Rivals and Brothers!

"Congratulations to both of you on making it to the finals!"

Xiao Yan and Gary were speaking with Professor Oak over a video phone.

"Grandpa, were you and Agatha rivals back in the day?" Xiao Yan asked.

"Ahem... Xiao Yan, where did you hear that?" Professor Oak looked thoroughly embarrassed.

"Now that's an exclusive scoop! I want to hear your story."

"So do I!" Both Xiao Yan and Gary were very interested in gossip about Professor Oak.

"All right! Consider it a reward for both of you reaching the finals."

"Agatha and I were friends and rivals from childhood. Later, we joined a research team, but I discovered that the team was researching ways to control Pokémon at will. That research made me furious, so I quit, leaving Agatha behind. We didn't see each other for a long time after that. The last time we met was at the Indigo League tournament, when I defeated her in the finals. Having achieved my goal, I stopped traveling and settled down at the lab to focus on being a Pokémon Professor. The Pokédexes you're holding were something I invented back then!"

"So that's what happened..."

"Anyway, give it your best in tomorrow's finals, both of you. I'll be watching your match on TV."

"We definitely will."

Gary and I made a promise two years ago.

"Umbreon and Flareon are unable to battle! Both contestants, please send out your final Pokémon."

"After an intense exchange of attacks and defenses, contestants Xiao Yan and Gary each have just one Pokémon left. Which of them will claim the final victory?"

Gary really is strong...

"Go! Charizard!"

"My darling! Blastoise!"

Two Kanto starter Pokémon appeared on the battlefield at the same time.

It's been five years, and we're still battling with the same Pokémon we used back then.

"Skull Bash!"

"Seismic Toss!"

Blastoise charged forward at tremendous speed, head lowered. Charizard withstood the blow from Blastoise's hard head, then immediately carried Blastoise into the sky and hurled him down. Just before hitting the ground, Blastoise withdrew into his shell in time to reduce the damage.

"Flamethrower."

"Surf."

Blastoise raised a huge wave across the battlefield, swallowing the Flamethrower and sweeping toward Charizard.

"Dodge it!"

Charizard failed to dodge in time and was engulfed by the wave.

"Charizard!!!" Xiao Yan watched the lingering water anxiously. A second later, Charizard flew out of the water, the flame on his tail that symbolized his vitality still blazing fiercely.

"Fire Spin."

The Fire Spin trapped Blastoise in its center, restricting his movements.

"Use Water Gun on the Fire Spin."

Blastoise used Water Gun to extinguish the flames around him.

"Mega Kick!"

While Blastoise wasn't looking, Charizard kicked down at him from overhead. The powerful kick landed, dealing considerable damage. Several wounds had already accumulated on Blastoise's body, and Charizard was in much the same state.

"Hurry, use Hydro Pump."

Charizard was blasted away by Hydro Pump at close range.

"We're not done yet! Use Seismic Toss!"

Charizard climbed out of the rubble, spread his wings, and rushed toward Blastoise.

"Blastoise, dodge!"

Charizard immediately grabbed Blastoise, flew up into the clouds with him, and hurled him downward. Blastoise withdrew into his shell again, but Charizard fired a Flamethrower into it, forcing him to stick his head out. With the ground rapidly approaching, Blastoise used the last of his strength to grab Charizard.

"Charizard!!!"

"Blastoise!!!"

Both Pokémon fell from the clouds.

"Charizard and Blastoise are both unable to battle! The final match ends in a draw!!!"

Xiao Yan and Gary recalled their Pokémon, who were lying on the ground.

"What an unexpected outcome! Both contestants' Pokémon became unable to battle at the same time?! That means we have two champions!!!"

After several fierce battles, the Indigo League tournament finally reached its closing ceremony...

"We will now hold the award ceremony for the top finishers. Would the two champions and the third-place finisher please step onto the podium?"

Xiao Yan and Gary squeezed together onto the first-place platform to receive their prizes. The first-place prizes also included a pass to challenge Kanto's Elite Four. Since there were two first-place winners this time, both Xiao Yan and Gary received one.

Hmm... Let me see. All right, a certificate. I'll stick it on my back later and show it off to everyone, Xiao Yan thought as he looked at the sheet of white paper with writing on it in his hands.

"Next, we'll take a group photo. You two, stand steady. You're about to fall off!"

And so, to keep our balance, Gary and I hugged each other in front of tens of thousands of people...

"There we go! What a wonderful photo to remember this by."

Finally, a few fireworks were set off at the closing ceremony, bringing everything to a perfect finish...

"Still... I never expected you two to end up in a draw."

Xiao Yan and Gary had returned home and gathered with the professor for dinner.

"That's true. I never thought I'd end up drawing with Gary, either."

"We must be the strongest now! We even beat the granddaughter of Agatha of the Elite Four."

Professor Oak suddenly choked, and Xiao Yan and Gary hurried to pat his back.

"I admit you're both very good! But you're not the strongest. There are still plenty of people in this world stronger than you. Don't let winning first place in the Indigo League go to your heads."

"Got it, Grandpa!" the two said in unison.

After that, Xiao Yan and Gary stayed in Pallet Town for about half a month, and it was almost time to set out on their journeys again.