Chapter 25- Mister Ketchum: A True Pokémon Master!

(Author's Note: THANKS A MILLION TO ALL MY REVIEWERS. And, thanks a million and one to HeroGuardian, who has given me my 143rdreview. As most of you know, 43's my favorite number. Don't know why? PM me if you'd like to know…)

We saw a shadowy city… I was kind of scared. Lots of staring people and Dark-Type Pokémon were there. There was nothing but street lights and dark buildings.

"This place gives me the creeps." Jasper said.

"This place reminds me of Trace…" Landon commented, remembering his opponent in his first Pokémon Contest.

"This place makes me wanna leave!" I shrieked.

People turned and saw us, they started mumbling. I saw a Gym and a Contest Hall. "I know these people need fresh air… And they're outside…" Jasper murmured.

"Why don't we…" Landon trailed off.

I didn't like this town one bit!

Suddenly, I saw a very, very familiar face. I felt like screaming again! "Guys look it's…!"

"Ash Ketchum!" we all exclaimed.

Mr. Ketchum turned to us. His Pikachu on his shoulder, "Huh…" he smiled, "Who knew I'd have fans. Dawn was wrong! Hey wait a sec, your May and Drew's daughter right? Frankly?"

"No sir… It's Frankie."

"Pipikachu!" Pikachu squeaked.

"Heh, sorry."

"I'm Landon!" Landon introduced himself.

"And my name's Jasper."

"Nice to meet you." Mr. Ketchum said.

"What're you doing in Dusk City?" I asked.

"Nothing really, just traveling Feon." He replied.

"Hey, did you manage to beat Ruby?" Jasper asked.

"Uh… Heh, no, not really…" Ash sighed, "That guy's really strong!"

"Yeah, he seems strong…" Landon said.

"Oh, Frankie. I hear you battle Gyms. How many Badges do you have?"

"Three Badges!" I smiled.

"Impressive. And, you young man… Drew told me you're a Co-Ordinator. How many Ribbons do you have?"

"Oh uh… Just one."

Mr. Ketchum then noticed Landon's Pokémon Egg. "An Egg? Where'd you get it?"

"There was an Egg hunt back at Cobble Town… And I won…" Landon said.

"Good job, Landon." Mr. Ketchum complimented him.

"Hey, Mr. Ketchum…" I said.

"Call me Ash." Mr. Ketchum told us.

"Kachu!"

"Okay… Ash… Well, who were the other Elite Four members?" I asked.

"Well, first is Hale the Ice-Type warrior…" Ash said, "He looks a lot like you, Jasper."

"Yeah, we're cousins." Jasper explained.

"That clarifies a lot… Then there's Patrick… The Psychic-Type genius. And, Grace the Grass-Type maiden…"

"Hehehehe…" Jasper and Landon giggled.

"If I had a mallet I would so--!" I grumbled.

"And the last one is Marina, the Water-Type beauty." Ash concluded.

"Wow, those are some cool titles…" I smiled.

"Pika!" Pikachu nodded.

"Yep… And Ruby Birch. The Feon Champion." Ash said.

"I'm kinda scared now…" I shivered thinking about how strong those Trainers would've been…

"Don't be." Ash said, "Why don't we battle?"

"Hey! I saw Mr. Ketchum first! I should get to battle him!" Jasper exclaimed.

"No! I did, he investigated my Pokémon Egg! He likes me better!" Landon yelled.

"Why don't you and Jasper go make some omelets with that Pokémon Egg!" I shouted.

I noticed we were making lots of noise in Dusk City, but I wanted to battle him!

"I'll battle each of you… Jasper, then Landon, and lastly Frankie."

"Okay!" we all said.

-Dusk City Pokémon Center Battlefield-

The Pokémon Center was the only light-filled place I encountered in Dusk City… But, we were outside again and all we had were a little bit of light, but enough to see the battlefield. Ash's Pikachu was on my lap.

"Kachu! Pika!" he squealed as I pet his head.

Lots of other people came, probably Ash's fans too.

"Alright, Jasper. This'll be a three-on-three battle. You up for it?" Ash asked.

"Heck yeah, I'm up for it!" Jasper replied.

"Okay… Begin, battling!" Landon exclaimed.

"I choose you, Monferno!" Ash sent out a Monferno, a Pokémon that Brady had.

"Uh… Go, Swablu!" Jasper sent out his Swablu.

"Swaa!"

"Ferno!"

"Monferno, use Flamethrower!" Ash commanded. Monferno shot a red and orange flame from his mouth.

"Swablu, dodge it quickly!" Jasper said. Swablu twirled and flew up high, dodging the Flamethrower.

"Impossible… Monferno barely misses!" Ash whispered. "Use Fire Spin!"

"Monfer!" Monferno shot a twister of fire at Swablu. Swablu was suddenly surrounded.

"Swa!" Swablu cried.

"Oh man… Uhm…" Jasper muttered. Swablu kept getting hit with the flames. "Use… Uh…"

"Swa!" Swablu cried.

"Stop the Fire Spin!" said Ash. Monferno stopped his attack and Swablu managed to rest. "Now, Fury Swipes!"

"Ferno!" Monferno jumped and swiped his claws against Swablu. Swablu fell and fainted.

"Swablu is unable to battle, Monferno is the winner!"

"Oh man! Return, Swablu. Come out, Heracross!" Jasper sent out the blue Bug and Fighting dual.

"Hera!"

"Okay, Monferno, use Mach Punch!" exclaimed Ash. Monferno swiped his glowing fist at Heracross over and over.

"Fight back, Heracross! Fight back!" (1) Jasper exclaimed.

"Hera!" Heracross slashed Monferno with his horn.

"Hm… Impressive Horn Attack…" mumbled Ash, "But, I apologize! I must end this, Jasper! Monferno, Flame Wheel!"

"Fer!" Monferno's tail blazed from his tail then became engulfed in fire. "Monfer!" Monferno rolled and tackled Heracross, making him faint.

"Heracross is unable to battle, Monferno wins!" yelled Landon.

"Oh man! Heracross!" Jasper sighed, "Return…"

Then, the people who watched cheered, "Woo! Ash Ketchum! Yeah!"

"Landon, you're my next challenger." Ash grinned.

"Okay…" Landon nodded. He put his Pokémon Egg down and Jasper was the referee.

"Commence battling!" Jasper announced.

"Return, Monferno. Go, Buizel!" Ash exclaimed.

"Buizel, huh…" I checked it on my PokeDex.

"Buizel: The Sea Weasel Pokémon. Male. It spins its two tails like a screw to propel itself through water. The tails also slice clinging seaweed."

"Go, Ivysaur!" said Landon.

"Ivysaur, use Vine Whip!"

"Dodge it, Buizel!" Ash exclaimed, "Use Sonicboom!" Buizel jumped and dodged the Vine Whip, then twirled, his tail glowed, and sent shockwaves from it.

"Ivy!" Ivysaur cried as he got hit. "Saur!"

"Now, use Water Pulse!" Ash exclaimed. Buizel formed a ball of water from his hands and hurled it at Ivysaur.

"Hurry, protect yourself, use Razor Leaf!" exclaimed Landon. Ivysaur shot sharp leaves at the Water Pulse, but missed. The Water Pulse hit him and fainted.

"Ivysaur! Man, he's strong… His Water- Type can beat a Grass- Type…" Landon muttered.

"Lots of training, my friend…"

"Ivysaur is unable to battle, Buizel is the winner!" declared Jasper.

"Return, Ivysaur. I choose you… Slowpoke!" Landon sent out his dopey yet pretty strong Pokémon.

"Heh… Slowpoke… Reminds me of Psyduck." Ash chuckled. "Buizel, use Aqua Jet!"

"Dodge it, Slowpoke! Use Confusion!" Landon said. Slowpoke moved to the side as Buizel who was covered in water zoomed down. Slowpoke went slowly, and since Buizel was going so fast, he couldn't stop. Buizel slammed down on the ground.

"Poke…" Slowpoke simply said as he laughed at Buizel. Then, he used Confusion. He picked up Buizel then swung him around. He threw him on the ground and lifted him. He did this sequence for a while and stopped.

"…That Slowpoke's pretty strong." Ash said.

"Yep, now, Zen Headbutt!" Landon exclaimed, feeling confident.

"Slow!" Slowpoke ran towards Buizel with his blue head and slammed at him.

"Zel! Bui!"

"Buizel, use Water Gun!" Ash called. Buizel got up and blasted a spiral of water at Slowpoke. Slowpoke got hit and fainted. "You've got good Attack, but you need to work on Defense…"

"Right…" Landon sighed.

"Slowpoke is unable to battle! Buizel wins!" said Jasper.

"Your turn, Frankie." Landon said.

"Okay…" I nodded. I put Pikachu down.

"Pi! Pikachu!" Pikachu smiled.

"Commence battling!" Landon declared as I got in place.

"Go, Staraptor!"

Landon checked Staraptor on his PokeDex, "Staraptor: The Predator Pokémon. Male. It never stops attacking even if it is injured. It fusses over the shape of its comb."

"Go, Plusle!"

"Staraptor, use Quick Attack!" Ash exclaimed.

"Do what we did with Togekiss!" I exclaimed. As Staraptor neared, Plusle tried to grab his wing, but he was too fast! "Use Thunder!" I said. Plusle shot bolts of electricity at Staraptor, but he just kept dodging.

"Staraptor, end the battle! Use Brave Bird!" Ash said. Staraptor flew up, closed his wings, became covered in fire, and dove down on Plusle. She quickly fainted.

"Uh…" I sighed.

"Plusle is unable to battle! Staraptor is the winner!"

"Return, Plusle. Go, Croconaw!"

My newly evolved Pokémon came out. "Conaw! Croco!"

"Croconaw, use Ice Fang!" I said. Croconaw shot ice bolts from his fangs, "And, Ice Beam!"

"Dodge 'em all! Use Close Combat!" Ash exclaimed. Staraptor disappeared and reappeared in front of Croconaw. He hit Croconaw with his beak, wings, and talons. Croconaw fainted.

"Oh man!" I exclaimed. "No!"

"Croconaw is unable to battle, Staraptor is the winner…" Landon said.

"Shut up, Landon!" I snapped.

"Geez!"

"You three are pretty strong for rookies…" Ash said, returning his Staraptor. Pikachu got on his shoulder.

"Pi, Pikachu!"

"Thanks." Jasper said.

"Well, I'm off. I'm going to the Violet Island." He explained.

"Wait! Before you leave, can you tell me about the Gym Leader here?" I asked.

"Oh yeah, his name's Ulrich. He's a Dark-Type specialist."

I looked around at the darkness, "Shocker…" I muttered.

"I'm off. But, before I leave. I'd like to give you all something. It's called the Viola Ticket. It will take you to Lilac Island, where they hold the Lilac Tournament. Would you like to enter?" Ash flashed three tickets. All with a PokeBall and a purple background. "I'll be there as the host."

"Okay!" we took the tickets.

"Boat leaves in the next two weeks." He said, "The dock is right outside of Dusk City. I'll see you there."

"Wait, if it'll leave in two weeks, where are you going?" Landon asked.

"I'm going to Lilac Island, because I'm a V.I.P." Ash smiled.

"Goodbye!" we called and waved as he left.

"Goodbye!" he called back.

Footnote (1): I got that line from Harry Potter and the Half Blood Prince, when Harry says "FIGHT BACK, COWARD! FIGHT BACK!"

Okay, now… I must explain the Elite Four names:

Hale comes from Hail

Patrick comes from Telepathic

Grace (ask Scorchtail, she made the character)

And Marina, comes from marine.

Ruby just… he's the dude from Pokémon Ruby

And, Ulrich, if you caught it, is pronounced ULL-RICK, and it means Dark in German.

So, do you all like the idea for the Lilac Tournament? I'm positive I'll write that.

thanks for reading, please review (:

PS: sorry for the short battles, but imagine a LVL20 Pokemon against a LVL90 Pokemon... think about it... think about it... I SAID THINK ABOUT IT!