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Chapter 112: Five Years Forward!
🕑 Added 2025-03-24 16:02:28 +0000 UTC----Timeskip Five Years Forward-------
Five years had swept by like a whirlwind since Gladion Vortex hoisted the Indigo League trophy, and the boy who'd once strutted onto the finals stage was now a young man of 15—tall, lean, and brimming with the same cocky swagger, tempered by a sharper edge. He now looked like a proper young man who goes to a gym a lot.
He has managed to develop some muscles thanks to a certain youthful Machamp motivating him to not be lazy and rely on his psychic powers to get his work done. He also now sported three great balls attached to a chain around his neck.
Three Pokémon that were very special. One of them being special emotionally and the other two being special literally.a
In the Pokémon world, at the age of 10, You are said to become an adult but age 15 marked genuine adulthood—a rite of passage where trainers were no longer kids fumbling with Poké Balls but adults trusted to carve their own paths.
It was an age where responsibility loomed, where the line between prodigy and protector blurred, and Gladion stood poised to leap across it, his sights set on a legacy all his own.
He lounged in his Moonwood Town bedroom—now a shrine of trophies, training gear, lot's of photos with different Pokémon both his and others and half-finished battle strategies—scrolling Pokégram on his sleek Poképhone.
His handle, @VortexChamp, boasted a following that dwarfed even some Elite Four stars, a testament to his Junior League win and the mystique of Annihilape's debut. And him getting in news regularly for the last five years.
His latest post glowed on the screen: a smirking selfie, arms crossed, captioned, "Two days 'til I school Champion Pryce. Kanto's reckoning is coming—mark your calendars!" The likes poured in—hundreds of thousands—comments flooding with fire emojis, "You've got this, Gladion" and "Pryce is toast!"
Even the official @Pokégram account had reposted it, hyping the match with, "History in the making—Junior Champ Gladion Vortex challenges Indigo's Ice King Pryce! Don't miss it!"
Of course, they had to post it. He is literally the one that told them to do so as it's owner. The other social media sites under him too posted something similar.
That challenge right was his prize from five years ago—a golden ticket earned with the Junior League crown. Beating Pryce wouldn't make him Champion, though—that wasn't how it worked. The Champion's mantle wasn't just a shiny badge; it was a burden, a shield for the region against threats like rogue legendaries or shadowy syndicates.
Pryce handled diplomacy, disaster response, and more—duties no one sane would dump on a 15-year-old, prodigy or not. Winning would mark Gladion as a contender, sure—proof of elite strength—but he'd need years of mentorship, 3 to 5 at least, to learn the ropes: strategy beyond battles, regional politics, crisis management.
'Me, a Champion now?' Gladion snorted at the thought, sprawled on his bed. 'I'd rather wrestle a Garchomp blindfolded than drown in paperwork. I'm not ready for that grind—yet.'
His real prize wasn't the title—it was the clout. Beating Pryce would cement his name, a neon sign screaming, "Gladion Vortex: Gym Leader Material." He'd been running the Vortex family's minor gym since he was 12 from time to time, a scrappy outpost for local trainers.
Now, at 15, he aimed to escalate it to a major gym—a beacon recognized by the League, a proving ground for rookies and veterans alike. The recognition from toppling a Champion would silence doubters—no one could question his strength or his ability to safeguard Moonwood and its surrounds.
Young trainers would flock to him, eager for wisdom from the guy who'd humbled Pryce. 'They'll hang on my every word,' he mused, smirking. 'Oh, Gladion, teach me your ways!' And I'll mold 'em into pretty awesome trainers. '
In two days, the Indigo Stadium—fully booked, every seat claimed—would host not just his clash with Pryce but Gwen's showdown too. She'd stormed the Johto League the year after his win, claiming her own Junior title. Now, at 15, she'd challenged Blaine, Kanto's fiery Elite Four veteran, aiming to snag his spot with Agatha's mentorship.
In two years, she could be an Elite Four member—ghostly, grinning, and insufferable.
"Same day, huh?" Gladion chuckled, scrolling comments some predicting a Vortex double win.
"She'll probably try to upstage me—typical gremlin move."
He set the phone down, turning to the six Poké Balls lined up on his desk—his chosen team for Pryce, culled from the 14 he'd raised over the years.
Some of their occupants remained a mystery, even to his closest allies—no leaks, no hints.
Were Hydros' cannons gleaming inside one? Mystique's scales shimmering? Lee's fists itching? Nyx's rings pulsing? Or had Beldum—now a hulking Metagross—made the cut? Maybe a new face lurked among them, maybe a legendary? Maybe a Pokémon from another region [A/N: Strat guessing folks]
Gladion stood, pacing before the Pokéballs, his voice rising with passion, arrogance, and a dash of absurdity. "Alright, you glorious beasts—listen up! In two days, we're stepping into that stadium to make history—again! Pryce thinks he's untouchable, some frosty old relic with his Ice-types—ha! We're gonna melt his glaciers, shatter his ego, and leave him crying into his Piloswine's fur! You six? You're my squad for the match—the unstoppable Vortex legion! I've trained you, battled with you, yelled at you when you ate my snacks—" He glared at one ball. "—and now it's payoff time! We're not just fighting for a win; we're fighting for Grandpa Maren's legacy, for every kid who'll walk into our gym dreaming big! So puff out your chests—or coils, or whatever you've got—and let's show 'em why I'm the champ who doesn't need a crown to rule! Who's with me?!"
The Poké Balls rocked faintly, a chorus of muffled roars and trills echoing from within—agreement, defiance, or maybe just hunger.
Gladion grinned, fists clenched. "That's the spirit! Pryce won't know what hit him—probably 'cause he'll be too busy slipping on his own ice, the old coot!"
He flopped back onto his bed, adrenaline buzzing. Five years had sharpened him—countless battles, new captures, sleepless nights plotting moves.
Beating Pryce would thrust the gym into the spotlight—a major gym, a League-sanctioned fortress. He'd prove he could protect Moonwood, fend off threats, and guide trainers with advice they'd actually heed. 'Who'd ignore tips from the guy who KO'd a Champion?' he thought, smirking.
The social media hype wasn't just his doing—@Pokégram's repost had skyrocketed the match's profile, drawing eyes from Kanto, Johto, even beyond. It'd be the event of the year, a double-header with Gwen's Elite Four bid stealing some thunder.
He scrolled Pokégram again, replies flooding in. "Which six, Gladion?!" Someone had asked
He smirked, typing, "Wait and see—my team's a surprise that'll thaw Pryce's frosty heart!" The post went live, likes ticking up instantly. Two days—two days until he'd step into that ring and claim his destiny which was decided just after he was reborn in this world.
Comments
Aryan Dugar
This time jump was probably the last one. Well, there would be no time jump as big as this one
Shadow13
Hope this novel doesn't do similar time jumps too frequently. They are fine now and then but if they are too frequent or jump too far in the timeline then it can ruin reader's connection to the plot.
Hudie
Didn't see the time jump coming😁
