(A/N: Bonus Chapter, enjoy :)
In the early morning, John rode his Tyrantrum across the pasture, enjoying the crisp air and sprawling landscape.
His ranch was no longer the empty property it once had been. John had meticulously planned and renovated the entire place so that all his Pokemon could find their own little piece of home here.
He'd created artificial lakes, especially near the gym facilities. There was a well close to the gymnasium that Hank used to draw water from. John had widened it, digging deep to find the underground river, then channeled it outward to create a small lake? a perfect habitat for Greninja.
Near the forest, he'd cultivated several orchards that Venusaur took care of. The massive plant Pokemon had quite the green thumb, lovingly tending to flowers and vegetation. John had specifically imported some Bulbasaur to help with this project.
Both Froakie and Bulbasaur were relatively rare species. At least in the game, John hadn't found any locations where they could be captured naturally. He'd had to import them through official channels.
Froakie cost 280,000 each, Bulbasaur 320,000 each. John had spent 10 million to bring in 30 of each species.
Greninja loved to train, and so did the Froakies. John was confident they would grow stronger quickly. If any trainers wanted to take on challenges abroad, they could be sold at the his Conference. After all, John had specifically selected Froakies with perfect IVs when importing them.
The Bulbasaur weren't being raised for breeding purposes. Instead, Totem Venusaur led its younger siblings in cultivating the land. This way, the ranch would have its own fruit supply in the future.
John had heard that Emerald planned to help him introduce several Vespiquen and a group of Combee, ensuring they'd have their own honey production. It was starting to feel like he was playing Harvest Moon.
On the west side of the mountain, John had excavated a cave system for Tyranitar, Aggron, and Steelix to live in. Without sand to play with, Tyranitar had resorted to gnawing on rocks. Recently though, it seemed tired of rocks and kept eyeing John's newly built villa with destructive intent. To preserve his home, John had spent money constructing a rockery for Tyranitar to play with like Legos.
When John ran across the prairie these days, he was followed by more than a hundred Growlithe. Actually, it was over a thousand Growlithe now! Plus hundreds of Ponyta. John had caught the Ponyta near Lavaridge Town in the Hoenn Region.
The sight of thousands of Growlithe and hundreds of Ponyta galloping across the grassland created a breathtaking panorama. John felt the time to host a mounted Pokemon race wasn't far off!
He rode Tyrantrum back to the villa, jumped off its back, and took the towel Gardevoir had prepared to wipe his face. Tyrantrum trotted off to engage in a friendly sparring match with its friend Haxorus.
Emerald had been waiting for some time, holding a notebook while walking and talking with John.
"The rival trainer is ready in the break room," she reported.
"The organizing committee for the World Pokemon Championship has arrived."
"Reporters from major media outlets have set up their cameras, and spectators are beginning to fill the venue."
"Isn't there still an hour left?" John frowned.
Today was the qualifying match for the World Pokemon Championship. The scheduled start time was 9:00 AM, yet everyone had shown up by 8:00.
"Your rival can't wait to teach you a lesson," Emerald explained.
"And the audience can't wait to see you teach the rival a lesson."
"The media wants to record either a glorious victory or your shocking downfall in your first battle of the World Pokemon Championship," she added seriously.
"Wants to teach me a lesson?" John laughed.
His rival this time came from an island nation, a tiny place that had long coveted the Draconia's territory. Due to historical tensions, Draconia and this island nation weren't on speaking terms.
A Pokemon battle against a trainer from the island nation, especially a high-level match broadcast live to the public, would inevitably stir patriotic feelings among viewers.
John had watched videos of his rival's recent battles. That strength level...
He was considering using his second-string team just to send this opponent packing.
"How dare this person challenge me?" John wondered aloud.
"Anyway, according to regulations, Pokemon inspection starts at 8:30. I'll take a shower first," John said as he walked into his villa.
Meanwhile, in the Grassmere Gymnasium trainer's lounge...
Standing before the translucent window, Koizumi Erlang gazed at the grand spectacle unfolding in the arena and asked his manager Takeda with surprise and curiosity:
"Why are there so many people?"
Takeda glanced at his phone, replying while scrolling, "I hear the Grassmere City Gym Leader? is the youngest gym leader and senior breeder in Draconia. He's known as the strongest talent of the new generation, so he has many supporters and fans!"
"Is that so?" Koizumi's eyes lit up. "Then if I defeat him, wouldn't that create an even greater impact back home?"
"Absolutely!" Takeda nodded. "I've arranged for the island nation's Mawile Radio Station to broadcast your match live."
"If you can defeat your rival, it will definitely boost your reputation in our country."
"You might even be dubbed the 'once-in-a-millennium genius trainer.'"
Koizumi nodded excitedly, already imagining the scene where he'd be praised by his homeland's media.
"However," Takeda cautioned, "you must be careful. Your rival is a Draconia Gym Leader after all, he does have some skill."
"Don't fall at the final hurdle," Takeda reminded him.
"Senior Hattori has paved the way for your rise, so don't waste all his painstaking efforts."
"Don't worry, don't worry," Koizumi agreed cheerfully, though inwardly he couldn't care less.
He still remembered the last time a Gym Leader from Draconia challenged Teacher Hattori and was defeated in just two or three moves. Although his strength wasn't equal to Teacher Hattori's, it shouldn't be difficult to defeat a rookie who had just become a Gym Leader.
The "most powerful genius of the Draconia's new generation"? Before he grew up, he was just a genius, not a true champion!
Koizumi had already decided, in this battle against the youngest gym owner in the Draconia, he wouldn't just win, he'd win stylishly.
The best outcome would be a victory so complete that his rival would have nothing to say, reduced to tears and forced to admit defeat.
At that time, he would definitely become a man celebrated throughout the island nation, "Champion Koizumi..."
"Knock, knock..." A sudden rapping at the door interrupted Koizumi's fantasy.
"The World Pokemon Championship Organizing Committee needs to confirm the Pokemon you'll be using and conduct a random inspection!"