Chapter 69: Parallel-World Celebrity Series, Episode One—Complete!
The video continued playing.
After obtaining Lugia, Raina returned to Asher and the others.
However, Leon, Iris, Diantha, and Cynthia had already left. Only the remaining few stayed behind to wait for her.
When Lance saw Raina return, he nodded.
"How is Lugia?"
"It’s doing well."
Raina jumped down from Lapras’s back.
"The chains didn’t injure it. It’s simply exhausted."
"That’s good."
Lance continued:
"The conditions around the Whirl Islands should gradually return to normal. I’ll arrange for the League to conduct follow-up monitoring."
Steven walked over and winked at her.
"Raina, both Lugia and Suicune have chosen you. You’ve already surpassed the level of an ordinary Elite Four member. Have you considered taking another step forward?"
Raina froze.
"Another step forward?"
"Challenging for the Champion’s position~"
Steven secretly pointed toward Lance, whose back was facing them.
"You possess both the strength and the qualifications."
Raina remained silent for a moment before lowering her gaze toward the Poké Ball containing Lugia at her waist.
"I’ll consider it," she said.
"All right, that’s enough. What’s so great about becoming Champion? You spend every day running around dealing with work, and all that stress is terrible for your health."
Asher approached with Ash.
He looked toward Raina.
"Raina, we’ll return home together in a little while. Your mother and Uncle Brock are waiting for us there."
Raina’s eyes immediately lit up.
"Is Uncle Ash coming too?"
Pikachu leaped into Raina’s arms again.
Ash scratched his cheek.
"Mm. I don’t come back very often, so I’d like to see Misty and Brock too."
Steven leaned closer with a smile.
"Brother Asher, in that case, perhaps I could also—"
"You don’t need to come."
"...Why?"
"Wallace contacted me and said you should return as soon as possible. There’s still a great deal of work waiting for you in Hoenn."
"...Sigh. If I’d known this would happen, I wouldn’t have told him anything."
Steven slapped his forehead.
"Fine. I’ll head back."
"The thing I promised you has already been delivered to your home."
Upon hearing that, Steven immediately gave Asher a thumbs-up.
"Brother Asher, you’re reliable."
[VIP Chat Group]
[Iris]: Will Raina choose to challenge for the Champion’s position?
[Lance]: She possesses the necessary strength, but strength alone has never been enough to hold the Champion’s position.
[Professor Oak]: Lance is right. A Champion must bear responsibility for an entire region. Raina is only ten years old. Whether she is willing to shoulder that burden is her own decision.
[Dawn]: But Raina has Lugia and Suicune now. If she truly challenges for the Champion’s position, will Mr. Lance be able to stop her?
[Lance]: ...Hard to say.
The video continued playing.
Indigo Plateau, Pokémon League headquarters.
Raina stood in the center of a conference room, with Lance, Lorelei, and Bruno seated before her.
"Are you certain you want to relinquish your position in the Elite Four?"
Lance rested his interlocked fingers on the table.
"You now have Lugia and Suicune. You have every opportunity to challenge for the Champion’s position, yet you’re choosing to resign from the Elite Four now?"
"I’m certain."
Raina’s voice was calm.
Lorelei raised an eyebrow.
"May I ask why?"
Raina lowered her gaze toward the Poké Balls at her waist.
"At the Whirl Islands, I saw entire groups of Pokémon controlled by drugs. I saw Lugia remain beneath the sea alone for three hundred years to suppress the currents, and I learned that Suicune travels throughout the world to purify polluted waters."
"I want to be like them."
Raina paused before continuing:
"The ocean is vast, and Kanto is only a small part of it. I want to visit more places—Hoenn, Sinnoh, Unova, Alola, and every sea where Water-type Pokémon need help."
Lance nodded.
"The Kanto League respects your decision. The procedures for your resignation will be completed within one week."
Raina bowed deeply.
"Thank you, Mr. Lance. Thank you, everyone."
Lorelei leaned back in her chair and smiled.
"Visit League headquarters when you have time. I’ll treat you to tea."
Bruno crossed his arms.
"The next time we meet, we’ll battle again! You’d better use your full strength!"
Raina smiled.
"All right."
[VIP Chat Group]
[Professor Oak]: Abandoning her opportunity to challenge for the Champion’s position and resigning from the Elite Four... This decision will probably surprise many people.
[Ash]: Raina isn’t going to be an Elite Four member anymore?! But she’s already so strong!
[Gary]: She chose a different path.
[Misty]: Hmph. I think she made the right choice. If she became Champion, she would have to remain at Indigo Plateau dealing with League affairs all day and wouldn’t even have time to come home.
[Daisy]: Misty, wasn’t the last part your real concern?
[Misty]: Of course not! I’m thinking about what’s best for her!
The video continued playing.
Cerulean City, Cerulean Gym.
When Raina pushed open the Gym’s doors, Misty was standing beside the pool and directing Starmie through its daily training.
"Mom, I’m home."
Misty turned and saw Raina standing in the doorway.
She set down the training schedule in her hand, walked over, grabbed Raina’s cheeks, and pulled them in opposite directions.
"You resigned from such an important position without discussing it with your family first?"
Raina grimaced in pain.
"Mom, let go! I’ve already been an Elite Four member, and you’re still pulling my cheeks!"
"So what if you were an Elite Four member? You’re still my daughter."
Misty released her and looked her up and down.
"What did Mr. Lance say?"
"He said he respected my decision."
Raina rubbed her cheeks.
Misty sighed and reached out to ruffle Raina’s hair.
"Fine. I’ve never been able to stop you from doing anything you decided upon, even when you were little."
"Mom."
"Mm?"
"I want to take over Cerulean Gym."
Misty froze.
"Whenever Lugia and Suicune don’t need my help, I should still have plenty of time available."
Raina continued:
"Besides... after all these years, you deserve the opportunity to rest."
Misty placed a hand against her forehead before smiling.
"All right. I’ll leave it to you."
Raina threw herself forward and hugged Misty.
"Thank you, Mom!"
Misty patted her back, her voice slightly muffled.
"Don’t celebrate too soon. Being a Gym Leader isn’t easy. You need to understand the accounts, organize training schedules, and supervise battlefield maintenance. Learn how to handle all of that first."
"I’ll learn!"
[VIP Chat Group]
[Brock]: Raina volunteering to take over the Gym is certainly unexpected.
[Koga]: Raina will be responsible for Cerulean Gym from now on. The average age of Kanto’s Gym Leaders has fallen yet again.
[Lorelei]: Age is one consideration. Strength is another.
[Barry]: Who would dare march into Cerulean Gym and challenge it after this?
[Gary]: Rookie Trainers who choose Cerulean City as their first destination are certainly in for a treat.
While everyone in the chat group was still discussing the matter, the image on the light screen froze once again.
[Parallel-World Celebrity Series, Episode One]
[Water-Type Pokémon Master—Raina]
[Complete!]
[The key figures will now receive their rewards.]
[Asher has received his parallel-world memories!]
[Misty has received her parallel-world memories!]
[Raina has received One-Way Worldline Access!]
[Note: Raina’s worldline has already merged with this worldline. In other words, Raina’s birth has become an inevitable outcome in this world. It is certain to occur in the future and cannot be changed!]
[Parallel-World Celebrity Series, Episode Two will be released in seven days!]
...
TL: It’s over?? OVER??? NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO.
You’re welcome, by the way. Since I read while translating, I might as well just finish the entire Raina arc today. Also... heh, 69. That’s what me and Delia— gets struck by Thunderbolt