Kamon and I were sitting in the Pokécenter in Chrono, discussing what we should do next.  I opted to stay in Gehta.  I knew I could beat Crystal, now that I know what her Pokémon are.
She completely threw me off guard.  She had four legendary Pokémon are her team!  There would be no way to beat that easily.  Kamon said that I was getting a taste of my own medicine, however.  He said that all of the trainers I beat probably felt the same way, since I used two legendary Pokémon.
Kamon, on the other hand, wanted to go south, to the Orange Islands.  He said that down in the Orange Islands there were four more gyms and a stadium.
'The leagues just keep getting smaller and smaller,' I remarked.  Kamon nodded.
He continued, 'Well, I think it would be good training.'
'It's an amateur league, Kamon,' I said.  'It would do no good to us at all.'
'It's not an amateur league,' Kamon corrected.  'Well, at least, that's what I've heard.  No, it's not as hard as this league, but it will still do us some good.  It can't hurt, Drew.'  I pondered that for a moment.  Then, suddenly, Kamon's eyes lit up and he raised both his eyebrows.  He snapped his fingers.  'I got it!' he shouted.
'Got what?' I asked.  Several people glanced at Kamon to see what he was yelling about.
'We can go to the Battle Tower just north of Olivine!  It's perfect.  They have different levels of abilities there, so we can battle against people just as strong as we are.  What do you say?'
I thought about that for a moment, and then said, 'Sounds good to me.  When can we leave?'
We left almost immediately.  We had a choice as to whether we were going to hike back over the Zenith Mountains, or to fly.  I chose to fly.
Kamon unleashed his Delibird, while I used my Lugia.  I preferred riding on my Lugia than riding on Ho-oh because I felt that Lugia was more graceful.  Ho-oh's movements were not.
We flew over the once green mountains that were now blanketed in white, fluffy snow.  The sky was a perfect blue; there wasn't a cloud in sight.  It made the ride back to Kanto much easier.
We arrived in Viridian City about a half an hour to an hour after we left Chrono.  Kamon and I recalled our Pokémon, and then rode a bike (which we borrowed from the local Pokécenter) to Saffron City.  We took the train back to Goldenrod, and then flew back to Olivine.
The weather in Olivine was not quite as good as it was in Gehta.  It was not snowing, but it was still cold (it was January).  The sky was cloudy, and it was raining.  This made the trip very miserable.
'From here,' Kamon said, 'we go northwest.  The Battle Tower isn't far from here.  It should only take us ten minutes or so.'
'Couldn't we just fly to the Battle Tower?' I asked.
'I think that our Pokémon have flown enough today,' Kamon replied.  'And should not have to work harder to make up for your laziness.  Come on, let's go.'  We walked, in the rain (I like to emphasize this because I did not enjoy this one bit, and I hope that Kamon hated it too.  I was completely miserable), until we had gone above the city.  It started to rain harder.
In front of us was a sign that read (although it was very hard to read because of the rain):
'BATTLE TOWER STRAIGHT AHEAD 1 MILE.'
From where I was standing, I could see the Battle Tower.  Or, at least, its shadow through the rain.  It was a tall, dark image, rising above us into the heavens.
The closer we got to the Battle Tower, the taller it seemed to get.  However, it could have been because of the rain (impairing our vision).
I looked up once we got to the base of the structure.  I could not see the top.
'Kamon,' I said (although I had to speak slightly louder than normal because of the rain making so much noise).  'How tall is this thing?'
'About 77 stories high,' Kamon replied.  I looked at him in disbelief.  It was taller than the Tin Tower, the place where I caught Ho-oh.
We rushed inside.  We were dripping wet, and getting water all over the floor.  Small water puddles formed in our muddy tracks.
       Of all things I forgot to bring, I thought.  It was a poncho or an umbrella.
Kamon and I walked up to the reception area.  The secretary turned around to greet us.
'Hello,' she said.  She paused while she glanced at our soppy clothes.  She continued: 'Er, welcome to the Battle Tower.  Will you be battling today?'
I took a quick look at Kamon, who rolled his eyes.  It was like, No duh we want to battle here.  That's why it's called the Battle Tower.  Why else would we be here?
'Yes,' I responded.
'Which level would you like?' she questioned.
'One hundred,' I said.  Her eyes enlarged as I said those words.
'One-one hundred?' she stuttered.
Must I repeat myself? I thought.  'Yes, one hundred.'
'Oh, okay,' said the secretary.  She obviously did not get very many people asking for the chance to fight against trainers with level 100 Pokémon.  'Well, step right this way.'  She led us to an elevator, and hit a button with the number '66' on it.
Apparently to floors go like this: floor one is the reception area.  Floor two is a Pokémon Center.  Floors three through nine are battle areas for level 10 Pokémon.  The first battle areas on floor three were for the first stage, and so on.  You had to beat seven people, or win on every floor for the level 10 Pokémon, to win the grand prize.
Floors 10 through 16 were battle areas for level 20 Pokémon (or less).  Floors 17 through 23 were battle areas for level 30 Pokémon.  Floors 24 through 30 were for level 40 Pokémon.  Floors 31 through 37 were for level 50 Pokémon.  Floors 38 through 44 were for level 60 Pokémon.  Floors 45 through 51 were for level 70 Pokémon (which is usually the highest any trainer would go.  The challenge level most frequently picked was level 50).  Floors 52 through 58 were for level 80 Pokémon.  Floors 59 through 65 were for level 90 Pokémon.  Finally, floors 66 through 72 were for level 100 Pokémon.  Floors 73 through 77 were a mystery to me, but I thought that they might be management offices.  And, probably, where they control everything that goes on in the Battle Tower.  You know, like a secret control room.  Rumor had it that there were several basement floors, but no one that has ever been there had spoken of them.  Either that, or no one had been down there.
There was a 'ding,' and the elevator doors opened.
The battle arena in front of us was very simple: the floor was blue tile, with white tile forming the distinct shape of a Pokéball.  Kamon walked into the center of the battle floor.  I waited by the elevator.
So this is what it was like watching me battle back in Gehta, I thought.  A trainer walked through a door in the far left corner of the room.  He joined Kamon in the center of the arena.
'You ready,' he asked.  'Because I'm going to maul Pokémon.'
'Of course I'm ready,' Kamon replied.  'I'm always ready.'
'Then send out a Pokémon,' the trainer said.  Kamon threw out an Ultra Ball, unleashing his Typhlosion.  The opposing trainer used Sandslash.
'Typhlosion, Dynamic Punch attack!' said Kamon.  Typhlosion charged at the spiky Ground-type Pokémon, swinging its glowing fist around.  There was a huge explosion as Typhlosion struck Sandslash.
'Sandslash, Earthquake!' the opposing trainer commanded.  Sandslash jumped up into the air and then slammed its claws onto the tile arena.
The earth didn't move much; I assumed that it was because the Tower was designed to absorb the shock of an earthquake and other attacks emitted from Pokémon.
However, the attack, as far as I could tell, did the same amount of damage.
As the battle continued, a lady walked over to me and said, 'Are you waiting to battle?'
'Yes,' I responded.  'I'm waiting for him to get through so that I can fight someone.'
'Oh, you should have said something,' the woman replied.  'Here.  Come with me.'  She walked over to the other side of the arena.  I turned around to see Typhlosion attack Sandslash with Fire Blast.  Sandslash retaliated with Slash.
We walked through the small door in the far left corner of the room.  We entered a dark hallway, with only a few lights.  About one quarter of the way down the corridor, we came to a door.  The lady I was walking with opened the door, and let me in.
'A trainer will be with you in a moment,' she said.  I nodded.
This room was exactly like the room that Kamon was battling in.  I could tell no difference.
Within a few moments' time, a female trainer appeared.  She had blonde hair tied back into a ponytail, with a green shirt and blue jean shorts.
'You must be my opponent,' she said.
'Then you must be my victim,' I returned.  Her eyes narrowed.
'I don't think so,' she replied.
'We'll see,' I said.  'Go, Heracross!'  I threw a Pokéball into the enclosed battle room.  It unleashed my Heracross.
'Ninetales, attack!  I want you to use Flamethrower,' said the girl (I didn't have a chance to catch her name).
'Block it,' I said, 'with a Detect!'  Heracross stuck out her hand out with perfect timing; Ninetales's attack was deflected.  'Now, use Earthquake.'  Heracross raised her right foot into the air, and then slammed in on the ground.  Of course, because I had seen this attack used earlier, I knew that Earthquake would do little in the Battle Tower.  It still did enough damage to keep me happy and Ninetales at bay.
'Ninetales, use a Confuse Ray!'  The yellow fox-like Pokémon created a sparkling white light.  It shined over my Pokémon, confusing it.
'That won't stop us,' I retorted.  'Heracross, Rock Slide!'  Heracross hurt itself in confusion, but was still in the battle.  The girl's Ninetales attacked with Fire Blast, but missed.  Heracross snapped out of his confusion.  'Great job, Heracross, now try to use Rock Slide again.'  Ninetales was pummeled by boulders, and was knocked out.
'Return, my Ninetales,' said the girl.  'Venusaur, go!  Skull Bash, now!'  The girl's Venusaur reared its head back, and then charged into my Heracross, knocking her out.
'Probably going to recall you anyway,' I commented.  'Ho-oh, go!  Use Sacred Fire!'  My legendary bird of Fire attacked Venusaur with the pillar of flames.  Venusaur retaliated with a Body Slam, but it did less than mediocre damage.
'Venusaur, try a Hyper Beam!'
'Ho-oh, dodge it!' I commanded.  'Fly!'  Ho-oh evaded the high-powered Normal-type attack, and then rammed into Venusaur.  'Take that,' I muttered under my breath.  While Venusaur recharged, I told my Ho-oh to use Fire Blast, knocking out Venusaur.  My opponent was down to only one Pokémon.  I had this match made.
Of course, I won.  I also won the next five matches.  Finally, I was down to the last match; if I won, I won the prize.  I didn't know how Kamon was faring.
The last match was against someone named Jason.  He was in a wheelchair, and, for a reason unknown, looked very familiar.
My thoughts went back to several years ago, before I was a trainer.  I remember hearing about a person named Jason Creight, but I couldn't remember what exactly he did, or why I remembered him; all I remembered was that he was a powerful trainer who was in a wheelchair.  Many more years experience than I had, of course.
All I had to do was beat this trainer, if he was indeed Jason, as I suspected.
'So, you are my last foe,' I said.
'That's right,' the trainer replied.  'My name is Jason.  Yours?'
I grinned.  I was right.  'Drew,' I responded.
Jason's eyes lit up.  'Oh?  As in the same Drew who has conquered all of the leagues?  Well, except for the Prime League-'
I cut him off.  'Yeah, that's me.  Now let's battle.  Send out your Pokémon.'
'Feisty.  All right, Charizard, go!' Jason yelled.  The first Pokéball was thrown into the arena.  I sent out Feraligatr.  'Charizard, Aeroblast!'  The Fire Pokémon spread its wings apart, gathering energy for the Flying-type attack.  The was blasted at Feraligatr, sending him to the other side of the arena.
'Feraligatr, don't let him push you around!  Hydro Pump!' I commanded.
'Of course you're using that attack,' said Jason.  'Too stereotypical.  Charizard, dodge it!'  Charizard flew back down toward the ground, almost touching it, and dodged the attack.
Tricky, I thought.  'Feraligatr, Waterfall!'  A column of water crashed down on Charizard, causing a lot of damage.  Not nearly enough to get knocked out, of course.  Jason's Charizard responded with an Iron Tail.  'Try a Blizzard, Feraligatr.'
'Trying to freeze my Pokémon?  Unlikely.  Sunny Day, Charizard!' Jason instructed.
Man, this guy thinks of everything, I thought.  The Ice attack did an average amount of damage.  Feraligatr was going to have to pick up the pace, or we were going to lose.  Feraligatr used Surf, at my command, nearly knocking out Charizard.
'Earthquake,' Jason told his Pokémon.  The attack brought Feraligatr to his knees, but not knocked out.  Thankfully.
'All right, now use your Surf again,' I commanded my Feraligatr.  Another tidal wave crashed over Charizard, knocking him out. 'Yes!  Great job, Feraligatr.'
'We'll see how you fare against my next Pokémon.  Dragonite, go!  Use Thunderbolt!' Jason cried.
This was the third trainer in a row that has used a Dragon Pokémon against me; the last two used Dragonite.  You'd think I'd be able to handle them by now.
I called back my Feraligatr and switched Pokémon to Lugia.  'Lugia, Dragonbreath!'  Even if Lugia lost, Tyranitar could fight against Dragonite.  She had Outrage, after all.
'Dragonite, Thunder!' Jason said after his Pokémon recovered from the blue flame attack.  Lugia held up its wing, deflecting the Electric attack.  'Amazing.  I've never seen a Pokémon block an attack that way before.'
Neither have I, but I didn't say anything.  'Lugia, Psychic!' I yelled.  There was a flash of blue light, and Jason's Dragonite suffered another harsh blow.  Dragonite attacked Lugia with a Hyper Beam.  'Drat,' I said.  'Lugia, you use a Hyper Beam, too!'  The two Pokémon exchanged attacks, until finally both seemed to be down to only a little health.  It was my turn to try and  knock out Jason's Pokémon.
Jason beat me to it.  'Dragonite, Outrage!'  The blast of energy knocked out Lugia.  I switched Pokémon to Tyranitar, and told him to use Rock Slide.  No use in using an attack that will leave me confused if I could use another attack and still knock him out.
After Tyranitar knocked out Dragonite, I shouted, 'Yeah!  Tyranitar, all you have to do is hold off one more Pokémon!'  Moreover, Tyranitar was at full health.
'Steelix, come out, and Dragonite, return!  Steelix, Iron Tail!' Jason instructed.  This was going to be harder than I thought.
Steelix slammed its tail into Tyranitar, doing an extreme amount of damage.  Tyranitar quickly recovered from the blow, and then used Earthquake.  Steelix counter-attacked with another Iron Tail, but Tyranitar caught it.
'Yes!  Good job, Tyranitar.  Now, Seismic Toss!'  Tyranitar swung Steelix  around and then threw him into the air.  The Pokémon crashed into the wall opposite of where Tyranitar was standing.  However, the gargantuan Pokémon rose tall over Tyranitar, and then slammed its body on my Pokémon.  It was like my attack did nothing.
'Steelix, Earthquake!' Jason ordered.  I told Tyranitar to block it with Protect, and then to use Earthquake.  Steelix suffered through the attack, but then used his own Earthquake, greatly damaging Tyranitar.
'Come on, Tyranitar!  I know you can pull off this win!'  I looked across the room, over at Jason.  His face tensed, and his eyes narrowed on the fray.  He was obviously very experienced, and very determined to win the fight.  Almost battle-scarred, but not quite.  Like, something was lost-the fire in his attitude, or as he put it, the feistiness.  Maybe it wasn't battling, but whatever it was it gave him a rough look.  This guy has seen one too many battles, maybe, I thought.
Anyway, I had to get back to the match.  I told Tyranitar to use another Earthquake, but Jason said, 'Steelix, Detect and then Iron Tail!'  The attack caught both of us off guard.  The attack knocked Tyranitar to the floor, but somehow, he rose back up, ready to fight.
'Tyranitar, another Earthquake,' I said.  Sure, it was cheap, but it was, really, the only attack I could use.  Steelix fell, but was not knocked out.  Jason's Steel-type Pokémon attacked Tyranitar with a final Earthquake-Tyranitar collapsed, and did not come back up.  I had lost, again.

* * *

I thanked Jason for the experience, though I was angry because I lost.  I found Kamon in the lobby, talking to Jason.  Two things struck me as odd-the first was how Jason was already down here, and the second was how Kamon was talking to him.
'Kamon, how do you know him?' I called.  Kamon turned toward me.
'I met him a few years back, when I was trying to conquer the Indigo League.  We battled, and it ended in a tie,' Kamon replied.
Jason continued: 'I told him that the next time I saw him, we'd battle again, and I'd win.'
'So, did you two battle?' I asked.
'Yeah,' Jason responded.  'I fought him right before I fought you.  Now, how do you know Kamon?'
'We've been traveling through the Prime League together,' Kamon answered for me.
'So who won?' I inquired (again).
'I did,' Jason said proudly.  'I might add, Kamon, you haven't gotten much stronger since I last saw you.  Proportionate to my Pokémon, at least.'
'Kamon hasn't been battling very much, lately,' I said.
'You should have tried to battle in the level 80 or level 90 arenas.  I'm sure your Pokémon aren't even into their 90's, right?' Jason asked Kamon.
Gloomily, Kamon answered.  'Actually, I doubt that they are in their 80's.'
Jason was taken aback.  'You didn't do well in the match, but for having Pokémon nearly 30 levels lower than mine, you did good.'
'I think,' I spoke up, 'it's the philosophy of believing in your Pokémon and they will do better.  I don't really think it works.'
Jason shrugged.  'Maybe.  I will have to try it.  Well, it's been good seeing you, Kamon.  And good meeting you, Drew,' Jason said.  Kamon and I wished him goodbye, and then left the Battle Tower.

* * *

Back in the Olivine Pokémon Center, Kamon and I were once again deciding on what to do next.
'I elect,' I said, 'to go to Gehta.  I think I'm strong enough, now, to win.'
'You might, but I'm not,' Kamon replied.  'I'm heading to the Orange Islands.  It wouldn't hurt if you went, but you can do whatever you want.'
I sighed.  'I'll go ahead and go with you.  You never know-I might need a little practice.'  I smiled.  Kamon just shook his head and chuckled.  We left Olivine and then took the train in Goldenrod over to Kanto, and then headed south.