Pocket Wars: Akane's Career (20200925)

Kantou League: Summer
Hou'en League: Spring
Joutou League: Fall
Shin'ou League: Winter
Issue: Fall
Kalos: Spring
Alola: Summer
Galar: Winter

Akane Redwood (b.1981) participates in the 1996 Kantou League, the 1997 Hou'en League, the 1999 Shin'ou League, the 2000 Isshu League. Akane wins the Kantou and Hou'en Leagues, building a reputation as the possible next coming of Wataru.

1995-1996:

The story begins with a young egg initially named “Jonathan Redwood III”, the middling son of the famous John Junior, a powerful and well-respected Pokemon trainer turned war hero. “The Third” eventually realizes that they are a transgender woman and transitions medically and socially across the first year of her journey.

Akane Redwood and her childhood friends Orchid Jack and Aoki Junko fight against the evil Rocket Gang trying to take over the Kantou Prefecture. They defeat Boss Sakaki together but the battle leaves them with many scars. With the Rocket Gang disbanded, the trio enters the Kantou Prefectural League. Akane ends her heated rivalry with Jack in the final round.

As a winner of those annual League tournaments, Akane is allowed to enter the annual Champion League. The Champion Leagues can only be entered by those that have once one that specific region’s annual League (which requires the collection of eight badges to enter). Akane loses in the first round of the Kantou Champion League to a experienced trainer who has tried and failed for years to make it past the first round of the Kantou Champion League.

1997:

During 1997 Vice-Admiral Matis assigns Akane to aid the Hou'en Navy in stopping their Aqua Gang from their eco-terrorism. Meanwhile, Aoki Junko is attempting to stop the Magma Gang from wreaking havoc on the lands of Hou'en. Finally the two Kantou trainers help defeat the two eco-terrorism groups. In May, Akane defeats Junko to win the Hou’en League but loses to Mikuru in the first round of the Hou’en Champion League. Mikuru then goes on to dethrone Daigo and become the Hou’en Prefecture Super Champion.

The Jouto League is not formed until Jouto is recognized as a Prefecture in 1999 after a war for independence from Kantou (April 1997 through August 1998). Akane participates in the war as a soldier trainer for Kantou under the command of Vice-Admiral Matis. Akane defeats the Neo Rocket Gang leadership secretly instigating the war between Kantou and the Joutou Colonies while Wataru and Karin, leader of the Joutou Revolutionary Army, clash. Wataru eventually defeats Karin and asks her to return to diplomacy so that they might create a lasting and true relationship with Kantou and before the national government interferes in the conflict with devastating force.

1998:

After the war, Akane seeks a fresh start and travels the Shin'ou Prefecture from October 1998 through February 1999). Akane loses in the final round of the Shin'ou League to Sakaki, who earned a begrudging pardon from the Prime Minister of Japan for contributions he made to the war in Jouto. Sakaki defeats Akane with a Mega Lizardon-Y, his original starter Pokemon whom had once abandoned him years ago when he first set down the path of evil.

1999:

The first Jouto League Tournament is held November 1999, but many trainers—including Akane—do not enter so that the first League is won by a Jouto trainer out of respect for the siblings they fought in the war. The winner of the first Jouto Prefectural League is [name]. They lose in a bid to battle the new Joint Kantou-Jouto Four Heavenly Kings.

2000:

Haunted by her time in the Kantou-Jouto war and unable to accept that Sakaki has reformed and rediscovered his passion for Pokemon battles, Akane travels to the Isshu region. Much to her dismay, Akane finds herself in a funk. Lizardon cannot use his fire-type moves and seems weaker and slower than usual. None of Akane's new Isshu Pokemon will evolve or show much strength and motivation, either. Each battle seems a struggle, despite constant training and years of experience in life-or-death battles. Akane loses in the third round of the October 2000 Isshu League. Despondent, having embarrassed herself and Japan in foreign nation's League, Akane Redwood, the young genius who had showed so much promise as a rising national star of Japan, disappears completely. No official matches—either in local city tournaments, gym challenges, or League tournaments—are recorded.

A haggard Akane Redwood reappears publically at the 2000 Kantou League Tournament. Too busy fighting in the Jouto War in 1997 to re-enter the Kantou Champion League, Akane attempts to claim Wataru’s title. Akane loses in the first round to an unremarkable trainer. Her friends, having seen her for the first time in years try to confront her about her disappearance, but Akane is too wrapped up in her social anxiety to hold a substantive conversation. Junko approaches Vice-Admiral Matis, who reveals that he has been assigning missions abroad to Akane, but it is always only ever conducted through text messages and emails so he hadn’t realized how worn down she had become. Even though her battling appears to be worse than ever she still gets the missions done. Junko begins to wonder if Akane isn't suffering from some form of stage fright. With the help of Orchid Jack and their other friends, Aoki Junko hunts down Akane and challenges him to a battle. Akane proves a match for Junko, but when Jack and his other fellows make themselves known she loses concentration and loses her battle with Junko. Akane makes a run for it, babbling incoherently. Junko catches up and tries to slap some sense into him. Falling into her arms, the physically and mentally wrecked Akane can only say “So, so tired.”

Junko takes Akane back to the Redwood Farm in Masara Town. Akane’s mom leaves on a new Pokemon journey and neglects to say how long she will be gone, leaving Akane and Junko to tend the farm alone. The functional but otherwise catatonic Akane spends her days working the farm or sitting quietly. Akane does not leave the farm and refuses to be seen by anyone but her caretaker, Junko. Their relationship historically antagonistic but increasingly softening, Junko does her best to engage Akane in any sort of activity. The little fire remaining in Akane’s heart is wrapped in the warmth of she whom he has increasing difficulty not acknowledging as her girlfriend. After three months of living alone together on the farm the two share a single bed. The harsh Kantou Winter of 2000 is thwarted by their skin-ship.

In spring 2000 Akane Redwood and Aoki Junko wed. They continue to lead a quiet farm life. Akane returns to training her Pokemon on the farm, but does not travel. Laughter returns to their lives. Akane finds she can roam Masara Town without feeling like a failure or shame to the shire. The strength to forgive herself begins to return to the tired soldier. Painful memories and guilt are replaced by vivid, real and present emotions. Junko announces she is with child, stirring definite life within the scarred Akane.

2001:

In January 2001 Vice-Admiral Matis, himself expecting a child with his trademark adjutant turned wife, congratulates the Redwoods on their coming addition, but also brings news of a mission. There is trouble in the Kalos region and Kantou has been asked to send in a specialist. Orchid Jack is on assignment elsewhere and while other trainers are available Matis would really rather try and get Akane back on the horse again. Finding herself now in the position of her old man, Akane contemplates leaving behind a child for ‘the battle’. Junko knows Akane will never let it down if she doesn’t finish her business with the world, but is also worried she might get hurt again. After some thinking, Akane declines to take the mission, stating that she doesn’t need to be a soldier anymore because she isn’t her father’s son, she is her own trainer.

Akane receives a wild card entry into the Japanese National Champion League, the tournament normally meant only for trainers like Wataru, Shirona, Daigo, and Mikuru. Knowing that she will need more power than ever before to even hope of winning, Akane seeks out the man who has consumed her mind every waking moment: Sakaki. Sakaki agrees to help Akane train. Akane and Lizardon begin to work to regain their fire-type moves as well as master Mega Evolution, as Sakaki did. Eventually, just in time for the tournament in December, Akane and Lizardon achieve the Mega Lizardon-X form!

The Japanese National Champion League is fierce, even more so than the Prefectural Champion Leagues she previously participated in. Little by little, Akane manages to rebuild her strength and even seems to be growing in strength.

Best Sixteen:
Akane v. Daigo: Daigo, who had lost his title as Hou’en Super Champion before his promised battle with Akane, is pleased to finally battle the trainer that had enchanted him when they worked together to save Hou’en.

Best Eight:
Akane v. [Undecided]:

Best Four:
Akane v. Shirona:
Wataru v. [Current Japanese Champion, Wataru’s mother]: Wataru has struggled for years to defeat her, the mightiest Pokemon trainer in Japan since Wataru was a child.

Finals:
Akane v. Wataru: Wataru, who has struggled for years with the image of being the great and favored hero champion—much like Akane did—finally makes his way to the final round. Now is his chance to finally prove that he is that hero by formally taking the title of Japan’s Number One Trainer. Akane teaches Wataru that it is okay for him to lose by defeating the dragon master at last.

2002:

Akane takes 2002 off to rest and spend time with her newborn son, Joyo (Jonathan IV [yonsei]). Akane accepts one challenge every six months to maintain her title as Japanese National Champion but otherwise spends her time rest on the farm with her wife, child and Pokemon. The previous national champion—now ranked #3 behind Wataru and Akane—retains her post as the Japanese Pokemon League Chairman.

Adeku is defeated by the young prodigy, Iris. Adeku resigns as New York ‘Isshu’ State League Chairman and enters a semi-retirement.

At the 2002 Shin’ou Champion League Shirona defeats Sakaki to reclaim her position as the best in Shin’ou. Sakaki takes the loss with ease and returns to a life of journeying.

2003:

Akane returns to climbing to the top of the world. Akane travels to the land of her grandfather, John Senior, to hold dual national championships. The US Champion—Miss Lopez—isn’t much impressed and passes on accepting a title challenge. Using her title as Japanese National Champion as bait for the fifty US State Super Champions (trainers on Wataru and Shirona’s level) Akane sets about humiliating the US. After seeing four of the State Super Champions crushed by Akane the US National Champion agrees to Akane’s request but Akane declines, going about crushing the entirety of the fifty State Super Champions to make a point. National Champions rarely defend their titles more than three or four times in a year. To prove her strength, Akane defends her title FIFTY TIMES in the span of 2003.

In May, Akane and Miss Lopez finally duke it out for fifty-two titles: winner takes all. Trainer Journalists are at a fever pitch, having watching Akane efficiently conquer their fifty State Super Champions in three months, all to avoid waiting until for the next US National Pokemon League Tournament. Fighting at full power, Akane and her team led by Lizardon defeat Miss Lopez after a stunning twelve hour match.

The United States has been utterly embarrassed in front of the entire world. World Champion Samantha Young, who has been the world champion for ninety-nine years, is revealed to the audience. Having not been seen outside of a dark cloak in decades, Samantha is the undefeated, self-titled empress of Pokemon battling. Samantha’s Pokemon team is made up of discarded Pokemon designs, such as Gyaoon and Gorochu.

Akane spends the rest of the year at home being a wife and mom, training at home to keep her Pokemon in shape and accepting her required US title defense in December.

2004:

Akane lets her hold on the fifty US state titles expire without defending them citing that it would be too much work and the World Pokemon League was getting on her about them. Nevertheless, Akane is still viewed as the most fearsome of the national champions among the 195 national champions specifically. With a target on her back everyone is gunning for her to earn the prestige of defeating ‘Akane the Uniter’.

In June, Akane enters the Pokemon World Championship, a League tournament where only those who have once held the title of national champion can enter. Akane struggles through grueling matches until she reaches the final round, opposite World Champion Samantha Young. Samantha is initially transphobic and disparaging of Akane but across their battle—which stretches across seven twelve hour days—the world champion’s spirit for competition is reignited. As a result of the course of the battle Samantha’s cloak is destroyed, revealing a horrifying skeleton-esque creature. Yes, Samantha’s powerful aura as a trainer took on an old and embittered flavor. Refusing to change and grow with the times, Samantha became a sort of monster in her own right. Samantha warns Akane that her monstrous form is what waits “trainers like us, unstoppable, monstrous souls that live for battle locked behind a human’s face”. Lizardon defeats Gyaoon and Samantha’s reign is finally ended.

December rolls around and Akane is required to defend her title before the year ends. The new, young Galar State Champion challenges Akane in a flashy manner on TV, catching Akane and Rikkun’s eyes. Akane accepts the challenge of Galar’s undisputed champion: Dande and his Lizardon. Preferring to normally have small matches without audiences, Akane reluctantly agrees to a proper battle at the World Pokemon League Coliseum where World Champion title matches are normally held. Dande and his Lizardon unleash Kyoudai Max and defeat Akane and Rikkun. Akane loses her first title defense and returns home.

2005:

With Dande building his own reign as the new undefeated World Champion Akane remains home in Masara Town with her family. Dande uses his influence as a people’s champion to reform the World Pokemon Championships to a ranking system. Instead of needing to win a League tournament trainers can now simply raise their ranks by battling other trainers, either individually or through smaller local tournaments. For Akane, this means that she must now return to the bottom of the pool if she chooses to participate and defeat Dande.

April arrives and Orchid Jack returns to Tokiwa City to reopen the gym as its new gym leader. Jack tells Akane in their first meeting in years that he has reason to believe that Dande is planning something sinister based on his desire to make Galar’s Pokemon trainers the most powerful through training and pushing them to compete with new trainers all around the world. Dande is also apparently spending vast amounts of money but he’s not sure on what. Akane tells Jack that she’ll consider returning to the action soon and try to investigate. Jack says that he plans on training young trainers to help in case a war breaks out.

After discussing things with Junko, Akane decides to travel to Galar and participate in the gym challenge so as to try and find out details about Dande.

Most details that Akane learns are all stories about positive interactions, leading Akane to question just what is going on with Dande if so many people have nothing bad to say about him. Akane soon learns of the gym leaders back in Kantou and other areas around the world are now seeing less traffic leading to concerns that the gyms’ budgets will be slashed and their livelihoods and ways of life threatened. The twelve gym leaders of the Galar State seem unaffected and continue to provide strong press relations to keep the changes being made by Dande in a positive light.

Dande eventually announces that the gym leader format is being ended. There will no longer be any officially recognized gyms and all state and national League tournaments are being reformed to be open to all trainers as simple branches of the World Pokemon League. ‘Home pride’ has been stripped from being a Pokemon trainer. As a result the practice of allowing Champions or Shiten-Ou to operate the Pokemon League branches in each reason is ended and they are replaced by new non-trainers from the World Pokemon League (World Office). Akane and the others feel uneasy about these changes.

Having defeated Yarrow, Rurina, Kabu and Mary before the shuttering of the gym leader system Akane decides to personally challenge Dande to a title match during a press conference. Akane hopes to embarrass Dande into a match on live camera but Dande doesn’t take the bait and calmly states that he really only has the time to battle those in the Masters Eight, which the Normal-Class Akane is clearly not a part of at the time. Realizing that Dande has essentially solidified his position as a sort of tyrannical ‘Pokemon Emperor’ Akane accepts that she can only change things if she plays his game.

Dande announces a battle royal tournament called ‘Battle Max’, a no-holds bar survival tournament where not only is killing Pokemon and trainers permitted but it is encouraged. The new pro-killing rule is extended to regular Pokemon matches as well. Akane is shocked by this. Pokemon battling is a system designed as a sport, not a tool for training soldiers. Furthermore, many millions of trainers earn their livings through Pokemon battles, to now be forced to choose between life and death will harm the pool of trainers that has taken years to cultivate.

Akane enters Battle Max in hopes of winning to make a point. Death plagues the battle royal death game set on a small island. No matter how much Akane tries to prevent murder through reasoned discussion she fails. Finally, Akane figures out that some of the Battle Max participants are plants: disciples of Dande inserted into the tournament specifically to help normalize the new status quo.

Akane is devastated by having to murder to survive the Battle Max. Akane returns home to Masara Town to rest. Two days after the Battle Max Kibana, the former Knuckle City Gym Leader, approaches Akane at her home and reveals that he is leading a resistance to remove Dande from his position by force. Kibana reveals that Dande is seeking to not simply control the Pokemon League but also to control the main governments of each nation. “Dande sees himself as an undefeated child of god. He’s obsessed.” Kibana is the lone Galar State all-star willing to break ranks from Dande but he has collected trainers from Galar and other nations to his plan. Akane agrees to join, determined to stop Dande once and for all.

To keep themselves public and sympathetic in the eyes of the people Akane, Kibana and the others continue to participate in the Pokemon World Championship. Kibana makes it into the Master-Class before Akane and joins Dande and six of his hand-picked loyalists. Kibana challenges Dande to a battle at a press conference but Dande calmly and ‘rationally’ changes the rules again: all Master-Class battles are to be done in the Master Cup, a seasonal tournament between the Masters Eight. Kibana bides his time.

Akane watches Kibana battle gruelingly through the Master Cup. Obviously, the tournament was rigged so that Kibana would only be able to face the Master of Masters, Dande, in the final round. Dande further rigs the tournament by using some freshly captured Pokemon to appear as if he is fighting fairly. As a result, those Pokemon die in the battle and Dande gets to maintain his everyman persona. An exhausted Kibana Team finally reaches the final round and face Dande. Dande sets about permanently retiring each of Kibana’s Pokemon with his true, well-rested Pokemon team. Dande tells Kibana that he should be grateful he didn’t kill his Pokemon and that his little rebellion won’t mean anything in the end.