Pokémon The Champion's Illusion

[IFBench]

Description from Zoruaspotting: This video takes place just before lllanero battles Clair.

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The video begins with stepping off the last movable platform in the Blackthorn City gym, and stepping onto the battlefield.

"You're here," Clair says, cape draped over her shouler. "Lance told me about you. You and the previous challenger."

"Previous challenger?" Illanero asks, tilting xyr head.

"Yes, the red-haired child," Clair says. "Lance said that you put a stop to Team Rocket, twice. In Kanto, and here in Johto."

"Yesyes!" Illanero says, tail wagging.

"While I thank you for that..." Clair steps forward onto the battlefielod. "Your victory lap ends here. I don't intend on losing to you."

"Lots of people say that!" Illanero says.

Clair's eyes narrow. "I mean it. You may have come here for a gym battle, but I'm not giving you one, Champion. I'm giving you a real battle, where I hold nothing back!"

"Yayay!" Illanero says, smiling. "Let's battle!"

"I'm not finished," Clair says. "I heard about your encounters with the other gym leaders of Johto. They fought you like they would any regular challenger. But you're not a regular challenger, you're the Champion. It would be a disservice to both of us to give you a battle that you could win so easily."

"So hold nothing back in turn!" Clair shouts, thrusting her arm out. "Show me the might of the Champion, and let me show you how much you have yet to learn!"

The video ends.

 

[IFBench]

Description from Zoruaspotting: This video takes place just after lllanero battles Clair.

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The video begins with Acacia the Meganium scoring a fainting blow on Clair's Kingdra.

"Yayay! I won!" Illanero says, tail wagging as xe runs up to Clair.

Clair simply recalls her Pokiemon, and stares at Illanero, eyes narrowed.

A few seconds of silence pass, before she says, "No. You won the battle, yes, but you didn't win my respect."

"What do you mean?" Illanero asks, tilting xyr head.

"You didn't treat this battle with the respect it deserved. You just saw it as another stop on your victory lap. For that, I can't award you this badge."

"But...I won!" Illanero protests.

"There are certain values that the gym circuit encourages, that should be discarded. Such as going from battle to battle at a rapid pace, without showing those battles the respect they deserve," Clair says. "Every battle is important, every battle should have an impact on you in some way. That is where the League fails."

"But I..." Illanero begins, before trailing off.

"If you want the Rising Badge so badly, treat it with the respect it deserves. Not a fancy trinket to add to your collection, but the symbol and memory of a battle," Clair says.

"But how do I prove that?" Illanero asks.

"There's a sacred shrine at the back of Blackthorn City, across the lake, inside the Dragon's Den," Clair says. "Go there, and pass the test there. Only then will I give this badge to you."

Illanero hesitates, then nods. "Okok. I'll go there."

"Good," Clair says, taking a step back. "Don't disappoint me."

The video ends.

 

[IFBench]

Description from Zoruaspotting: This video takes place as Illanero encounters Clair in the Dragon's Den.

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The video begins in the Dragon's Den, with Illanero exiting from the shrine deep within it. Clair is waiting outside.

"That was quick. So you failed? You can try again tomorrow, but I advise that you think long and hard about..." Clair begins, before trailing off, seeing the cape Illanero now donned.

"Nope! I passed!" Illanero says, playing with xyr cape. "And I got this reallyreally cool cape!"

"I..." Clair sighs. "Fine. You win. Take this badge, and get out."

Clair extends a hand, holding the Rising Badge, but Illanero doesn't take it.

"What's wrong? Isn't this what you wanted? Your eighth badge, the end of your victory lap?" Clair says. "Don't tell me that you're giving up now."

"You seem reallyreally upset," Illanero says, tilting xyr head. "Why are you mad at me?"

"I'm not mad at you," Clair says. "Simply disappointed that I failed."

"What do you mean?" Illanero asks.

"My duty as Blackthorn gym leader is to teach challengers. If I fight a challenger, and they have learned nothing, like you have, then I have failed. You defeated me easily, and learned nothing," Clair says. "Apparently you already had those values I lectured you on, with how easily you passed this test."

"But I did learn something!" Illanero says. "I learned that I should treat battles with more respect!"

"Is that why you're not taking my badge now?" Clair asks. "Because you don't think you showed me enough respect to earn it?"

"Yesyes!" Illanero says.

"Well," Clair says, smiling a bit "That's enough for me. Go on, take it."

"But I didn't show you respect," Illanero says.

"You just did, by listening to me right now," Clair says. "You've earned this badge, and my respect. So long as you keep treating battles with respect from now on, you are worthy of this badge."

"Thankyou!" Illanero says, and takes the Rising Badge.

The video ends.

 

[IFBench]

Description from Zoruaspotting: This video takes place soon after Illanero returns to New Bark Town, after receiving a call from Professor Elm.

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The video begins with Illanero running into Professor Elm's lab. It seems to be in disarray, and Elm seems panicked.

"Illanero!" Professor Elm says, running over. "Thank goodness you're back!"

"What happened?" Illanero says, tilting xyr head.

"Remember the thief that stole Cyndaquil from my lab?" Elm asks.

"Yesyes?" Illanero says.

"He returned. And stole the master ball I had," Elm says. "I ran after him, but he was faster than me. But I heard something!"

"Heard what?" Illanero asks. "And what's a master ball?"

"A master ball is a special type of pokeball that can catch any Pokemon without fail," Elm says. "They're only for research and safety purposes! They're not supposed to be given to any ordinary trainer!"

Illanero's tail went between xyr legs, as xey asked, "And what did you hear?"

"The sound of a bell. I know the exact bell, too. I heard it during a Kimono Girls show once," Elm says, before taking a deep breath.

"What bell?" Illanero asks.

"The Tidal Bell, an artifact tied to Lugia," Elm says. "I'm afraid the thief might be trying to catch Lugia."

The video ends.

 

[IFBench]

Description from Zoruaspotting: This video takes place soon after Illanero enters the caves of the Whirl Islands.

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It's a bit hard to see, but Illanero is running through the caverns of the Whirl Islands, in xyr Zorua form.

Xey run as fast as xey can, looking around, before spotting someone. Suddenly, where the Zorua was, a Zorua-tailed human stands.

"Silver!" xey call out. "Stop!"

Some footsteps echo, before a young red-haired human steps out of the darkness.

"What do you want, Illanero," he says, frustration in his voice. "I don't have time for this! How'd you even know I was here?!"

"Professor Elm told me you stole something called a 'master ball' from him, and you're trying to catch Lugia!" Illanero says. "I thought you had stopped stealing!"

"I...what are you talking about?!" Silver asks, eyes narrowed. "I didn't steal anything from Professor Elm besides Typhlosion, and that was months ago!"

"Professor Elm told me!" Illanero says.

"I..." Silver begins, before his eyes widen. "Petrel...of course he'd disguise as me."

"What? What are you talking about?" Illanero asks, tilting xyr head.

"Petrel's trying to catch Lugia," Silver says. "I ran into him, and he spilled his plan to me. I'm here to stop him."

"But what about what Professor Elm said?" Illanero asks.

"Petrel must have stolen the master ball while disguised as me, to make everyone think I did it," Silver says.

"That's reallyreally mean of him!" Illanero says. "Let's go stop him!"

Silver opens his mouth, as if he was about to protest Illanero coming along, before closing it again, and walking deeper into the Whirl Islands caves.
Illanero follows after him.

The video ends.

 

[IFBench]

Description from Zoruaspotting: This video takes place just before Illanero and SIlver battle Petrel again.

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The video begins with Illanero and Silver traveling down the slopes towards the deepest depths of the Whirl Islands.

Aside from the two's footsteps, the sounds of the various Pokemon, and the distant sound of rushing water, it's very quiet. Neither of the two are saying a word.

At least, until they arrive at the bottom of the slopes. Illanero turns to Silver, and asks, "Ready?"

"You don't need to ask," Silver says, and steps into the tunnel to Lugia's area. Illanero follows close behind.

Inside, is a certain purple-haired Rocket admin staring at the waterfall. In one hand, he clutches onto a master ball, in the other hand, he rings the Tidal Bell. "Come on, come out...I know you're there, Lugia!" he says.

And yet, the other nearby bells, wrapped around the rocks, refuse to ring. The waterfall continues to roar, with no shadow behind it.

"Why isn't it working?!" Petrel yells, stomping a foot into the ground. "I have the Tidal Bell!"

"It's because you're too weak, Petrel," Silver says, causing Petrel to jump in surprise, before turning around.

"You two again," Petrel grumbles. "But I see your Hyper Beam-happy friend isn't here to help you this time."

"We can take you on our own!" Illanero says, taking a step forward.

"Can you now?" Petrel says, a twisted smirk on his face. "Giovanni may have given up, Archer may have given up...but not I."

"We'll take you down, the same as we did the other admins," Silver says. "I challenge you to a battle!"

"To 'prove your strength?'" Petrel asks. "We both know already how weak you are, heir."

Silver trembles a bit, before yelling, "Battle us, and we'll see how true that is!"

"Very well," Petrel says, as he takes a pokeball off his belt. "You'll regret this, heir."

The video ends.

 

[IFBench]

Description from Zoruaspotting: This video takes place just after Illanero and Silver's battle with Petrel in the Whirl Islands

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The video begins with the last of Petrel's Pokemon, a Weezing, fainting. He recalls it, but his twisted smirk doesn't fade.

"We won! We proved our strength to you!" Illanero says, tail wagging. "Now leave Lugia alone!"

"Now where was that in the conditions?" Petrel said, shrugging. "You proved your 'strength'. Now, let me prove Team Rocket's!"

"What are you-" Silver begins, before his eyes widen, as Petrel releases all six of his Pokemon from their pokeballs.

The six Koffing-line Pokemon look on the verge of fainting, but as soon as Petrel snaps his fingers, they swarm around Illanero.

"What are you doing?!" Silver yells. "We won the battle!"

"Yesyes! We won!" Illanero says, as xey try to push Petrel's Pokemon aside. "So you can't attack us now!"

"Oh, how naive you are," Petrel says. "You should know by now, that Team Rocket doesn't play by the rules!"

"That's reallyreally mean!" Illanero says.

"That we are, Zorua," Petrel says, before turning back towards Silver. "Now, if you don't want me to blow your friend to bits, you'll do exactly what I say."

"And just what is that?" Silver asks, trying to hide the fear in his voice.

"Turn yourself in to the police. Show the world how weak you really are," Petrel says, a cruel look in his eyes. "I've already done a fair few crimes while disguised at you. It shouldn't be too hard."

"Silver..." Illanero says, fear in xyr eyes, but also determination. "Don't listen to him!"

"Oh, I believe he should listen to me. Unless you want to go kaboom," Petrel says.

"I..." Silver looks around, between Illanero and Petrel, before he spots something on the floor.

The master ball and Tidal Bell, dropped by Petrel during the battle.

Silver runs over, picks up the Tidal Bell, and rings it, calling out, "Lugia!"

"Still seeking strength to the very end, even at the expense of your friend's life? That's too funny!" Petrel says, laughing. "You know what? I'll let you try. You're far too impure of heart for Lugia to ever..."

Petrel trails off, as a shadow appears behind the waterfall.

"Lugia!" Silver calls again, continuing to ring the Tidal Bell. "We need your help! Stop Petrel from exploding my friend!"

"Change of plans!" Petrel says, panic in his voice. "Explosio-"

Before Petrel can finish his sentence, Lugia emerges from the waterfall, and it begins to rain inside the cavern. Petrel's Pokemon are quickly drenched, preventing them from exploding.

Eyes wide, Petrel recalls his Pokemon, before turning towards Lugia. "Now, Lugia, we can be reasonable about this..."

Lugia roars, and with a flap of her wings, Petrel is picked up by a whirlwind.

"This isn't the end, you hear me? Team Rocket will return! Just you waiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiii..." Petrel trails off, as the whirlwind carries him away, to who-knows-where.

Illanero runs over to Silver, tail wagging rapidly, and says. "Yayay! I knew we were friends!"

"Don't push it," Silver says. He looks back towards Lugia, before turning towards Illanero. "Let's go."

"Okok!" Illanero says. "Thank you Lugia!"

"Wait," a voice echoes through the cavern. "Do not leave yet."

Illanero and Silver look at each other, before turning towards Lugia.

"Was that you?" Illanero asks.

"Yes," Lugia says, before perching on a nearby rock. "I would like to speak with you."

"Okok!" Illanero says. "What is it?"

"Not you," Lugia says. "The human."

Silver hesitates, then says, "What."

"I would like to battle you," Lugia says. "You speak much of strength. And I would like to see what it means to you."

"...fine," Silver says, taking a pokeball from his belt. He briefly glances at the master ball still on the ground, before looking back at Lugia. "Let's battle."

The video ends.

 

[IFBench]

Description from Zoruaspotting: This video takes place just after Silver's battle with Lugia.

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The video begins with Silver's Crobat striking at Lugia, as Silver keeps glancing back and forth between his Pokemon, Lugia, and the master ball on the ground.

"Enough," Lugia says. "That was a fulfilling battle, human. Well done."

"What will you do now?" Illanero asks.

"I believe I will resume my rest," Lugia says. "I commend you on your strength. But now, I would like to be left alone."

Silver hesitates. He looks over at the master ball once more, before running over and grabbing it.

"Silver!" Illanero shouts, eyes wide. "What are you doing?!"

Lugia doesn't say anything, simply staring at Silver.

Silver doesn't say anything either. He simply holds the master ball in his hands, glancing back and forth between it and Lugia.

Then he gets into a throwing position...

And throws the master ball at the ground, destroying it.

"What was that for?" Illanero asks, head tilted.

"I don't want that strength," Silver says. "I'm not like my father. I do things my own way, with my own strength."

Lugia...laughs. It's a strange, chirpy laugh, but it's a jovial one. "I see. So that is what strength means to you."

"What do you mean?" Silver asks.

"Zorua, please take one of your empty pokeballs, and give it to the human," Lugia asks.

"Okok!" Illanero says, reaching into xyr bag, before pulling out a premier ball, and giving it to Silver.

"What is this about?" Silver asks, eyes narrowed.

"I am letting you capture me, human. You have impressed me greatly," Lugia says, before poking the premier ball with his snout.

A single shake, and the premier ball clicks, with Lugia now inside.

"Yayay! That was reallyreally cool!" Illanero says, tail wagging rapidly.

Silver stares at the premier ball, before nodding. "I won't let you down, Lugia."

He then turns to Illanero, and says, "I'll meet you at the Indigo League."

"Why there?" Illanero asks.

"I'll be challenging you for the title of Champion," Silver says. "Don't lose to anyone else before me."

"Okok!" Illanero says. "Goodluck!"

Silver nods, and walks out of Lugia's chamber.

The video ends.