Hard Enough - Chapter 329 - Celia's growth

“Ursaring! Hammer Arm!” I shouted and my bear pokemon threw himself forward, arm swinging around to collect Onix before it could get away. 

Onix wailed as it tumbled to the ground only for Flint to sigh and recall it. 

“Nice work Ursaring!” I called. 

Ursaring raised a thumbs up at me with a big smile. He peered to the side where the Larvitar trio were sitting with Empress. 

All of them had been shouting encouragement before this match only to sit down and turn up their noses suddenly. They gave dismissive growls and huffs.

Their antics drew a chuckle from me. “Don’t mind the tsundere trio Ursaring! You fought well!” 

The trio stiffened and started squawking at me, which only highlighted my point about them being horrible tsundere. 

“Just be honest with your feelings girls!” I called only for them to cross their little arms over their chest and huff as they turned their heads away in perfect unison. 

Was this an effect of their cloning? Had Mewtwo messed up somewhere and accidentally added some of his own personality in there?

Or was nature asserting itself with how they were acting? 

My eyes skated from the trio to Empress. Is this what Empress was like as a Larvitar? She’d portrayed herself as much calmer, and way cuter in her memories… which would absolutely be something that a Tsundere would do…

I turned back to Ursaring as Empress gave him a firm nod. 

That got him perking up once more. I looked past him to Flint. “Want to keep going or…” I trailed off leadingly. 

Flint wiped at his brow and shook his head. “No, I think that’s enough morning training for me!” he declared. He spared a glance over to where Yolanda was working with Terra on Stomping Tantrum. 

Both of them were pretending to rage out. “Now do it with passion like rargh!” Yolanda roared to the slowly lightening sky.

Terra stomped cutely back and forth, causing small shockwaves. 

I snapped a picture of it as it was rather cute. Flint drew out a water bottle and took a long pull. “Oh wow, I’ve really let myself go if training sessions like this can do me in.” he wheezed. 

“You’re how old now?” I asked.

“I’ll be forty-three in a few weeks’ time,” he replied as he stood upright and put his hands on his head. “Do you always train with that woman?” he asked, jerking his head towards where Trixie had vanished. 

“Usually only once or twice a week to stay in condition,” I replied. “When we get closer to pre-season I up the amount three to four with there being a few dedicated sessions for the Gym trainers.” I waved at him. “If you’re going to take on some work then it’s probably best you block out some time for those sessions.”

“I can do that,” he said. 

I coughed. “We will also have to go over League rules for refreshing what our goals are, along with any adjustments that the League makes on the use of items, moves, or even some pokemon,” I continued. 

“What?” he stared blankly at me. “That… how long does that take?”

“Couple days. It’s a bit longer for any new hires but the majority of staff are staying on from last season so there isn’t too much need for that.” 

“Oh,” he said, clueless that he was one such ‘new hire’. 

I stared at him pointedly and he blinked. 

It took him a few seconds to blink and direct a finger back at himself. “You mean I have to take part in that orientation as well don’t you?”

I nodded. “You’ll need to know how our systems work, security protocols, what to do in certain emergencies, as well as some of the paperwork for things like pay and such.” 

Flint scrubbed at his face. “That… Wow you really have stepped it up since you took over the Gym. It’s not just the buildings or the pokemon.” he shook his head. “Kind of surprising to hear it.”

I smirked. “A good organisation is not just a building. It’s the processes, the logistics, and the teamwork. We prepare so that when splits start to form in the cliff face, we know what to do.”

I rubbed my chin. “Admittedly the Trainer surge did catch me by surprise, but we had a plan to work off with adjustments being able to be made on the fly.”  

“A plan?” Flint asked. 

I coughed. “Alright so it just amounted to hiring more staff, increase the number of matches we can hold, and try to shuffle off the trainers that will be waiting too long to Viridian or Cerulean but… It worked out in the end… We just had to adjust for a lot of things. Like our pokemon getting way stronger from all the matches they were facing, or the fatigue build up in staff. Or the way my front garden kept getting invaded every day.” 

“Yeah, I know that pain,” Flint said. I looked into his eyes and I saw the empathy of a man that had been ambushed at home, or while out shopping, or while on a date. 

We nodded at each other in solidarity. Trainers could be absolute gremlins. 

I shook it off a moment later and hummed. “You know Nanny Grav, and the Lileep in the front garden have helped out on that front. They trip up any intruders quite a bit. If I had to ballpark Nanny Grav for her fighting ability she’d be at least third tier for sure.” 

“Huh…” Flint frowned. “I just realised that if I sign up for this gig that I’m putting myself back in the sights of those kids…” he shuddered. 

Before he could get any ideas I stabbed a finger at him. “Nope! No backing out of it! You signed a contract!”

“... but I haven’t yet!”

“Verbal!” I continued without a lick of shame. 

Flint clicked his tongue only to chuckle a moment later. I smiled. It was kind of weird how… Flint and I were starting to become friends. Sorta? 

It was definitely not how I pictured things going this time last year. Then again I think I preferred it this way. 

I turned and took a look over the reserve which was about to become a whole lot bigger, and fast. 

The fences were going to be expanded today and my pokemon were about to have up to ten times the amount of space to roam. I suspected a few might migrate towards the mountain that I owned. Huh, was I going to have to hire a Ranger team to keep track of my own pokemon?

Flint walked up to me. “Something on your mind?” he asked. 

“Just thinking how it’s going to be bigger after today. I’m talking with Bianca about setting up a dedicated building for her and a team of researchers. We’ve got so many points of research that Bianca and Stephen can’t handle it all.” 

Then I nodded to the north. “The Stables manager is also going to be talking about expanding their facilities. From the proposed maps of the area we’re going to be quadrupling the size of their facility.”

“Ho? Weren’t you already in the top fifty stables for size?”

“I think we were higher,” I replied in an offhand manner. “This will lock us in fifth for Kanto and eighth for Indigo.” 

A grin formed. “It also means that we’re going to be able to offer more full sponsor deals this time around for a two-year period. I’ll be able to offer five kids full rides with another twenty on partial deals.” 

“That’s…” Flint frowned. “That should be most of the orphans that would be making a run this year, no?” 

I nodded. “More than, so if we want to we can open up slots for other trainers that are out. I’m not going to advertise it but I’m thinking of taking on the runners-ups to Oak or Elm’s system.”

Flint chuckled, and I shot him a look. “What?” I asked. 

“You’re really playing into the idea of becoming a recognised pokemon professor, you know?”

I blinked. “That…” I frowned. “Huh, you know I hadn’t even thought about it but you’re right.” I hummed. “I could also start offering some pretty unique starter pokemon as well. Aron, and my Geodude…Rhyhorn, Zubat could be another offered pokemon.” 

Flint chuckled as I toyed with the pokemon that I could offer up this time around. I’d probably have more applicants from the local kids this time around. Maybe I should copy Oak’s example and have a written test. 

Perhaps I could base it on survival skills or local historical figures, like the names of explorers or builders who happen to feature on the totems and signs outside the Gym.

“Yeah, I think I’m liking this idea more and more,” I said. 

“What’s this?” Yolanda asked as she jogged over to us, lightly sweating. Flint inspected her only to slump a little before clenching his fist. Heh, seems he didn’t like finding out that Yolanda was fitter than him these days. 

“Just thinking about what pokemon I’ll be offering up to the winners of the Sponsorship challenge.” 

Yolanda’s eyes glinted. “Oh! You’ll be seeing some of the kids from my class take part this year!” she said. “Some of them have been practically giddy with anticipation! When were you going to hand out the pokemon?” she asked. 

“Like I always do, in a month’s time. Then they get two weeks to work with their pokemon.” I swept my hand up to catch her and give her a quick noogie only for her to dip under it and stick her tongue out. 

“Nyeh! Not today!” she teased as she skipped out of range. 

I toyed with the idea of closing the distance, only to dismiss it and instead wave for everyone to follow as we headed home for breakfast. 

When we entered, we found the remains of breakfast spread across the kitchen bench. The dining table hosted the rest of the family working on banners and signs for Celia.

A quick inspection saw that Mr Powers and Lizzie were getting the most love. Cindy was helping out the smaller kids as her own kite of Celia’s Milotic rested to the side. 

It was rather amusing to see a black and white Milotic but it was a good look on ‘Emo’ the Milotic. Heart shaped signs were also being made up in droves for Celia’s Luvdisc. 

“Well this looks perfect!” I declared earnestly, earning smiles from everyone.

Suzie caught my hand and waved it back and forth before I could retreat. “We need to go soon otherwise we won’t get good seats!” 

“No fear, Dennis is holding our place. Also remember, I have to stand on the stage today for Celia’s parade so I can’t be with you.” 

This drew a round of complaints only for Sabrina to appear in a flash with what looked like a shop’s worth of crafts goods. 

Suzie whipped around to Sabrina. “You’re going to sit with us today, though right big sis?” 

“I shall be sitting with you. Have no fear. ”I didn’t have a hand in teaching Celia so I won’t be up on the stage like Brock and a few other trainers are.” Sabrina nodded as Kirlia and Alakazam were released to join everyone in arts and crafts. 

Alakazam set to work quickly folding up sheaves of paper to make an impressive dolls entirely made of paper while Kirlia grabbed two pens and began scrawling on a cardboard sheet. 

I leaned over to watch her for a minute before asking out the corner of my mouth. “She has no idea what we’re doing, does she?” 

Sabrina tapped to admonish me but I just smirked. She huffed and gave Kirlia a quick pat. “Good work,” she said, which forced me to hold back some chuckles at Kirlia’s expense, not that she noticed.

I settled back and watched the chaos only to frown when I noticed that there was one element notably missing. “Hey uhmmm, where’s Lola?”

Suzie glanced up. “Who? Oh, right, that’s her not mum name… She went to get more supplies.”

I blinked and glanced at Sabrina.

Sabrina gave an innocent look. “She wanted to see who could gather more of them.” her expression morphed into a smug look while flashing me a V for victory. 

I laughed. That was certainly one way to deal with her.

______________________

Celia fidgeted on the parade float. She’d been set up on a tall podium while on lower levels her pokemon had larger platforms to move about. 

Each float could only hold six pokemon and when she’d been asked which pokemon she’d wanted to include she’d mistakenly replied “all of them?”

She was somewhat regretting that now.

Now, instead of this being one-and-done with just six Pokemon, she had an entire parade set up with her Pokemon leading the way on various floats. 

What was she thinking? She should have done the standard victory float. She’d given people a chance to ‘innovate’ and make the entire thing way bigger than it had to be!

She needed four floats for her pokemon alone.

It hadn’t taken long for someone to have the brilliant idea to add in sponsors and charities that were even slightly related to her. That had led to the kids from Pewters Orphanage being wrangled in.

Still… On paper these were all wonderful ideas. 

Great ones!

Ideas that she could absolutely get behind if it wasn’t her standing atop a podium waving at people. 

She felt more than a little mortified to have such a show on her behalf!

“Calm yourself, remember, breathe in and out,” said Juan calmly. 

Celia nodded and accepted the cup of tea he offered her. They were still hanging back in a shed that hid them from the public while the other floats departed. 

She would come last as the ‘main event’ along with the six pokemon she’d used in the final match to win the Hoenn tournament. 

Lizzie glanced up at her. “Nido? Queen?” she asked. 

Celia leaned over the side and waved. “I’m fine girl, just really want this over with! It feels way too hyped up!” she said.

Juan sighed. “Celia, this is a celebration for the city. There are only ever one trainer strong enough each year to win the various tournaments. They would hold the same procession if Brock were to win the Ace tournament.”

“Which he won’t,” Celia stated. Oddly enough, this wasn’t a disparagement of her teacher but rather a reminder that he wasn’t taking part in that tournament. “He totally could have thought,” she tacked on at the end. 

Juan nodded. “From what I have learned he very much could have but chose not to as is his right.” 

Another float drifted forward and Celia waved at the first batch of her pokemon to be taken out onto the street. She heard a quick announcement for them and the crowd that were waiting in front of the warehouses roared their approval. 

Celia licked her lips. “Smile and wave Celia, smile and wave.” 

“If it helps, I could try and tell a joke?” Juan offered. 

Celia bit her lips. “Good one,” she replied, knowing that for Juan, jokes were very stodgy and out of date with a lot of the specifics having to be explained. In a way that made the offer funnier than any joke Juan could actually tell.

His lips twitched, and he hummed, most likely knowing what she was thinking.

Celia took a breath as the next float moved out. It wasn’t going to be long now.

Juan twizzled his moustache with a faint smile. “I shall leave for now. I will await you at the victory podium. Remember, this is for you to enjoy. All you need to do is smile and wave.”

Celia nodded, feeling more settled even as Juan left her be. “Just, smile and wave, just smile and wave,” she repeated to herself, making it a mantra that lodged itself in her mind. 

When it was finally her turn to emerge she took a fortifying breath as daylight washed over her. She blinked even as a wave of noise hit her. 

Even here, near the warehouse that the floats had been constructed in, there were people. Rough and tumble sorts that made up the ironworks. Scattered throughout the people were pokemon who watched on or added their own calls into the cacophony that filled the air.

Celia stared. She’d seen people like this moving about Pewter during her time here. She must have passed faces like this all the time with them barely even looking at her. 

Now they were looking.

They were cheering,

They were waving banners and flags with her name and that of the Pewter Gym. 

A few hundred metres down the road a metal stand had been built with men roaring their approval which drew a laugh. They must have assembled that this morning as she hadn’t seen it when she’d arrived.

Oh she moved, smiling and waving and staring at faces that were still part of a throng, but at the same time people in their own right.

She knew them, had probably bumped into them or bought things from them during festivals. Some might have even attended the Orphanage’s plays that they put on in an attempt to get some kids adopted. 

When the float got into the actual city centre the masses of people grew larger. The walkways were absolutely packed to the point that the railing that had been a few metres away at the start was barely wide enough for her float, such was the weight of the crowd. 

Mr Powers, her Jigglypuff, leaned over the side with his little hand high fiving people on the way past. 

Hime, her Ninetails, fanned the crowd with her tails, causing a wave of heat to wash over them. Something they seemed to appreciate a good deal. 

Nipper, once a Trapinch, and now a Vibrava clung to the float, watching everything and buzzing his wings loudly. Stylish, her Blastoise stood next to him, helping to calm down the shy pokemon. 

As they reached the city centre more and more elaborate signs were waved and the people that Celia saw started to grow more familiar. 

There was Mrs Abernathy who sold flowers on the weekend. Or there was Mrs Haridan the woman that had helped tutor her on various moves for her pokemon and pointed her in helpful directions. Over there was Tom Tucker, the local news anchor, raised up on a podium.

… He wasn’t the only news anchor around with other channels and reporters all having a good shot of her. 

Celia drew herself up, holding her spine straight and her head high like she’d worked on with Juan for Contests. 

All she had to do was smile and wave. 

When she drew close to the City square where the best parts of festivals were held she spotted a stage with various dignitaries from the League. President Kruger was here, as was Champion Lance, Elite Four Lorelei was standing next to him. The Mayor, a new one since the last time she’d been in Pewter was there and standing next to each other were her two mentors. Brock and Juan. 

They were an interesting pair. Brock had donned his normal Gym Leader gear which was really a well made pair of hiking pants with pockets all over with a long sleeve shirt in autumn colours. Juan on the other hand was done up to the nines, with his hair perfectly coiffed. His suit pressed, and his cane resting at his side. 

Two different styles of teaching and both… were perfectly valid. Even complimentary. 

Brock had worked on her fundamentals to the point that she could stand head and shoulders above most trainers. Juan had seized on that and refined it, tightening her training, emphasising control. Making every move count for more. 

It was wonderful to twirl like a professional dancer and deliver a punishing blow in the next moment. 

The float led her in a wide circuit around the stage, which let thousands of people get a long look at her and her pokemon. Celia could see where the floats would ‘dock’ with the stage without impeding anyone’s view. 

Celia smiled and waved all the way around. When she spotted Brock’s family standing with Dennis, Rocko and other Gym trainers from Pewter—both sponsored and employed— her smile grew. 

The kids had hand-drawn pictures of her pokemon team along with kites of all things flying above them.

Celia grinned at the black and white Milotic flying overhead. 

Juan had been disgusted with her for dying Milotic’s fins but Emo, the loveable goth had delighted in the look. It made him standout. 

His was not a classical beauty but a rebellious beauty. 

Which actually worked wonderfully for him as even Wallace’s Milotic had been entranced by Emo’s looks.  

When her float docked with the stage Celia took a moment to inspect each of her pokemon. Most of them, barring Nipper, had huge smiles on their faces having delighted in being part of the triumph parade. 

A small bridge extended itself from the stage up to Celia’s podium and she glided down it, resisting the urge to give Juan a wink as people straightened in surprise at her grace. 

All those dance lessons were certainly paying off. 

Juan’s lips twitched but he otherwise didn’t react. 

Mayor Marko beamed at her. “Ladies and Gentlemen! The Girl Who Triumphed! The Winner of the Hoenn Tournament! Celia of Pewter City!” he roared into the microphone. 

A moment later the crowd roared back, louder and causing a wave of air to buff everyone on the stage. 

Celia’s grin didn’t leave her face. 

The Mayor said a bunch of other things that were lost in the noise. While initially the mayor asked for quiet, he quickly realised he wasn’t going to get that, so instead, he just shrugged and drew out a huge bronze key with the Boulder badge at the base. 

The Mayor presented it to her, causing the shouting to increase in volume for a few moments. 

He then positioned her so that they could both pose for photos with Brock and Juan joining in a moment later. 

When Mayor Markos was done shaking her hand he stepped back and allowed President Kruger to step forward. 

He attempted to quieten the crowd but they weren’t having any of it. They seemed to take it as a challenge and kept going. 

Celia’s smile grew. It was like the final baseball game in the final innings, but all for her. There were going to be so many people and pokemon with scratchy voices tomorrow. 

President Kruger eventually threw up his hands and grabbed a large cheque that he gave to Celia. 

Celia gaped. “Two hundred thousand pokedollars!” 

Kruger smiled and patted her on the shoulder. “To the victor go the spoils!” he shouted to her as he posed for a quick photo. 

Then it was Lance’s turn. 

A few of the cheers turned to jeers but Lance weathered it calmly.

People were still shouting, portraying their Pewter Pride which often was loud and raucous. 

Lance smirked and shot his hand out, flaring his cape dramatically. “I will have quiet,” he said and something rippled out of him which forced Celia to stiffen. 

Brock’s amused look shifted into an exasperated look while Juan’s expression tightened. “That was a touch heavy-handed,” he muttered quietly, but in the near silence, Celia heard it clearly. 

Lance surveyed the crowds and nodded. “Thank you,” he began. “I shall keep things brief as I know many wish to start the party.”

That got a chorus of cheers as people roused. Before momentum could return to the crowd, Lance plunged on. 

“Celia has done something marvellous with her victory in Hoenn. Only two others have won the Hoenn Tournament from Indigo and we honoured them as today we honour Celia. Her triumph is one of persistence and growth that we can all learn from! As a nation, we shall celebrate her with her name taking up a banner with that of the six pokemon she used in her final battle within the Hall of Fame within the League!”

Celia flicked her eyes to the six pokemon in question. 

Her Nidoqueen, Vileplume, Milotic, Altaria, Golem, and Ninetails would all look amazing on the banner. 

She was kind of sad that she wouldn’t get to show off the others but tradition was only the six used in the tournament could be shown within the Hall of Fame.

The banner would be hung from the ceiling and only come down after a decade had passed. If any further accomplishments were achieved, such as winning another tournament of note, or ascending to become an Elite Four she’d have her banner enshrined within its own alcove. 

At least it had been that way when she’d gone on a school excursion before her Journey.

It had been an interesting trip to the League headquarters and while the stadium was her favourite part, she had to admit that the Hall of Fame had lingered in her mind.

It was amazing to think that her own victory banner would be on display now. 

The hall of Fame also hosted the Champions’ statues along with the pokemon they used to reach their position. 

With only three listed Champions of Indigo it made for a rather sparse Hall of Fame for the moment but they made up for it by filling it with Victory banners, and trophies that could be won or had been won in the past. 

Lance smiled and once again beat the crowd to the punch by stepping to the side with a smile. “Now, let’s give it up for the victor! Celia from Pewter!”

The crowd were quick to follow his lead and Lance stepped forward to shake her hand. Lorelei followed along with other dignitaries and before long everyone was posing for photos. 

Celia wasn’t sure who made the gesture, she suspected Brock, but her pokemon hopped up to partake in the photos. Celia laughed in delight knowing that this moment would be one that stuck with her for the rest of her life. 

When everything formal was done, she stepped down from the stage and was swarmed by reporters. 

One was quick to shove a microphone in her face. “And what comes next?”

Celia smiled and spared a glance back to Brock and Juan.

Brock’s smile was full of pride while Juan looked pleased. 

This was the question she’d been expecting and had discussed it with both of her mentors.

She hadn’t been surprised when they’d both declared their support for her plans.

Celia drew herself up as tall as she could and looked straight into the cameras like Juan had taught her. “I will be attempting the new challenge of the Battle Frontier before returning to Hoenn for a time.”

She adopted a confident smile. “While there I will be training and I hope to earn more Contest Ribbons. Despite my reservations, I have to admit to having fallen in love with the Contest scene. I hope to repeat my success in the battling scene there with Contests. But that is not all! I will be diving into the contest world for developing the scene, how to run and manage Contests and lead a new generation of coordinators. My goal is to gain knowledge. I wish to see the art form grow within Indigo. I hope to serve as an ambassador!” she announced. 

The reporters went agog at that before more questions followed. Some she expected like how she thought Brock as her first mentor would react at this betrayal.

She barely resisted the urge to roll her eyes at that question.

Typical reporters digging for some fire that didn’t exist.

When one asked where she was going to settle down she had stared. Huh, she hadn’t thought about it before, but with the prize money and the League’s bonus for winning a foreign tournament she had a lot more options. 

She could buy a house!

“I have no idea,” she replied. 

When she was done she stepped away to where her pokemon were waiting for her. She moved into the party and found herself engulfed in a wave of praise from strangers and friends alike. 

When the night was done she returned to her little apartment suite in the Pewter Gym that Brock had kept just as she’d left it. 

She settled down on the bed, knowing that this would be one of the last times she stayed here.

She glanced around, seeing all the things she’d take with her along with the things she’d throw away or having outgrown them. The set of rooms, after staying in Wallace’s palace of a home, felt far too small. She could only have three or four of her pokemon out with her at once for example. 

The room hadn’t changed, as evidenced by the old posters and knick-knacks. 

It was her who had changed.

She’d outgrown her nest.

Growing up was kind of bittersweet, huh?

Still, there was a lot to look forward to tomorrow and that made going to sleep that much easier.

Brock had after all invited her to watch him have a training spar with Lance.

Lance apparently wanted to get the measure of Regirock and there was no way she was leaving before witnessing that.

______________________

A.N. Thanks go to my patreons for your continued support!

We might still encounter Celia around, but for no,w her contributions to the Gym are done and dusted. Time to let her exit stage left as it were. 

It also goes to Twmmy for proofreading this chapter!