Author's Note:

And it's time for Okam's third year anniversary! WOOO!

Like 8 days late...

Sh*t.

I'm really sorry for this delay. To be honest, it was a combination of laziness, writer's block, and being busy, be it with work (which decided to spam me with a ton of 2 to 10 PM shifts before I was lost to college for my second semester) and getting ready for my second semester. On the writer's block side of things, I wanted to do at least one more chapter before we got to the Elite Four, but I couldn't think of anything to save my life, so I decided, f*ck it, to the E4! And so we're here. Celebrating the anniversary a little late. I hope college doesn't keep me from writing as much as it did last year, but who knows. I have one less class to do than last year, so that could help.

Oh well, I really hope you can forgive me. I hope you enjoy.

Read and review, cause the fun starts now!

-RGGodzilla, out!

Chapter Three Hundred Four:

OKAM - THREE YEAR ANNIVERSARY!

Morning (11:12 A.M.), Okam Pokémon League

They trained and prepared for this day the best they could, but it had finally arrived; the day of their Elite Four Challenge had arrived!

Jackie woke up early to prepare, getting everyone ready for the fight of their lives. They ate well, got their stretches in, and were picked up by plane, en route to the site of the Elite Four Challenge.

Jackie sat silent as they landed before the building's entrance, a hand held to the Poké Balls strapped to his belt. Okay, guys, this is it…

From within their Balls, his team shook with anticipation.

Time to see what Okam's best has to offer. Runt stretched his arms.

The fight of our lives, I hope they live up to that promise… Virizion was calm, yet eager.

Can't wait to bust out my new Mega Evolution! Deceit trembled with excitement.

Sonja rested, keeping calm. Come on, you're mature now, Sonja. Don't flip… Don't flip… Ooh! She shook. I.. I can't help it! This is gonna be so much fun!

If these guys are as strong as they say, we may be in trouble… Mary wondered.

Terra, however, wondered about different things. I hope I get to see mom and dad…

"Here we go…" Jackie gulped, stepping out of the plane, and into the building. The walls were enormous, stretching high upward. Various statues adorned the building's insides, mainly of legendary Pokémon native to the region.

Jackie was surprised to see a large amount of Flying-type legends as he was led through the building, up to a room with four doors before him, with a square with a circle at each of its corners in the center of the room, with a pedestal in front of it.

The attendant left, and Jackie was left alone in the room, walking toward the pedestal, which was adorned with a plaque, which he read:

"Hark, o' challenger!

Which path shall you choose?

Beyond each door stands one of Four

Will you reach the end, or shall you just lose?"

Hmm… Jackie looked up at the doors. Each had a symbol marking it, with a plaque above the door, listing a title. He also noticed a camera recording him, broadcasting the challenge to the viewers live, before a more cinematic cut would be released later using more varied footage, "We'll start here," taking a random guess, he went to the one whose plaque read: 'The Free Ophidian'.

Opening the door, he entered a long hallway, his first step triggering a mechanism shaped like a plane to carry him straight to the end, lights flashing with each step he took, the walls showcasing, in a flashing series, each of the Gym Badges he had attained, up until he stepped through a large door at the end, which opened for him as he approached.

"Huh?" his eyes widened upon entering; he was in a large, wide-open room, the center of which was filled with tall grass, ranging from half his height to taller than he was. Some telltale white lines denoted this as the battlefield, emphasis on the field part, as the area gave the impression of plains covered in tall grass.

The design of the walls and ceiling further enhanced this effect, in that there was no ceiling, just the wide open expanse of the sky, with the walls having the appearance of the plains stretching far off into the distance.

"Hello, challenger."

"WHA?!" Jackie jumped at the greeting, which came from the battlefield.

From the tall grass, a figure slinked back from the tallest vegetation, becoming visible again as he stepped into the shorter grass toward the the other end of the battlefield.

Jackie recognized the attire anywhere, "Michael!"

He wore a stylized pilot uniform: a black suit with a white captain's hat. His suit was covered in ruby red gashes around the torso, the limbs having sapphire blue ones instead. He also wore a strange set of goggles that almost hid his emerald green eyes from view, while his hair, which was styled slickly like a politician's, save for the spiky sideburns, shined silver.

"Under more informal situations, yes," Michael nodded as a plane flew by overhead, dropping a package down via parachute, "But this is the Elite Four," the pilot grinned, gesturing to himself with his thumb, "Here I am The Free Ophidian: Michael Endo of the Elite Four!" he clenched his fist, "And it appears you have chosen me as your first opponent."

"That I have," Jackie grinned back.

"Hmm? I sense confidence. Hope you can back that up," Michael tapped his foot on the area designated for him, causing the sound of gears turning to reach them, the ground they were standing on rising into the air, to Jackie's surprise, giving them a platform from which they could see the grassland below them.

"To be honest, I can't wait to start our battle," Michael smiled, grabbing the package from the air as it fell, disconnecting the parachute, which fell behind him, "My brother talks about you a lot. He's really impressed with your skills; can't wait to see them for myself," he opened the package, revealing a set of Poké Balls, which he attached to clips around his belt. He sighed, "I remember when I was in your shoes, when I first stepped into the Elite Four Challenge…." he picked out one Poké Ball in particular, his hand clenching around it, "…We had a fresh, young champion then… but he wasn't in the best of moods. I barely recognized him…" he closed his eyes, and shook his head, "But that's a story for later," he looked to Jackie with proud eyes, "While I'd much rather be fighting my brother here, I guess you'll do. You've done well to make it this far, Jackie, but don't think I'll let you get any farther!"

"Oh, just try and stop me," Jackie grinned back.

"Heh," Michael smiled, "Then let your Elite Four Challenge begin," he tossed out the Poké Ball, which split, releasing his first Pokémon in an arc of red energy, "NOW!"