lucky ones deserved to face me."

"Mr. Blaine, you've damaged the gym again."

"Well, didn't the kid who serves as your Champion reinforce the gym when he came into power? He said that with a makeshift gym like I left him, it's possible that during a battle, the gym and even the cave could get destroyed. What nonsense. Don't you agree, Arcanine? Look at this, even capable of withstanding a simple Flare Blitz."

The old man looked at his big dog, who had remnants of flames on his body but still seemed exasperated. Then the old man looked up at the municipal employee with a disdainful expression.

"Reinforce, reinforce... these young ones don't appreciate authenticity. They want to modernize everything, make everything safe. Where is the real experience of challenges gone? The satisfaction of having, thanks to one's intellectual abilities, the opportunity to face me?" He raised his fist high in the sky and shouted, spitting saliva everywhere.

The official lowered his head, well aware that the old man could reprimand him for half an hour when he's in this state. The gym leader had said never to provoke him and to wait until he calms down.

"Mr. Blaine, the League has imposed safety standards. We can't allow a gym to be potentially dangerous for trainers and their Pokémon. Times are changing," the official couldn't help but tell him.

Blaine's face darkened, and he pointed an accusing finger at the official.

"Times are changing, yes, but not for the better. True trainers know that a challenge is not just a set of rules. It's a test, a risk. All of this... this gym has lost its charm."

Blaine sighed, shaking his head. He placed his hands behind his back, looking up before speaking.

"I understand, young man, but that difficulty also gave my badge a certain value. You'll never truly understand what it means to battle in a gym like this. The trials, the surprises, that's what forges exceptional trainers. Not those sanitized gyms you build these days." Blaine made sweeping gestures to illustrate his point.

The official sighed in turn, realizing the conversation was at an impasse. Meanwhile, Blaine gazed at his gym, a hint of nostalgia in his eyes. He took out a handkerchief, blew his nose, and handed it to the official, who took it reflexively but didn't know what to do with it.

"Yo, old man, what got on your nerves this time that you're testing the security of my gym again?" Azurion arrived, walking through the debris with an annoyed look.

"Ah, you came at the right time, kid. I ran into Professor Oak. That madman is upgrading his Pokémon identification device. Apparently, a boy has almost filled his Pokémon identification device, so he'll soon be able to update it."

Azurion opened his eyes slightly.

"Red..." he muttered.

"Yeah, I know his device is red. It's not the color that's going to change, idiot, but the content. The content." He lightly smacked me on the back of the head.

The official discreetly left when he saw that the gym leader was back, tossing the dirty handkerchief into the flames caused by the former gym leader's Pokémon.

"I wasn't talking about the color of the Pokédex, old fool, but about the trainer who's going to help him complete his Pokédex." I scratched the back of my head where he had hit me.

"Ah? You know him." He looked me up and down.

"Yeah, actually, there are two interesting trainers completing the Pokédex. One is called Blue, and the other is Red." Talk about Green? Nah, not worth it.

"You mentioned Red earlier. Why do you think it's him?"

Well, he's sharp, the old man.

"You're right, simply because Red is a powerhouse. His personal talent as a trainer, his team, each of his Pokémon is extremely talented. I don't know if he catches them by luck or chooses them specifically, but he's formidable." I crossed my arms and furrowed my brows.

Jordan arrived behind me, surprised by my statements.

"You've faced him before?"

I looked at him, frowning.

"Yeah..." a slight hesitation crept into my voice.

"Oh? Who won?" The old man reentered the conversation, shaking my shoulder, his curiosity itching him.

"A draw, 3-3." I replied through gritted teeth.

"Incredible, facing such a trainer, and you had a draw, sir, you're amazing."

The old man, realizing something was off, asked me.

"How long ago was that?"

"And him? How long ago?" asked Blaine, giving me an inquisitive look.

I looked at him again. This old man, despite his somewhat eccentric nature and the fact that he's been stuck in his lab since retirement, remained incredibly sharp. Then, I saw him whispering to Jordan.

"Actually, I already know. Oak told me, but I make him say it himself; otherwise, it's not fun," he chuckled, his fist-shaped hand covering his smile, leaving a bewildered Jordan looking at me with doubt.

I decided to act as if I hadn't heard anything, preferring to maintain the illusion of the old man's sharpness. "It was the end of his first year. This guy... got his first Pokémon with Blue at the age of 15. He's currently 17. I faced him when he was 16, and I was 19. If I'm not mistaken, and he's nearly done with his journey in Kanto, this year, he'll be participating in the Indigo League, unless he decides to go straight through the Elite Four challenges."

"It took him two years for his gym badges, even if it's faster than average, it's longer than you, sir. Frankly, I'm surprised he managed to hold his own against you despite that," remarked Jordan, furrowing his brows and not quite grasping the concern.

"You're wrong, Jordan," Blaine interrupted, becoming serious again.

"Huh?" He turned towards him, his face filled with confusion.

"He completed the eight-badge journey and almost finished completing the Pokémon identification instrument in just two years. That's very, very fast. If it were your gym leader buddy here, being generous in my statement, he would have taken at least three years, and I'm being kind."

"Just say Pokédex directly; you annoy me with your long ridiculous name." I crossed my arms, not refuting him.

"I will never say that stupid name, such a technological gem to be called by such a basic name." He yelled, raising his arms and waving them like an Elekid.

"But yeah, the old man is right, Red was very fast." I looked down at the ground even more, although I already knew that Red was a monster, knowing it and seeing, no, experiencing, is a different thing.

"By the way, what's the challenge of the Elite Four?" Jordan asked a question that made Blaine stop, who was starting to ramble about the stupid name of the Pokédex.

"The Elite Four challenge is a test that the Elite Four gives to people who have collected all eight badges. It could be a service to the region. I know that Red and Blue often have altercations with Team Rocket." I explained calmly.

Blaine shuddered at the name Team Rocket.

"If they manage to dismantle Team Rocket or even cause them significant damage that the Elite Four acknowledges, they will have the privilege to face them directly." I know that's exactly what they're going to do in the game. All the disruptions they'll cause to Team Rocket will make them eligible for that privilege.

Blaine, regaining his composure, turned his gaze towards Jordan.

"The Elite Four challenge is a crucial step for ambitious trainers. Once you've collected all eight gym badges, you have to face the Elite Four, a group of exceptional trainers. Each of them usually specializes in a specific type, and you have to challenge them in order. If you manage to defeat them all, you can then face the Pokémon League Champion."

Jordan seemed impressed by the magnitude of the challenge.

"Sounds intense. And you say Red and Blue are about to enter it?"

Blaine nodded. "If they're ready, then yes, but it won't be easy. The Elite Four is known for their power and formidable strategy. Red and Blue will have to put into practice everything they've learned so far."

Azurion, who had been listening to the conversation, chimed in.

"And do you think they'll succeed? Red and Blue against the Elite Four?"

Blaine pondered for a moment before responding. "They have potential based on what you've told me, that's for sure. But in the world of Pokémon, even the most promising talents must face unexpected challenges. You can never predict the outcome with certainty."

Jordan seemed absorbed in the discussion, while Azurion crossed his arms, displaying a confident demeanor. Knowing full well that both will succeed in defeating the Elite Four almost simultaneously.

"Anyway, it promises to be an interesting spectacle. I'll give Lance a call. I want to be informed immediately when the challenge is thrown at the Elite Four."

Blaine nodded, adopting a wise demeanor as he stroked his mustache. "It's always fascinating to see how young trainers evolve and adapt. Red and Blue have already made their mark, but the Elite Four, that's a whole different ordeal. In my youth, I was a member of the Elite Four, you know. Then, when I got tired of those responsibilities, I became a Gym Leader."

Jordan instinctively turned towards the old man, who continued to stroke his mustache, this time with a mischievous smile on his face.

"Huh?" He opened his mouth in surprise, quickly closing it when he noticed it was undermining his charisma.

"Hahaha!" The old man burst into laughter, delighted that the revelation had such an impact on the young man. He glanced at Azurion, then stopped.

"Tschh," he grunted, displeased with my lack of reaction.

"Doesn't it shock you, then?" Jordan asked me.

"Not really, I expected it a bit." I scratched my ear. Truth be told, the old theory that Blaine was a member of the Elite Four had been circulating for a long time in the old world. Now, I just had confirmation, nothing too surprising.

"Incredible, Mr. Blaine! So, who were the other members of the Elite Four with you? And what position did you hold?" Jordan looked at the old man with stars in his eyes but tried to maintain a neutral expression.

He started counting on his fingers, "Back then, there was Agatha, Giovanni, me, and the old fool Oak." I looked at him in surprise. I didn't know that the professor was part of the Elite Four.

"Ah?" This time, I was the one surprised.

"You're shocked that Oak is in the Elite Four. Well, let me tell you..." He didn't even have time to finish his sentence before I cut him off.

"No, I thought he was the Champion." I looked at him with a surprised expression.

"Where did you hear that? Usually, young folks aren't too interested in the past." He tried to kick me, for interrupting his shocking revelations, but I easily avoided it.

"Mystery, mystery." I smiled and put a finger to my lips.

"Tsss, I'll continue. I'll explain to you why you're not entirely wrong. The positions were such that Oak was the first Elite, Giovanni the second, I was the third, and Agatha the last." He adjusted his lab coat and then delved into his memories.

"So... you were... second to last?" A mocking smile tried to form on my lips that I struggled to contain.

"I was third, third, not second to last. The ranking of the Elite Four, anyway, is theoretical. It's not a real ranking. I don't need lessons from someone who trained for 4 years with one of the best types in the world and almost loses to a kid who just started their journey," he shouted loudly, causing his glasses to fall. His face turned red, and a vein appeared on his bald head.

"And even if it had real value, Oak and Giovanni were real monsters. My position in the Elite Four now, or in any region for that matter, would have been number one, and at worst number two. The Elite Four of Kanto at the time was the most powerful of all. Each of us was considered a weapon of destruction ready to be deployed on the battlefield, and even then, ending the war was difficult."

"Now that you mention it, who was the Champion?" I crouched down to pick up and then handed him his glasses.

"There wasn't one." He took the glasses back from me and cleaned them.

"How so?"

"The position of the Champion during the war was very dangerous. Assassination attempts were incessant. None of the regions had a Champion because of these dangers. Each region obviously had a Champion-level trainer, for us, it was Oak, for Johto, it was Pryce, but as I said, the title put us in danger, so no one ever claimed it."

"Wow, even Champion-level trainers could die. War is no joke."

Blaine immediately quieted down, sinking into his thoughts. I gestured to Jordan to be quiet, but even without my warning, he understood that he had made a mistake.

"You're right, war is no joke. I lost many loved ones, just like Oak, Agatha, and Giovanni. I lost my wife, my son, and my daughter-in-law. Some of my Pokémon even died. I had a Typhlosion and a Pokémon called Pyroar, a gift from the Kalos region as a gesture of friendship. You probably don't know it; their border is currently still closed.

Oak lost, like me, his wife, son, and daughter-in-law. Our situations are similar; he only has his grandson and granddaughter left.

Agatha lost her parents, brother, and husband. She only has her daughter and granddaughter left."

Giovanni, on the other hand, lost almost everything. His mother ran an organization caring for orphans, feeding them, raising them, and turning them into accomplished trainers to survive. He had a sister who had children, and he had a daughter. They all died. He is left only with his wife. Unfortunately, she was injured and can no longer bear children." He rubbed his eyes and sat amidst the debris from the explosion he caused earlier.

"What do you mean when you say no one wanted the position of Champion?" Jordan asked gently, trying not to upset the old man.

"If I'm not mistaken in the numbers, there were 2 Champions from Kanto, 3 from Sinnoh, 1 from Unova, and 2 from Paldea who were assassinated."

"There was an organization so powerful that carried out assassinations?" Jordan exclaimed. I looked at him neutrally; he gets excited a lot for someone who always tries to be cool in front of others.

Blaine wagged his finger. "Absolutely not. Each assassination was orchestrated by at least three regions, sending one Champion and three Elites, all from different regions. No matter how strong you are, having four overpowered teams attacking you suddenly, you die regardless of your strength or past glory.

But Oak had enough of the war; he took the risk of becoming the Champion, taking control of the country's fate. The merger between Kanto and Johto posed problems in the relations between the regions because each region was allied with a different faction. That's how the war ended, more or less, with other political details."

"The Johto Elite Four, our main adversaries, were almost completely annihilated by us. Currently, only Pryce remains, who had the strength of a Champion but was inferior to Oak. The reason he survived is that Oak spared him. We eliminated three Elite Four teams and their guards, all by ourselves. We, the Elite Four of Kanto, all have blood on our hands.

I ended the life of a member of the Johto Elite Four. He was a master specializing in Flying-type Pokémon and had a son. Now, this son has started a family of his own. Agatha, on her part, eliminated the master specializing in Bug-type Pokémon, who wasn't even fully grown at the time. She still carries the weight of that decision. I learned that his family sought refuge in Sinnoh during the war, and despite the risks, Agatha used her connections to help them. I believe she has a cousin who got married there. On the other hand, Giovanni did not launch an attack. The Elite in question had attacked his Viridian City, and he was an expert in Dragon-type Pokémon.

He paused and looked at me.

"He was the strongest fighter of the Blackthorn Clan in Johto at the time, a clan of Dragon-type trainers. But having the same specialty as him, I guess you know them." He said, playing with the debris he picked up.

I nodded, as did Jordan.

"I find it incredible that young Lance, from the Elite Four, harbors no resentment towards Kanto. When he defeated you and joined the Elite Four, Agatha, Giovanni, and I began to watch him, perhaps a little too closely. We received a warning from Oak."

"Oh, really?" I was not aware of this.

"Yes, I listened to Oak and observed the child from a distance. He is very talented, I have nothing to reproach him for. He is an excellent trainer aiming for peace in Indigo. If only the rest of his clan were like him," he sighed.

"Giovanni, from what I know of him, will not leave him alone. As for Agatha, being even closer than us, she knows what kind of person he is and has decided to leave the past behind. Although she acts like a real witch, she has more heart than all of us combined. The same goes for Giovanni, although he seems cold at first glance, he is very often emotional."

Silence hung in the rubble, infused with the heavy war memories shared by Blaine.

"Old man."

"Hmm?"

"Why do you call the professor by his last name but the others by their first names?" I ask him a question that has been on my mind since earlier.

"Well, it's because I can't forgive Oak, a stupid reason." He fidgeted with his lab coat a bit uncomfortable with this subject, then sighed again.

"Oak didn't kill Pryce. It's a strategic decision that I understand, but I still resent him for it, even if it's stupid. I resent him for having a choice. When we killed our respective opponents, it wasn't by choice. I envy him, but at the same time, I wouldn't want to be in his place. It's difficult to put a word on it.

The fact that he chose to spare Pryce while I myself returned the remains of the flying-type specialist to his family makes me green with jealousy. However, in return, he had to make choices that I don't know about and that were probably more difficult. I respect him, I admire him, but I struggle, that's all. The reason I resent him is stupid, so I get my revenge in a stupid way." He stopped, his eyes becoming misty, looking at the flames burning the section of the destroyed arena they were in.

"The war leaves only scars, some visible, others hidden inside," Blaine murmured in a grave voice, breaking the silence. "These events have shaped our lives, but we have chosen not to let hatred dictate our future. I think Lance is a symbol of hope, a young trainer who aspires to a peaceful world and has the potential to become a champion."

"Can I ask you another question?" I suddenly inquire.

"Again?" He looked up at me with a smile that tugs at my heart, his eyes had turned red and slightly teary.

I hesitate now to ask the question, but I go ahead anyway. After all, I don't plan to make him relive the deaths every day to finally find the right moment.

"How did my parents die?" He widened his eyes and then chuckled with a somewhat forced voice.

"I've rambled so much that you feel ready to ask me questions about your parents? It seems I've talked too much. If the other war veterans find out I've spoken so much, they'll hassle me for years," he pauses in his words and hits a debris on the ground, making it bounce a few meters away.

"If you want to know, all the families of the Elite Four died the same week. The enemy's objective was to deliver a psychological blow to the Elites. But well, we also often used such strategies, so we're not in a position to discuss the method. Obviously, I say that with hindsight; at the time, I didn't think the same way.

Your father, my son, died in an ambush. He was strong, not like you, but he was just a bit below a Gym Leader, which is by no means weak. But one day, a woman named Opal appeared and killed him, she's a Gym Leader from Galar. When I heard that, my blood boiled.

I left my frontline position, then tracked her down and attacked. I faced three Gym Leaders from Galar at the same time. She didn't come into enemy territory alone, but I managed to burn her leg. Served her right. She moves around with a cane now, that old hag." Blaine starts to get worked up again, his bald head turning red, and the vein resurfacing, his fingers tightening, making his knuckles white.

"Calm down, old man; your abandonment of the post probably wasn't without consequences... and... my mother?" I ask cautiously. He immediately calms down, clearly wanting to avoid the topic of his abandonment of the post during wartime. Then he puts on a sad expression.

"Your mother... died from an illness. She couldn't bear the loss of your father. Fever took her in just four days. Her family wanted to see her, but her home country had already closed its borders just when they learned she had passed away."

"Wait, my mother is a foreigner? Which region is she from?"

"I never told you?" He seems surprised. He even forgets important things at times.

"No, never. Where am I from? Since you never mentioned it before, I guess it's neither Sinnoh nor Hoenn nor Johto."

"Your mother is from Unova, a region far to the west. To be honest, whether you go east or west, it's about the same distance, it's literally on the other side of the world."

"My mother is from Unova?"

"Uh, excuse me." We turn around to see a slightly older firefighter with a big belly and glasses, next to him a Poliwhirl. That's when we realize that we've been talking for a while in the middle of an arena that has undergone a small explosion, and there were still flames in some places, even very close to us.

"I feel like we've been discussing a sensitive topic in a slightly inappropriate place, hahaha." I laugh awkwardly while Jordan remains silent, a bit embarrassed by the situation and surprised by the information that has just been revealed to him."Ah, Sam, it's you. Feels like I haven't seen you in ages." The old man went off to chat with the firefighter as if nothing happened, leaving his Arcanine lying there taking a little nap.

"It's only been 2 days, Blaine." They chat casually; after all, it's a routine situation for us, despite the fact that I can still see a hint of redness in the old man's eyes.

The old man bursts into anger every few days, and afterward, he becomes kind to everyone. He's the kind of person who lets his anger out for a short period and then feels good afterward.

I sigh heavily, taking in the information I've just learned and surveying the extent of the damage in front of me. I tap Jordan on the shoulder.

"Jordan, call Cassandra, apologize for the late hour, and tell her to activate emergency plan B." It's a plan I've put in place, ensuring that the arena staff prepare to repair the almost regular damages caused by my grandfather.

"Can I say something?" Jordan smiles slightly, trying to lighten the heavy atmosphere created by the story but hesitates to speak.

"Mmmh?"

"Emergency plan B, like Blaine, sounds a bit childish, sir."

"I didn't ask for your opinion. As punishment, you'll clean Tesoro's lair." His smile disappears immediately and even flips in the opposite direction.

"No, sir, please, it was a joke to lighten the mood. You know Tesoro hates anyone getting too close to his treasure in his lair; he releases gas against anyone who gets too close. Moreover, his kids like to play in his lair and leave a lot of fecal matter on the floor, and sometimes there are even remains of... of... him and his mates." He's really starting to regret his joke, his skin has whitened, and his face has contracted in disgust.

"Well, congratulations, you've managed to lighten my mood by taking care of part of my chores." I leave, shoulders feeling lighter. Thanks a lot, Jordan.