Lumiose University - A Degree In Pokemon

Chapter 68: The Power of Dreaming

Author's Note:

We're finally here with the championships for the IPL performers! Long wait, but there was a lot to get to with this. Hopefully it delivers.

Chapter 68: The Power of Dreaming

Raphael sneered at the radio a group of his subordinates were listening to. It was useful information, with progress of the IPL tournament being described in detail, but it still made his blood boil, thinking of those kids nearly ruining his plans. Their little tournament was nothing to him but a stepping stone to great wealth and power. He planned to take that step soon.

He couldn't help but be a little concerned, though. The base...how had they discovered the base? He was sure Valerie had never had any opportunity to find out about it. The kids had been clueless as well, until Gabrielle. There was only one who could've directly linked him, but she appeared to still be acting in his interests, so it still didn't make much sense.

"Sir?"

Raphael stared into the trees a moment, ignoring the woman in front of him. They'd hidden their trucks full of Pokemon in the forests. They had scouts to warn of anyone coming their way, but it was a less than ideal situation they'd been forced into. Could one of those escaped Pokemon have done something? It was impossible. It wasn't like Pokemon could speak. But that Meowth...it's eyes...

"Sir...I-"

"Yes...yes, I heard. What do you want, Alice?" He was short with her, but not angry. His anger was focused on those students. And whoever had revealed information about his base.

Alice gulped nervously as he looked at her. He was pleased by that. He never needed to bully his subordinates, but they feared him nonetheless. He supposed incidents like the group involved with the truck attack added to that, though. What he and his Medicham were capable of was a clear motivator.

"Sir, we had a report from the school tournament. From our source..." She hesitated, looking uncertain. Raphael knew why. Their source was questionable, but in a position to do a job Alice needed help with.

"And what is the report? More bad news?" He hated being unable to hide his frustration. They needed to attack soon, or not at all. Otherwise they'd be found and unable to keep their stockpile of stolen Pokemon and altered Mega Evolution stones.

Alice shook her head. "Our source has told us that the girl from Laverre...your...your..."

Raphael narrowed his eyes, looking at the hunter before him. "My student. Gabrielle, or Gabby as she likes to be called. What of her?"

"She'll be in the finals for the performing tournament tomorrow," Alice said, appearing somewhat disappointed as Raphael showed he had expected it. "There's more, though."

Raphael raised an eyebrow in interest. "More?'

"She will be battling the Lumiose student with the...the Absol." Alice flinched as Raphael took a deep breath in response to that. "The expectation is Gabrielle will be using Altaria in the battle against...Absol."

"Yes, I expect that would be the case," Raphael murmured, almost laughing at the idea. When he got his hands back on that Absol it might very well be worth something, despite the ruined product it seemed to have become. "Interesting, but not much that we can use. I suppose they'll be tired out for when we attack, however." It would've been preferable to time the attack for after the battling tournament had finished, but they were too vulnerable even now.

"Actually, sir..." Alice coughed, looking nervously off to where some of the other hunters were glancing at them curiously. "Our source...believes it could be an opportunity. Once Altaria is in the Pokemon Centre, our source may be able to switch the Mega Stone."