Pokemon: Skybound

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After exchanging pleasantries, only Kai and Alexa remained in the living room.

Ash and the others had already returned to their dormitory, while Chloe excused herself and went upstairs to avoid the commotion.

Outside the door, Martha and her team stood guard to ensure no other reporters interrupted the interview.

Kai sat on the sofa, waiting as Alexa adjusted her equipment and set up the lighting. Once everything was ready, the interview began.

"Mr. Kai, could you please introduce yourself briefly?" Alexa asked, holding a voice recorder toward him.

"My name is Kai. I'm around 18 years old and from Santalune City in the Kalos region. I've just completed my training journey in the Kanto region, where I'm currently challenging the Indigo League," Kai responded confidently.

Alexa consulted her notebook and asked a series of prepared questions. Kai answered them all without hesitation.

None of the questions were invasive or prying, showing Alexa had done her homework before arriving.

"You've been undefeated so far in your journey," Alexa noted. "It seems like you've had an easy time securing victories. Do you have a specific strategy or trick?"

Kai shook his head. "There's no secret to it. I just approach every match seriously and make good use of type advantages. Honestly, I haven't faced any particularly strong opponents yet, so things have been smooth so far."

"Interesting. So, what inspired you to become a Pokémon Trainer?" she asked.

Kai paused for a moment before answering. "There are many reasons. For one, I've loved Pokémon ever since I was a kid. But if I had to pinpoint one person who influenced me the most, it would be someone I owe a great deal of gratitude to."

"Oh?" Alexa leaned forward, intrigued. "Who is this person? A parent? A friend? A mentor?"

"None of those," Kai said with a smile. "It's the Kalos Champion, Diantha."

Alexa's eyes lit up with interest. "Diantha? Why her?"

Kai's expression softened. "She's the one who encouraged me to pursue this path. She even gave me my first Pokémon and allowed me to train under her guidance. She taught me everything from caring for Pokémon to battling strategies. Without her mentorship, I wouldn't be where I am today."

Alexa couldn't hide her excitement. This was big news. Kai had a personal connection with Diantha, a celebrity whose every move captured public attention. Alexa could already imagine the headlines: "Diantha's Protégé Embarks on a Journey to Conquer the Indigo League!"

Her enthusiasm fueled more follow-up questions. When the interview concluded, Alexa grinned and motioned for Kai to stand.

"One last thing we need to take a few photos!"

"Photos?" Kai raised an eyebrow.

"Of course! This is an exclusive interview. We need visuals to go along with the story," Alexa insisted, pulling out her camera. She positioned Kai in front of a white wall. "Your image is excellent; once these photos are published, I bet you'll gain quite a few fans!"

Kai chuckled. "If you say so. By the way, where will this report be featured?"

"It'll be published back in Kalos, both online and in print," Alexa replied with a smile. "Our newspapers and magazines will carry the story too."

After taking several solo shots, Alexa asked Kai to release some of his Pokémon for group photos.

Due to the limited space, he chose smaller Pokémon like Gardevoir, Haunter, and Jolteon, leaving larger ones like Gyarados, Blastoise, and Charizard in their Poké Balls.

Alexa's photography skills were impressive, capturing Kai and his Pokémon in dynamic and flattering poses.

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The next morning, Kai, Ash, and the others arrived at the drawing venue for the final round of the qualifiers. They returned to the same counter where they'd registered initially.

"Welcome back," the smiling staff member greeted them. "Congratulations on advancing!"

After exchanging a few polite words, Ash eagerly pressed the button to draw his opponent. As the result appeared, the Grass Field and a competitor named Jeanette Fisher from Maiden Town were displayed on the screen.

When Brock saw Jeanette's photo, he immediately swooned. "Maiden Peak is incredible! It wasn't always called that, but it's famous for being home to many beauties. Over time, it earned the name Maiden Town."

Misty rolled her eyes. "Honestly, Brock, you're a Gym Leader. You know more about gossip than Pokémon battles."

Once Ash had his assignment, it was Kai's turn. He pressed the button, and as the aperture stopped spinning, the Ice Field appeared on the screen along with the face of his opponent, Gary Oak.

"Gary?!" Everyone gasped. Although they knew it was inevitable to face familiar rivals, seeing it confirmed still caught them off guard.

What they didn't realize was that Gary had already been pre-selected as Kai's opponent by John, one of the tournament officials.

No matter when Kai pressed the button, the result would have been the same.

A confident voice interrupted their thoughts. "Looks like I've finally got a worthy opponent!"

They turned to see Gary walking toward them, flanked by a dozen cheerleaders dressed in matching uniforms and holding pompoms.

Gary smirked. "I still remember when we met, You wanted to battle me, but I turned you down. Now, it seems our showdown is inevitable. Let's see who's stronger!"

Kai smirked back. "I guess we'll find out soon enough."

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