Disclaimer: I do not own anything related to Pokemon.

Character thoughts are italicized

Following the first round of the tournament, the group of now six friends walked over to the pokemon center where they were to spend the night. This had been previously set up with the tournament's supervisor, so the only trainers staying the night were those still in the competition. The group of six immediately brought their pokemon over to Nurse Joy so that she could heal them. As they waited, the three trainers from Pallet Town talked about their travels so far.

"So, you ended up oversleeping and by the time you got to the lab the only pokemon left was a Pikachu? I can't believe that both you and Nick overslept." Nate said before laughing.

"Hey, its not that funny. I only overslept because my alarm clock was broken." Ash began to defend himself. "Besides, if that didn't happen, I never would have met my best friend. So, how many badges have you two earned yet?" He asked as he revealed six badges pinned to the inside of his jacket.

"Wow Ash, you must of worked pretty hard to earn six badges already. I've only earned three." Nick said.

Misty, overhearing the conversation decided to join in. "Honestly, more than half of them were given to him. He shouldn't even have two badges." The water type trainer teased.

"That's not true and you know it!" Ash yelled at his friend, upset at her previous comment. "You know I've worked hard for these badges, remember my match against Lt. Surge."

Samurai decided to end this argument before it got any uglier. "Hey, settle down, she's only kidding around Ash. It was just for laughs. Everyone here knows how hard you three work to earn your badges. I can only imagine how hard that Zach works as well. I faced him before, and he beat me in under ten seconds."

"Ah, don't worry, I've known Zach for years." Nate said. "He may not show it, but he treats all pokemon as his family. It's just because he has such a burden of trying to carry on his father's name."

"Ya, I noticed his ability during his match earlier today." Brock added, deciding to join in. "He trained that Magmar pretty well to be able to launch an attack while the opponent was still attacking the way he was. He really is something, its too bad that he can't really enjoy his travels because he's too busy keeping his father's reputation in tact."

There was nothing but silence coming from the once cheerful group. Samurai decided to end this as well. "Hey, enough about him. We still don't know much about you two." He said while pointing at Brock and Misty. "I mean, all we know is that your travelling with Ash. But, what are your goals in life. For me, I want the world to know of the true strength of Bug types. People underestimate them, but with the correct training, they can be deadly." Everyone could see he was passionate about this just by the sound in his voice and by the determination in his eyes.

"Well, you already know that Flint's my dad. I was the previous gym leader of Pewter City, but I never enjoyed it. I always loved taking care of pokemon, I now travelling so that I can become an excellent breeder." Brock told the group. They were now going in a circle, and Nate was next.

"Well, I've never thought of a dream I've had. The truth is, I travel just to enjoy life, see where the next path will lead me. I'm just collecting badges because I've been coming into towns with them. It gives me something to do." Nate told everyone as he placed his hands behind his head.

"I guess I'm up now." Nick said with a light chuckle. "I've always dreamt of becoming the best trainer I can become. If that means winning a league conference or just catching a few pokemon and training them so be it."

"Same old Nick." Ash said as he laughed. "You never could give a straight answer unless you could find it in a book. Well, I'm planning on becoming the world's greatest pokemon master." He said with the same determination as Samurai had.

"Well, I guess I'm the only one left." Misty began. "I'm the fourth sister of the sensational sisters of Cerulean City." Everyone just stared, ghey couldn't picture her being related to the three gym leaders. "My dream, is to become the greatest water type master in the world. There just isn't any other kind of pokemon that is as great as a water type."

Just then Zach passed by the group, heading to retrieve his pokemon. Nick decided to end their silly feud that they've had since Nick first moved to Pallet Town. "Hey Zach! Come join us, we're talking about our journeys and our dreams that we want to accomplish. We figured you might want to come join us since we're all from the same town."

Zach stopped and looked back at the group before answering. "I'd love to join in, there is only one problem. You're with them. Now stop wasting my time, you might know everything in a classroom, but in a battle everything is different." He said as he continued on his way.

Nick was upset now. "Who does he think he is! I was trying to be nice to him, and all he does is insult me."

"Hey, take it easy Nick. He is very competitive after all. It was probably just trash talking." Nate tried to calm his friend down. His ccompetitiveness goes back further than you think. He was known as the smartest child in Pallet Town before you showed up. To think, the son of a trainer who failed in his travels being smarter than a league conference champ's son. Oh the embarrassment, add that with his need to impress his father by improving the family reputation and that equals one grudge he holds against you. Nate thought to himself before the sound of Nurse Joy calling their group over to get their pokemon brought him back to reality.

The group then decided to call it a night as it was somewhat late, and the tournament was to resume at 8:00 am. Nick headed to the room that himself, Nate and Samurai were to share until the tournament was finished. They were at the room as Samurai told them he would be right back as he needed to use the bathroom. The truth was, he had something else to do. Samurai headed back into the lobby to find it empty except for Zach. He was sitting at a table by himself, looking out the window. Samurai decided to sit down across from him.

"What do you want?" Zach asked the young trainer.

"Listen, I know about the struggles you're going through. Believe me, don't let them ruin your travels." Samurai began before being interrupted.

"What do you know about my problems!" Zach yelled across the table. "You're not the one with my father. Try being the only child of a trainer who retired at the top of his game. Tty and live with the burden of being known for being your father's son, instead of for being myself. Everything I've done, has been compared to my father. And to top it off, before I left, the only thing he said was 'keep the family name well known'." Tears were starting to form in his eyes, he had kept this bottled up for so long as he couldn't let people think he was weak.

Samurai knew exactly where he was coming from. "But, I do know. My brother is a gym leader and my father is a leading researcher on bug types. I come from a village where family honor is extremely important. I had to keep my image up around town, that's why I was always in Viridian forest, so I could be myself without anyone judging me. When I left on my journey, my family didn't say the same thing to me, instead they told me to 'have fun, and to create a name for myself, one that people would know me for.' So, you see don't let this ruin your travels, make your own name. One that people will know belongs to you."

Zach just sat there quietly, no one ever told him this. Everyone was always trying to be friends just so they could meet his father. He had always needed to put up an act around people, just to try and impress his father. "Thank you, I overheard your conversation earlier, the one about dreams. Well, my dream is to create a name for myself, one that will seperate mine from my father's. I also have a second one." He began, his face becoming dead serious again. "I will beat Nick and the others and prove that I'm the best trainer from Pallet Town." Zach then rose as he left the table and began to head towards his room. "You should really be going to sleep, the battles start early in the morning, tomorrow covers rounds 2, 3, and 4. I expect a great battle from you in one of those rounds." With that he was out of sight.

Samurai returned to his room shortly after, reflecting on his own advise and what Zach had told him. We aren't that different, families that both have reputations to maintain. Only difference is, my family wants me to create my own name and to stop living in the shadows of their reputation. Unfortunately, Zach isn't the same case, it seems like his father can't move past the fact that it isn't about him anymore. Samurai then fell asleep for the rest of the night.

The next morning, the group of six headed back to the tournament grounds wondering how the match ups would be decided. When they reached the arena, they were informed that only remaining contestants could continue on to the back, while everyone else must head to the seating area.

The group now split, with Brock and Misty heading to the seating area, while the others went to the battlefield. When everyone was present the announcer spoke. "Ladies and gentlemen, continuing from our amazing battles yesterday comes round two. The match ups are simple, we will use round one's match ups with the winners facing each other. For example, the winner of match one will face the winner of match two. This will continue for all the matches for the remainder of the tournament."

"So that means you're going to face Zach." Ash said to Samurai "And I'm facing..."

"Me." Nate said as he threw his arm around Ash's neck.

Elsewhere in the arena Zach stood there, listening to the news. "So, I don't have to wait to face him. That's some good news." He said with a smile as he walked to the battlefield to watch the matches for the first time.

The group watched the matches with amazement towards the strength of the trainers. It was now time for Samurai's match with Zach. "Our next match features two trainers who both gave us interesting matches in the first round. This match will be between Zach of Pallet Town and Samurai of Clear Village." The announcer yelled to the crowd.

Samurai and Zach both walked down to the battlefield and met in the middle to exchange greetings with each other.

"So, you get your match sooner than you expected." Samurai said to the trainer.

"Just don't hold back. I'm expecting a great battle, and I better be getting one." Zach responded as they shoke hands before heading to their respective sides.

Team:

Nick- 3 badges:

Eevee- quick attack, swift, dig, sand-attack

Beedrill- poison sting, fury attack, twinneedle, hyper beam

Krabby- bubble, water gun, stomp, vicegrip

Charmander- flamethrower, ember, dragon rage, metal claw

Samurai:

Pinsir-: x-scissor, harden, revenge, vicegrip

Metapod- harden, string shot

Paras- leech life, stun spore, fury cutter