Ash and company were now in a state of inactivity. Ash was eagerly awaiting his chance to take on the Unova league and the elite 4, but that was still a month away and in the meantime, they had nothing to do. Then, they heard something that made that particular problem disappear. "Come all talented and powerful trainers! Do you think you've got what it takes to call yourselves champions of the Unova league? Then step up to the challenge of our tournament! 12 matches wins you and your partner the tournament with one more match against our current champions, reigning over a 4 year victory streak, earning you the grand prize! A free all you can eat buffet for you, your partner, your Pokemon and 2 friends of each teammate's choice. Spaces are filling up quick, so you'd better hurry!" The announcer said.
"A tournament?! Alright! This is just what we need. Test ourselves just like going up against Sai, huh, buddy?" Ash said, looking at Pikachu.
"Who knows, you may even meet him there." Iris added.
"And it sounds like a team tournament. Just like cooking a fine meal, it's always better with some assistance." Cilan agreed.
"Yeah, come on, let's hurry!" Ash said as they took off running towards where the event was being held. They burst through the door and ran right up to the front desk, panting heavily and taking a moment before speaking. "Hey, are there still spots for the tournament?" He asked, still breathing heavily.
"There is. Your name?" The woman behind the counter asked.
"Ash Ketchum." He replied.
"Alright then. You're just in time, you took the last spot. Now the entry before you finally has a partner." She said.
"So, who will my partner be?" Ash asked.
She opened her mouth and was about to speak, but... "Looks like we're fighting together for once, Ketchum." I said, walking up to him with my hands in my pockets.
"Sai!" Ash said.
"Told you!" Iris said confidently, crossing her arms.
"Just like you, Sai can't resist a challenge either." Cilan laughed.
"No one ever said it was a bad thing." I said to him before turning to Ash. "So, same team as last time?" I asked.
"Yeah. How about you?" He asked.
"Eh. Some returning, some new." I answered.
"And you may switch new Pokemon after any fight, you don't have to stick with one party." The woman said.
I turned to the 4th wall at this moment. "Yes, I was both lazy and wanted to use different Pokemon." I said before we left to go to the stadium where the matches would occur.
"Ladies and gentleman! Boys and girls! Get ready for the tournament second only to the Pokemon league in the Unova region!" The announcer said, getting a roar of applause from the audience. "Now then, let's get this show underway! On the right side! The trainer many believe to be unbeatable: Sai Blade and upcoming Pokemon master: Ash Ketchum!" He announced as we took our positions, waving to the crowd. "And on the left side! The two lovely twins Debra and Diana!" He said as two women walked in that could pass off as human versions of Espeon and Umbreon, one in all pink with shoulder-length pink hair and the other in all black with waist-length black hair walked into their area on the field. "Now then! 4-on-4, 2 per partner, one at a time, no swapping out! Send out your Pokemon and let's get this underway!" He said as we all grabbed our Poke- and/or- Timer balls and threw them.
Background music: "One More Fight" by NateWantsToBattle on YouTube
The balls opened, Ash's revealing Pignite, Diana's unleashing Magmar, Debra's unleashing Kadabra and mine revealing Houndour. "Wrap this up quick, Houndour! Use Shadow Ball on Kadabra!" I said.
"Dour!" It agreed, rushing at Kadabra as if it was doing Quick Attack, jumping at it's face and firing a ball of darkness from its mouth at point blank range into Kadabra's face, knocking it down and out in one hit.
"~My moves super-effective~ So effective~ One Hit K.O you~!" I sang, bopping my head to the music.
"Nice work! Alright, Pignite, Brick Break on Magmar!" Ash said.
"Pignite!" It said, rushing in at the other fire type.
"Use Thunderpunch, Magmar!" Debra ordered.
"Mar!" It agreed, running in and throwing an electric punch to Pignite, knocking it back.
"Pignite!" Ash said.
"Curse Magmar's longer arms." I said, looking at Pignite, then Magmar, then Houndour. "Houndour, help him out, use Crunch.
"Houndour!" It said, running in rushing in and chomping down on Magmar's leg with it's powerful jaws.
"Mar!" It shouted in pain, trying to shake off the small dog pokemon.
"Magmar! Get it off with Double Kick!" She ordered.
"Houndour! Use Shadow Ball to get out of there!" I said.
"Hound!" It said, using shadow ball to stagger Magmar and launch itself away.
"Now, Pignite! Flame Charge!" Ash ordered.
"PigNITE!" It complied, rushing forward surrounded by fire, slamming into Magmar, knocking it down to the ground and sending it skidding back to Debra's feet, unconscious.
"You'll pay for that!" She said, withdrawing it and throwing an Ultra Ball that revealed Arcanine and Diana threw a Pokeball that revealed...
"Really?" I asked, looking at what came out of it.
"Karp! Karp!" The Magikarp said, splashing around.
"Oh well, let's do it. Houndour, Take Down on Magikarp." I said.
"Dour!" It agreed, rushing in.
"Splash, Magikarp!" Diana said frantically.
"Karp! Karp!" It said, flopping around all over the place, but to its credit, it was managing to keep Houndour guessing.
"Arcanine, you use Take Down on Pignite." Debra ordered.
"Nine!" It complied, rushing in.
"Pignite! Flame Charge again!" Ash said.
"Nite!" It agreed, rushing forward, surrounded by fire again, slamming into Arcanine and both launching each other back, neither on particularly damaged, but both panting slightly.
"Nice counter." I said to Ash.
Meanwhile, both Houndour and I were getting seriously annoyed by Magikarp splashing around everywhere, once even bouncing off Houndour's face. "So this is how we're gonna do it, then?" I asked.
"Yep." She agreed.
"Then how about- INFERNO!" I told Houndour.
"HOUNDOUR!" It howled, raising a giant pillar of fire that engulfed both Houndour and Magikarp. When it subsided, Houndour was perfectly fine and Magikarp was DOWN, scorched badly, but nothing serious.
"Nicely done!" I said, nodding to it.
"Dour!" It said happily, looking back at me.
"Brick Break, Pignite!" Ash ordered.
"Pignite!" It said, rushing forward with one arm glowing.
"Ariel Ace!" Debra ordered.
"Arc!" It agreed, rushing in at insane speeds, crashing into Pignite at high speeds, doing massive damage with a super-effective flying-Type move.
"Pignite!" Ash said as it crashed to the ground.
"Pig... Nite..." It said weakly, starting to get up.
"I'm impressed it made it can get back up after that. Arcanine, you'll have to fix that. Don't let it get up. Ariel Ace again, now." Debra said with a smirk.
"Nine!" It said with its own smirk, rushing in.
"Pignite, hurry, get up!" Ash said.
"Nite..." It said, halfway through the process.
"Dour!" Houndour said, launching a Shadow Ball at Arcanine.
The screen then split between Arcanine and Debra. "What?!/Arc?!" Boom! The Shadow Ball hit Arcanine perfectly in the side, knocking it down onto its side.
"Now, now, now. Where's the fairness in hitting someone while they're down. You gotta let them get up first." I said, wagging my finger.
"Thanks, Sai." Ash said, relieved.
"I'm all about teamwork."I said, waving dismissively, basically saying not to worry about it.
Ash smiled at this, then looked at Arcanine, who was now back on its feet, but wobbly. "Okay then! Pignite, Brick Break one more time!" Ash said.
"Pignite!" It said, rushing in, its right arm glowing, then it promptly brought it down on Arcanine's head, dazing it and allowing Houndour to knock it out with another Shadow Ball.
End music
"Nice." I said, nodding. Suddenly, Houndour began to glow bright white, growing in size and it's appearance. When the light subsided, I no longer had a Houndour.
"Houndoom!" My newly evolved Houndoom howled
"And that's even nicer." I said.
"Very impressive! Two excellent trainers secure an excellent victory. Let's hear it for them!" The announcer said, to which the crowd cheered and we waved to them.
Later...
We were chilling in the lounge area where the contestants are welcome to sit around and watch the other fights and do whatever, when Ash nudged me. "Hey, I really appreciate what you did for Pignite and me back there." He said.
"Don't sweat it. I have a lot of things in my playbook about keeping my team safe." I said.
Skipping ahead to our next fight (I'm too lazy to write more filler)...
"One round out of the way. Onto the next! On the right side: Sai and Ash!" The announcer said as we took our places once again. "And on the left side! The ghastly Ghost trainer Logan and and the rock solid Rock trainer, Stone!" He said as your basic stereotypical emo/goth and a big, hulking bald man walked to their station. "Now then! You know the rules! Without further ado! Send out your Pokemon!" He said, 3 Ultra Balls flying into the air and Pikachu running onto the stage. My Ultra Ball opened up and Seviper appeared beside Pikachu and in front of our opponents appeared a Chandellure and an Onyx.
"Well, this could pose a threat." I said, speaking about the Onyx in particular.
"We'll be fine. Pikachu, Thunderbolt on Chandelure!" Ash said.
"Pi-ka-CHU!" He said, jumping into the air and firing a powerful bolt of lightning at Chandelure.
"Dodge it and hit it with Will-o-wisp." Logan ordered monotonously (that means without tone or expression, right?).
"Wisp!" It agreed, dodging the lightning bolt and shooting small fireballs at Pikachu just as it landed and was unprepared to dodged.
"Seviper, guard Pikachu!" I ordered.
"Viper!" It agreed, coiling into a ball around Pikachu, intercepting the hits for him, receiving a burn due to the attack, becoming slightly redder in pigment.
"Seviper!" Ash said worriedly, but I raised a hand.
"It's fine. Watch." I said.
Seviper appeared to be grimmacing in pain, but only slightly, then looked up and glared at Chandelure. "Se-vi-PER!" It said, simply shrugging it off, returning to normal.
"Whoa! The burn's gone, just like that!" Ash said, shocked.
"Seviper's ability, Shed Skin. It has a chance of simply shrugging off any status ailment except confusion." I explained.
"Wow, really?" He asked, amazed.
"Yep. Now then, Seviper, time for some payback. Use Shadow Ball!" I ordered.
"Per!" It agreed, quickly firing at the possessed chandelier, who again dodged.
"It's open, now hit it with crunch!" I said.
"Viper!" It complied, its fangs going as it lunged towards the chandelier and bit down on it, causing massive damage and bringing it to the ground, down, but not out.
"Your turn." I said, bowing politely to Ash and Pikachu.
"Alright, Pikachu! Wrap it up with Thunderbolt!" Ash said.
"Onyx! Crush them both with Rock Slide!" Stone ordered.
"On!" It agreed, sending dozens of huge rocks flying at them.
"Seviper, Dragon Tail!" I said.
"Viper!" It said, its tail glowing sky blue and easily shattering all the rocks coming towards it and Pikachu.
"CHU!" Pikachu said as he fired his electrical attack and zapped Chandelure, taking it down.
"Nice work you two." Ash said, getting a reply from both of them at the same time.
"Pika!"
"Viper!"
"Now then. Onyx is the real problem." I said, looking at it and thinking.
"Alright, Pikachu! Get it with Iron Tail!" Ash ordered.
"Pika!" Pikachu complied, rushing in with its tail turned to steel.
"Seviper, dig!" I said.
"Se!" It agreed, digging underground.
"Ha! No matter what you do, you'll never take down Onyx with those puny Pokemon! Use Bite on Pikachu!" Stone said as Pikachu was jumping and preparing to attack.
"On!" It complied, reaching forward, biting Pikachu's tail and keeping a hold on it so it couldn't attack, all the while Stone laughed arrogantly as if he already won.
"Pikachu!" Ash said.
"Size isn't the only thing that matters, you know. You've clearly forgotten about Seviper... AND the TYPE of the move it's using." I said with a smirk.
Stone was still laughing, until I finished talking then he looked like something crossed his mind. "Huh?" He asked.
"Seviper!" It said, crashing into Onyx from below the ground.
"On!" It said in shock and from recoiling from the damage, being launched slightly into the air, crashing down in front of our opponents.
Seviper then used its tail as a platform and delicately caught Pikachu. "Pika!" Pikachu said happily in thanks.
"Viper." It agreed, setting Pikachu down.
Ash then looked like he got an idea. "Wait, that's it! Pikachu! Use Seviper's tail like a springboard!" Ash said.
I looked at him for a moment, but then understood. "Alright, Seviper, give Pikachu a hand- I mean, help it out." I said.
"Viper." It complied, letting Pikachu jump on its tail, which it then swung with great power, launching Pikachu towards Onyx at speeds the large and slow rock snake couldn't prepare for.
"Alright, Pikachu, Iron Tail!" Ash ordered.
"Pi-KA!" It said, slamming its metalized tail into Onyx's face, taking it down and winning us the fight.
"Hell yeah, props for teamwork and combos." I said, high-fiving Ash.
"Well, another shocking victory for these two! They may just make it to the top, let's hear it for them!" The announcer said, the crowd roaring applause to us.
"I could get used to this." I said, waving to the crowd.