Hey gang! The first battle has finally arrived! Who will be the first to compete in this historic competition? Enjoy!~

Chapter 1: Let the Competition Begin: Bruno VS. Bugsy!

Jasmine looked upon the sea of faces that were huddled around the large TV screen suspended above them. Despite her confidence in her own strength, she couldn't help but feel a bit apprehensive.

She knew every person there by name, whether she had met them before or had seen them on TV or in a magazine. She knew that each and every one of them was strong opponents.

She squared her shoulders and lifted her head up in confidence back at the screen.

She was strong, too.

As they waited, Jasmine went over that day's prior events in her mind. It really wasn't any spectacular yet; everyone arrived and signed in that morning, later, they gathered in the stadium as Charlie Goodshow gave an encouraging and heartfelt speech over the importance of the competition and they were briefed on the rules by Scott, the guy who ran the Frontier Brains.

The rules were pretty much the same as a regular League competition, except when you lost, there was no other line up; you just lost. Battles occurred at one at a time and all the battles were three-on-three until the final match to determine the winner, which would be a six-on-six match. Any ties in battles resulted in the loss of both competitors.

Oh, and it was fair game. You could be paired with any competitor at random.

Jasmine dared herself to look over on her left where she spied Elite Four member, Bruno, talking to Champion Steven.

She slowly lifted her eyes back to the screen. She really didn't want to battle an Elite Four member or a Champion in her first round.

"Or a Frontier Brain, either…" she thought to herself, as she peeked over to her right to see Pike Queen Lucy focused on the screen before them.

She'd never seen a Frontier Brain battle before, nor had she even met one of the members, but she had heard rumors that they were more powerful than Elite Four members and could possible beat a Champion.

She peeked a little further to her right to see the Johto region professor, Professor Elm, chatting away to world-renown researcher, Professor Oak.

Jasmine smirked. Oak didn't seem too interested in talking to Elm at the moment, though Elm didn't seem to notice.

She was stunned to hear that the region professors were invited. She really couldn't see the kind and elderly Professor Oak battling and she definitely couldn't see Elm controlling a full team of powerful Pokémon. She wondered why they even agreed to compete.

She shrugged to herself as she turned back to the screen to see who would be battling first. All chatting stopped as the screen began to electronically scramble all the pictures of the competitors.

"Finally!" thought Jasmine to herself, as she unconsciously bit her bottom lip.

This was it, the moment they had all been waiting for. Time to see who would go first…

After what seemed like an eternity to Jasmine, the screen stopped on two photos, which elicited a low buzz of murmurs throughout the court.

The first match was between Bugsy, the Bug-type Gym Leader in Johto from Azalea Town and Bruno, the tough looking Elite Four member from Kanto.

She looked over at Bugsy, who seemed stunned at the results. He just kept blinking up at the screen while Morty, another Johto Gym Leader, had his arm wrapped around him for support.

"That's not fair!" came one shout over the noise of the chatter.

Jasmine jumped and spun around in the direction of the shout, along with everyone else. She spotted yet another fellow Johto Gym Leader, Whitney, glaring up at the screen, her fists clenched and raised.

"Bugsy is just a Gym Leader, and still a kid!" Whitney argued loudly, "Pairing him to battle an Elite Four member on his first battle is not right!"

Jasmine quickly turned to the podium over to side of the large screen where Goodshow and Scott stood, waiting for them to say something.

Scott grinned to the crowd and walked over to the microphone. "Fair game, Whitney. Bugsy knew when he sighed up for this he'd be up against the best. Besides, I heard he is skilled in training Bug-types. I can't let him switch opponents, but if he wants to drop out of the competition, that's his call."

As the echo from Scott's magnified voice silenced, all eyes turned to Bugsy, who now looked much more confident than before.

"It's fine, Mr. Scott," said Bugsy loud enough for everyone to hear. "I'd be honored to battle Elite Four Member Bruno."

"That's the spirit!" shouted Bruno from across the court. Jasmine turned to see the muscular man looking over at Bugsy with his arms crossed; a giant compared to those around him. "I'm honored to battle such a brave Leader!"

She looked back up to the podium where Goodshow was visible elated from the excitement caused so far. He clapped his hands together as Scott went back up to the microphone.

"Great!" boomed Scott's voice, "The battle will commence in fifteen minutes if that's everything." He paused for a moment before he continued. "And while I can certainly understand some of the concerns some of you may have, I need to make it clear that any arguments on the rules set in place will be deemed as reason to disqualify you from the competition."

With that, Scott stepped away from the microphone and together, he and Goodshow excited the podium.

Later in the stands

"Well, Oak, this competition hasn't even started and already the drama begins. Can't say I'm surprised, you?"

Oak turned to face his older colleague, Rowan, next to him. "Not at all. And you know Charlie is just enjoying the show."

Rowan gave a light snort as he crossed his arms and faced the battle field. "Of course."

The scene before left everyone on their toes. No one has ever been banned from a competition for publically disagreeing with the rules before.

Oak shrugged off the severity of it. It was probably more that the young lady, Whitney, was causing a scene. That was always grounds for banishment from what he remembered back in his Trainer days.

He turned his attention back to the battle field where Bugsy and Bruno had just came out and now stood in their places after being introduced by the announcer. The field had already been chosen for them and it was a regular battle field with the usual white painted markings. The referee in his black pants and black and white striped shirt held up the flags and announced the beginning of the match. As both Trainers threw out their first Pokémon, Rowan turned back to Oak.

"Who do you think is going to win this match, Sam?"

Oak looked back on the field to see that Bruno had chosen the large rock snake, Onix, who gave a menacing roar as he was released from his Poke' Ball. Bugsy, in turn, released the butterfly Pokémon, Butterfree.

"This match looks like it might be in Bugsy's favor," Oak mused, as he watched the boy command Butterfree to fly up as Onix was commanded by Bruno to use Bind. Onix missed the graceful Pokémon and fell to the field sending up a thick layer of dust.

Bugsy then commanded Butterfree to use Sleep Powder. As Butterfree sent the shimmering powder towards the thick dust, Bruno ordered Onix to use Sandstorm. A powerful gust picked up through the air and filled the field with thick, swirling clouds of dust. Butterfree gave a cry and crashed into the wall from the strength of the dusty wind.

"You were saying, Oak?" remarked Rowan curtly looking slyly towards his colleague's way.

Oak studied the battle scene and looked over at Bugsy as he covered his face, his purple bobbed hair flying in all directions, his green shorts and matching shirt being tugged by the forces of Onix's attack.

The boy was obviously struggling, but there was just something about him…

Oak shook his head. "My money is still on Bugsy for this match."

Rowan gave a "Hmph!" and looked back to the scene. Butterfree was still pinned against the wall by the forces of the wind and even Oak was clueless on how to free the poor beast.

"Silver Wind, Butterfree!" managed Bugsy as he continued to shield his eyes. Upon hearing his Trainer, Butterfree gave a powerful beat of his mighty wings. Much to Oak's surprise, the dusty wind flew off of the Pokémon.

Rowan and Oak watched in amazement as with every beat of Butterfree's wings steadily knocked back Onix's attack. Finally, Butterfree had gotten close up to his opponent and sent another, more powerful gust of silver wind from his wings towards Onix, which knocked the giant Pokémon back against the wall in a dead faint.

The crowd went wild, including Oak, who in his excitement, started to stand up to applaud, but was quickly brought back down in his seat from the forces of gravity and a bad knee. He settled with shouting his approval over the turn out of the first match of the battle and laughing at the drop-jawed Professor Rowan next to him.

"T-t-t-that…" stammered Rowan, his eyes growing wide.

"Was the most powerful Silver Wind Attack I've ever seen!" finished Oak, clapping enthusiastically as the bare-chested Bruno very reluctantly recalled his Pokémon. "Did you see that? Please tell me you saw that, Ed."

"I saw it," muttered Rowan, quickly returning back to his grumpy self.

The two older men turned their attention back to the field where Bruno had just chosen his next Pokémon: Machamp.

As the battle recommenced, Bugsy ordered Butterfree to use another Sleep Powder Attack. As a cloud of glittering powder engulfed Machamp, the Fighting-type ran through it like it was nothing and at the command of his Trainer, Bruno, charged straight towards Butterfree. Butterfree attempted to evade Machamp's attack, but Machamp was clearly more agile than Onix. Butterfree managed to slip through one pair of his four arms, but was caught by the other pair.

"Seismic Toss!" shouted Bruno, the veins in his meaty neck sticking out so visibly that Oak could see them from where he stood in the stands.

One didn't have to be a world-renown researcher to see that Bruno was very nervous, and for good reason, too. Bruno had forgotten the most vital rule in Pokémon battling: never underestimate your opponent. Now he was trying to make up for the first match he lost.

Oak watched as Machamp jumped what seemed like a good fifty feet in the air while Butterfree struggled to free himself from his four arms. Oak knew that it was no use: once caught in Machamp grip, there was nothing anyone could do to get free.

Machamp came barreling down towards the field and crashed moments later. A thick cloud of dust rose again and engulfed the pair as the audience of competitors waited with baited breath. The dust cleared and left a crater in its place in the middle of the field from where Machamp had smashed in poor Butterfree. The muscular Pokémon pulled himself out, leaving Butterfree, who had fainted, in the newly formed hollow.

Oak looked to see Bugsy take on a look of concern for his Pokémon as he recalled Butterfree back to his ball. He watched the boy mutter something to the red and white sphere and pull out another as he placed Butterfree's Poke' Ball around his waist.

Rowan grunted. "That was a bit rough."

"You said it."

Bugsy called out a small green spider that Oak recognized as Spinarack. As the match began again, Bugsy ordered Spinarak to use String Shot on Machamp's hands.

"Good idea," said Rowan, nodding in approval over Bugsy's choice of attack. "He's got to render the hands useless if he's got any chance of beating Machamp."

Oak shook his head in disapproval. "The idea might work with other Fighting-types, but Machamp's strength does not lie in its hands."

Rowan looked quizzically at Oak. "What do you mean?"

"I mean that Bugsy had the right idea, but on the wrong Pokémon. This match is going to Bruno."

Still confused by his colleague's words, Rowan turned back to the match where Spinarak had begun to send a string of his powerful web towards Machamp that wrapped around the foes dangerous hands. Much to Rowan's surprise, Machamp didn't even attempt to evade the attack. He looked and saw that Bruno was smirking, his white teeth shining from his tan face.

"Bad idea, Bugsy!" yelled Bruno, "Throw Spinarak, Machamp!"

"Machamp!" shouted the Pokemon, as he raised his arms, which in turn, jerked Spinarak up dangerously high in the air by its own web. Machamp spun the spider around and around until it was nothing but a green blur and then proceeded to slam the Bug-type up against the stadium wall by its own String Shot. Machamp repeated the process and by the third time Spinarak hit the wall, he had fainted.

Rowan grimaced. Bruno was merciless. He turned back to Oak trying to collect his thoughts on the match.

"So if Machamp's strength is not solely in its hands…" began Rowan slowly.

"Machamp's main strength comes in his ability to throw his opponents," finished Oak, as he continued to look towards the field.

Rowan blinked in realization. "So when Spinarak used its powerful String Shot on Machamp's hands…"

"He was actually making it easier for Machamp to throw him," finished Oak again as Bugsy recalled Spinarak and began to throw out his last Pokemon, which was the fierce Bug-type, Scyther. Bruno, upon seeing Scyther take the field, recalled Machamp and released another Pokémon, Hitmonchan.

"Hmm!" hummed Rowan. "I wonder why Bruno switched?"

Oak looked back at Rowan over the rim of his glasses. "Really, Ed, you need to spend more time in Kanto. Your knowledge on the Pokémon here is growing dim."

"Then you tell me, as this is your area of expertise!" snapped Rowan, his pride wounded by Oak's remark.

"Scyther is one of the fastest Bug-types you'll find," began Oak. "Bruno has already underestimated Bugsy once; doing so again will cause him to lose the match. Switching Machamp was wise. Machamp's hands were still bound by the String Shot, which would put him at a more disadvantage against Scyther."

"'More disadvantage'?" repeated Rowan questionably.

"Machamp may be strong, but its muscles weigh it down; it's not very fast. Keeping Machamp on the field were his hands unbound is one thing, but to have Machamp out there both bound and considerably slower than Scyther is just pure suicide. Hitmonchan is a much better match up against Scyther, as it's known for being a very fast Fighting-type." Oak paused for a moment and studied the scene as both Pokémon ran to attack the other, their arms raised. "Both Pokémon actually have much in common. Both are known for being fast; both have a warrior spirit; and both are have arms that possess powerful traits. Scyther has its scythes and Hitmonchan has its fists." Oak smiled contently as he crossed his arms, watching the blows that where taking place between the two Pokémon. "This is going to be a good match."

Rowan looked back towards the match where Hitmonchan had just delivered a series of lightening fast blows, but missed due to Scyther's own speed.

After a long time of both delivering and receiving blows from the other, both Pokémon stopped and stood in their respective places on the field, sweat gleaming off their bodies, their chests heaving. They were both studying the other, wondering who was going to make the next move. They both knew that the other was exhausted and both had noticed the other getting noticeably slower.

Suddenly, at Bugsy's command, Scyther used Double Team. The Pokémon and his copies circled the now confused Hitmonchan.

"Run around Hitmonchan, Scyther!" shouted Bugsy.

Scyther complied and soon Hitmonchan was trapped by a massive green blur that was rapidly circling him.

"Focus, Hitmonchan!" called Bruno. "Concentrate and find Scyther."

Hitmonchan closed his eyes in concentration. Within a matter of moments, the Fighting-type opened his eyes, a smile now on his face.

"Now use Mega Punch!" commanded Bruno, sensing his Pokémon's confidence.

Hitmonchan reared back one of his powerful gloved hands went straight forward, colliding directly with the rapid moving Scyther, knocking him back over a dozen feet. Scyther gave a cry as he landed harshly on his back. After a few moments of trying to stand up, the powerful Bug-type fainted.

"AND THE MATCH GOES TO BRUNO OF THE KANTO ELITE FOUR!" shouted the commentator over the massive roar of the audience.

Both Trainers recalled their Pokémon and both met each other in the center of the field and shook hands. Oak found the scene slightly humorous; Bruno was so tall and muscular, Bugsy barely made it to his elbow.

But the boy had made his point; he had just proven that he had earned his title as Gym Leader, despite his defeat.

And really, that's all that truly mattered then.

-End of Ch. 1

The first match of the Ultimate Pokémon League Competition has begun! Bugsy put up a good fight, but Bruno won in the end. Who will be competing next?

Also, yes I will be switching POV during the course of the fic. And yes, you guys can put in requests on who you want to see battle against each other. I already have most of the battles laid out, but if you have a specific match up that you want to read, I'll see what I can do. No promises, though! And I've already chosen the Pokémon for each Trainer, so no, you can't pick. And no, you can't pick who wins, either. ;)

Until you read again!

~MastermindMedley10