Chapter 37: A Ping Pong Ends with a Ball!
"Alright!" Ash exclaimed as both he and Pikachu jumped out of the Pokémon Center, before they both swung their hitting arm together to prepare for the Ping Pong Tournament coming up today.
"Pikachu! Time for some Ping Pong training!" Ash exclaimed, with the Mouse Pokémon giving a "Pika" of approval. Hikaru, Hareta, Dawn, and Brock weren't too far behind the Kanto Trainer when Barry showed up with a Ping Pong paddle in his hand.
"Ha ha ha! It's finally time for my Sinnoh Pokémon Ping Pong conquest!" Barry declared loudly as both he and Ash made hitting motions together, both training as if they were hitting the Ping Pong ball at the same time!
But as they were getting into it, Dawn called for the four competitors in reminder of what she lacked knowledge of that they knew about.
"Guys? Not to slow you guys down, but I don't even really understand the rules of Pokémon Ping Pong!" Dawn admitted, causing all of the boys to nearly fall over at the blunt confession before Hikaru rubbed the back of his head.
"Then why didn't you ask before when we were preparing for the competition? You do realize that it starts today, with many players including us entering the competition?" Hikaru asked softly, earning a teasing smile from the Twinleaf girl.
"Sorry... I guess it slipped out of my mind, especially with the Sandalstraw Contest happening!" Dawn giggled, causing the young Aura Guardian to sigh in response.
"In that case, I'll tell you!" Barry declared before he began the explanation of how the sport is played out.
"Okay, so first of all... You have a Pokémon and its Trainer that form a team! And while a Trainer is only allowed to use a Ping Pong paddle, his or her Pokémon are allowed to use a part of its body instead!" Barry explained.
"Is that it?" Dawn asked, unsure of whether that's all the rules or not before the impatient Trainer continued on.
"Well, other than the fact that the Trainer always serves, that's really about it! First team with 11 points wins the game! First team to win three games wins the match!" Barry explained with a smile.
"Cool! Okay... I'm gonna enter, too!" Dawn exclaimed with her fist pumping in the air. Both Ash and Barry grinned at the excitement the Twinleaf girl was giving off, as they were both ready for some Ping Pong training.
"Now you're talkin'!" Barry exclaimed with his paddle out.
"So let's do it!" Ash exclaimed with a determined grin.
"Right..."
"Okay..." Both Hikaru and Hareta responded, although the wild boy sounded rather hesitant, as he was still unsure of whether he wanted to take part in the sports event that he wasn't really interested much.
What the five competing Trainers didn't know was that today's competition would be both wild and rather... surprising in a way for them and the Pokémon that would be participating with them...
[Opening: (Pokémon DP: High Touch! (English Subbed))
Hey Hey Hey!
(The screen spreads, like a puddle spreading)
Hey Hey Hey!
(Brock, Dawn, Ash, and Hikaru's smiling faces show)
We fight, make up, and then we fight again
There are a lot of things I want to say to you
(The Japanese opening title shows)
But foremost...
"Thanks for being here for me!"
(Hikaru, Ash, Dawn, Brock, Infernape, Pikachu, and Piplup runs together)
(The group rides on the sailboat across the sea with all their Pokémon)
Companions in this journey, compassion in the world
I pretend to understand those things, but
(The screen turns to Brock as he is making supper for the group)
The truth is...
"I'm happy you're here for me!"
(All of the group's Pokémon show)
Nice Partner!
Nice Rival!
(Zoey, Kenny, Paul, Hareta, and Lucas faces Dawn, Ash, and Hikaru)
(Glameow, Prinplup, Honchkrow, Hareta's Prinplup, and Grotle faces Dawn's Piplup, Ambipom, Pikachu, and Infernape)
I'll push you forward
(Dawn gives Hikaru and Ash a small push)
I'll pull you along
(Hikaru smiles at Dawn, while Ash grins and gives a thumbs up)
The sun seems so dazzling when I look up at it
Hey Hey Hey!
(The group watches the sunlight along with Pikachu, Infernape, and Piplup)
If it all goes well, let's high five!
(The group runs across a map with their three Pokémon)
Hey Hey Hey!
(Ash, Hikaru, and Dawn high fives each other)
If we're feeling down, we'll come right back!
(Delia, Prof. Oak, Max, Tracey, May, and Gary smiles together)
As long as we are together
(All of Ash, Hikaru, Dawn, and Brock's Pokémon show)
I will not give up so easily! GO GO GO!
(Team Rocket are sent blasting off into the sky)
(Team Galactic shows, with Yamato and Cyrus' faces appearing behind them)
(Cheveyo and his Absol, Winter, watch the moon to the sky)
Hey Hey Hey!
(Hunter J appears with her Salamence, smirking)
It all went well, so let's high five!
Hey Hey Hey!
Shake hands with our opponent in battle
(The Buizel brothers uses Aqua Jets at different directions; Staraptor and Dragonair uses Aerial Ace and Dragon Tail)
(Gliscor and Luxray charges with X-Scissor and Wild Charge; Grotle uses Tackle as Leafeon uses Leaf Blade)
(Chimchar and Togekiss uses Flame Wheel and Air Slash; Pikachu and Infernape uses Volt Tackle and Flame Wheel)
As long as we're together
(The five trainers runs together with their three Pokémon on the map)
We can go even further than before! GO GO GO!
(Regigigas shoots Hyper Beam at Darkrai)
GO GO GO! GO GO GO!
(Hikaru merges with Infernape, Infernape turns into Spirit-Infernape with new fiery power)
(Hikaru stands together with his eight Pokémon along with Ash, Dawn, and Brock, and their Pokémon)
[Opening ends]
With the Ping Pong training done, the group and Barry headed over to the building where the competition was taking place. All they had to do now was register so that they would be able to take part in the tournament that's happening later.
"Now, just write your name in here along with the Pokémon you're going to be teaming up with! After you turn in your paperwork, you're registered!" The registration lady explained, allowing the competing Trainers to begin their work.
"Great! And thanks for everything!" The four Trainers called out. Barry had already went in ahead as he already registered, which left Hikaru, Dawn, Ash, and Hareta to register along with the other competitors entering the competition.
"Of course... I'll be choosing Pikachu as my partner! Right, bud?"
"Pikachu!" Ash assured, with the Electric Type crying out in agreement.
"And I'm choosing Ambipom! I get the feeling that Ambipom really likes Ping Pong! And Barry agreed!" Dawn giggled, remembering the suggestion Barry gave her when he had noticed the way Ambipom battled during the Sandalstraw Contest.
The Long Tail Pokémon gave a big grin and a cry of approval, as if she was agreeing with Dawn's words.
"Riolu, you ready to show your skills with Ping Pong? This may be our first time, but let's give it our all during the competition." Hikaru asked, earning a cheerful nod from the young Emanation Pokémon.
"Mm hm! And I'll do my best to help the both of us win, big bro!" Riolu barked cheerfully, earning a nod from the young Aura Guardian. Hareta turned to his Water-Steel Type partner, having the unsure expression on his face.
"Well... Now that we're here, I guess there's no backing down from this, right? Besides, it wouldn't be fun to lose in a competition just because we didn't want to be a part of it." Hareta reminded, earning a nod from Empoleon.
"Pol..." Empoleon grunted in agreement.
"Well, Piplup? Infernape? Guess the bleachers are for the two of you and me!" Brock reminded, earning a happy chirp from the Penguin Pokémon while Infernape nodded before he turned to his human brother and young Fighting Type.
"Knock 'em dead, bro. And do your best too, Riolu!" Infernape reminded, causing Hikaru to chuckle before he nodded in agreement. The Emanation Pokémon only had to show how determined he was to win to let Infernape know that he'll do his best.
With the four Trainers prepared with their Pokémon partners for the Ping Pong Tournament, they went over to where there were practice tables that Trainers could use for the Ping Pong competition coming up.
"Wow... Look at all the practice Ping Pong tables they have available!" Brock pointed out, with Dawn realizing what this meant.
"Then that means we'll be able to get a lot of practice in, Ambipom!" Dawn reminded, allowing the Long Tail Pokémon to agree with a grin.
"Ambipom!" The evolved Normal Type cried out in agreement. The Kanto Trainer turned to Hikaru with a suggestion in mind.
"So, Hikaru! Since there's not much time before the competition, how about a practice match to warm things up?" Ash suggested, causing the young Aura Guardian to accept the idea, with Riolu making a determined expression.
"Sure thing. I'd like to see too on what our training will result in. That is, if you and Pikachu are ready for me and Riolu." Hikaru assured, before making a challenge that the Kanto Trainer couldn't refuse.
"Oh, we're ready! That's for sure!"
"Pika Pika!" Ash assured, with the Mouse Pokémon crying out his agreement. Dawn giggled before she took out her Coin App in the Pokétch for the boys to use on who gets to serve first.
"Okay, boys! So call it! Heads or tails?" Dawn asked, allowing the boys to call it.
"I call heads!" Ash declared.
"Then I call tails." Hikaru declared.
The coin was flipped before it landed with the face of the Magikarp on top!
"Ah ha! Yes! Alright! We serve first!" Ash declared as he and Pikachu got into one of the practice Ping Pong tables with Hikaru and Riolu getting onto the other side to face their practice opponents.
Dawn, Brock, and Hareta watched on the sidelines to see the match begin.
"Okay, Ash! We're ready when you are!" Hikaru called out, with the young Fighting Type looking ready to fight... in the Ping Pong way.
"You got it! Remember... Trainers do the serving!" Ash exclaimed as he made the first serve. The paddle hit the ball, allowing it to head to where Hikaru's team was! The young Aura Guardian hit the ball back to let the ball go back.
The Kanto Trainer hit the ball back, causing the two boys to continue hitting the Ping Pong ball with the others watching. No one noticed a man walking across the practice tables until he stopped to see Ash and Hikaru going against each other.
"Get it, Pikachu!" Ash called out, causing the Mouse Pokémon to slap the ball back with his tail, making it fly out of the young Aura Guardian's reach!
"Oh snap!" Hikaru yelped before he watched to see Riolu using his own tail to hit the Ping Pong ball back hard! But just as the young Emanation Pokémon made the hit, the hit surprised both Ash and Pikachu as the ball zipped right past them!
Everyone turned in surprise to see the ball heading straight to where the man was standing at!
"Ah! Look out!" Dawn shrieked, as they all watched the ball getting closer until the man caught the Ping Pong with his hand. Calmly, he looked at the ball before a smile rose up on his face, as if he was impressed with the hit Riolu has made.
"Sorry... Are you alright?" Hikaru asked, causing the man to smile before he praised the young Fighting Type.
"I'm fine. That Riolu of yours has excellent reflexes and strength despite of it looking a bit young. I'm guessing this comes from the daily training together?" The man explained, his tone showing on how impressed he was for the hit the Emanation Pokémon had done.
"Actually... This is Riolu's first time being in a Ping Pong competition. It's only been a few weeks since he's hatched from his Egg." Hikaru admitted, with Riolu giving a small bark of agreement.
"Impressive. It's great to see new teams involved! I would say the main thing is don't worry about making mistakes and do your best! Have fun!" The man said before he made his leave, causing the group to turn where the man was leaving at.
"You bet..." Ash and Hikaru spoke together before Brock noticed something from the man as he showed it to the others.
"Hey... Look at this!" Brock pointed out, causing the others to turn and see the same man on the cover of a small book!
"Huh... Is this man famous with Ping Pong?" Hikaru asked, causing Riolu to watch in awe and curiosity.
"I wonder if this man is entering the competition..." Riolu wondered, allowing the human brother to smile at the Emanation Pokémon.
"Well, we'll have to see, don't we?" Hikaru asked, earning an affirmative cry from the young Fighting Type.
Later...
The announcement called for all participating Trainers to enter the arena so that the Ping Pong competition would begin. Brock went to the stands with Infernape and Piplup, leaving Ash, Hikaru, Dawn, and Hareta to join the other competitors to head for the main arena.
"All athletes will please proceed to the arena!" The woman called out, calling all the competitors to come in. As they all came into the arena, the plasma screen revealed itself to show everyone how the tournament is going to go on.
"So it's tournament style, huh? Dawn, that means if we both win in the first round, we get to go up against each other!" Ash pointed out, seeing how his match was next to Dawn's match.
"Then I'll see you in Round 2!" Ash assured, with the Twinleaf girl nodding in agreement.
"Well, this is a surprise. My first opponent in the competition is with you, Hareta." Hikaru pointed out, causing the wild boy to blink in surprise before he grinned at the young Aura Guardian with a determined expression.
"Well then, Hikaru! Get ready to lose! Empoleon and I aren't gonna hold back during our match together!" Hareta assured, with Empoleon agreeing with Hareta by making a swinging motion with its arm.
"I'll be looking forward to it." Hikaru assured, with Riolu giving a bark to say "Bring it on!".
"Well! I won't be running into any of you guys unless you somehow make it to the semifinals! Of course we'll be fine. But you four... that's impossible." Barry bragged, causing Hikaru to sigh at his overconfidence once again.
"That overconfidence of yours is going to be a huge problem during battles... Even in a Ping Pong battle competition like this, amateur." Hikaru reminded bluntly, making Barry nearly fall over before he glared at the Aura Guardian.
"AGAIN with the amateur thing!?" Barry snapped before Dawn reassured to the impatient Trainer that they'll do fine believe it or not.
"We'll see about that... Hey, guys! Look!" Dawn started to say before she turned to the screen to recognize someone familiar. Way left on the screen was the man from before that complimented Riolu on his Ping Pong skills.
His partner seemed to be a Shiftry as Dawn smiled at recognizing the man from before.
"That's the guy from before!" Dawn pointed out, only for Barry to splutter at the group's obliviousness as to who this "guy" was.
"HUH!? Guy!? Excuse me, folks... But for your information, that GUY is none other than O! He's last year's winner with the rep of being the strongest ever!" Barry snapped in disbelief, earning looks from the group as he regained his composure before explaining.
"And the fans really respect him, because he searches high and low for strong Trainers and Pokémon to help spread word the good word on Pokémon Ping Pong! And he does it all over the world..." Barry explained calmly.
"Who knew...? Sounds like a cool guy alright..." Ash replied, sounding amazed as to who this familiar man was now.
"He's cool, alright! But we're gonna beat that cool guy and show him who's the strongest! Now please try and give it all you've got, okay?" Barry assured before he taunted his rivals to keep up with him in the competition.
BONK!
"OW!" Barry yelped as he rubbed his head to where something hit him, only to see it was Hikaru tapping his now turned fist onto the impatient Trainer's head, as he gave Barry an unamused look.
"Maybe you should beat this cool guy before you go bragging off as to who's the strongest, alright? No one can be perfect like you, amateur." Hikaru reminded, earning a snicker from both Riolu and Hareta.
Before the impatient Trainer could retort, a whistle was blown and the woman called to all the Ping Pong players to grab their attention.
"Attention, all Ping Pong athletes! It's time to begin! So gather if you would, please!" The woman called out, allowing the competition to begin.
Meanwhile at the stands, Brock was making his way to find a good seat to watch with Infernape and Piplup by his side. The Kanto Breeder sat next to the man with the two Sinnoh starters sitting at his left.
Realizing the man to his right, he greeted the man for a friendly conversation.
"Hello! I was wondering if you have any friends competing today!" Brock explained. Infernape glanced, taking notice of the flinch the man had done before he quickly turned to respond to the Kanto Breeder's question.
"Ha ha ha! Funny you should ask, since a chum of mine never even played a single game of Ping Pong, is in fact competing today! My heart's going pitter-pat..." The man explained, causing Brock to sympathize with him.
"So is mine! My friends are all beginners as well and I'm just so anxious!" Brock exclaimed, understanding the man's feelings. At that moment, the two men faced each other, both having something in common about their friends.
"I can't believe we've never met before! Great minds think alike!" Brock exclaimed with the man sounding like he agreed.
"And we've got the greatest!" The man agreed before he and Brock laughed together. Both Infernape and Piplup sweat dropped at the two already bonding with one another... in a weird way.
"Greatest minds, huh...?" Infernape thought to himself before he sighed.
"What's with the big grins they have on their faces...?" Piplup thought before he and Infernape turned back to where the prizes were to be revealed.
"Alright, athletes! The winner of this competition will receive these solid gold Ping Pong balls! And a supplementary prizes of year's supply of special Pokémon food! So best of luck at winning the prize!" The woman explained before she gestured to the tables.
"Alright then! Get to your tables and standby!" The woman called out, allowing every competitor to head for the Ping Pong tables so that they could face each other.
Hikaru and Riolu faced Hareta and Empoleon on one table, as Dawn and Ambipom faced a scientist and his Alakazam in another table.
Ash and Pikachu faced a Trainer named Wilkinson and his Farfetch'd on another table, while Barry and Empoleon faced a girl and her Grovyle at a different table.
The players are all ready to play as Ash shakily turned to call to Dawn and Ambipom.
"Okay, Dawn... Don't forget... We're here to have fun!" Ash stuttered, only for Dawn to point out the wrong item he had for the game.
"Ash! That's a fan!" Dawn exclaimed, causing the Kanto Trainer to blink before he yelped, as he took out a Ping Pong paddle to quickly replace the fan.
"Come on, Ash! You've got to relax, please...?" Dawn asked, feeling worried for the Kanto Trainer. Ash gulped as his legs began to shake, with Pikachu feeling concerned for his human partner.
As for Hikaru, he gave a glance to see Ash making a mistake of what he needed to hit the ball with, causing him to sigh.
"He was enthusiastic before, but now he's nervous...? He's definitely not like that when he's up for a tough battle..." Hikaru stated, causing Riolu to turn to the Kanto Trainer and his Electric Type partner in confusion.
But as the Emanation Pokémon was ready to play the game, he felt a shaking feeling coming from Hareta as he blinked to see the wild boy having his legs shake as well. Empoleon was trying to comfort the wild boy as Hareta gulped.
"I can do this... I can do this... I'm here to have fun... And we won't lose!" Hareta shakily spoke out, only to be rubbed on the back by Empoleon, who tried his best to calm the wild boy down.
"Each table will toss a coin to decide who serves first!" The woman announced, allowing the referee for each table to flip a coin with the Coin Toss App! As the coin was tossed, the one who serves first was decided.
But as the game started to begin, one match was already dealt with as the woman with the Meowth had used a move to slice the ball apart! At seeing this, the man next to Brock shoved his hands towards his face, groaning in disappointment.
"I'm doomed!" The man groaned as Brock frowned before he turned to where Ash was facing off against Wilkinson.
"So the guy with the Farfetch'd is well known, is he...?" Brock asked, as Piplup cheered for the Kanto Trainer and his Electric Type partner to win their match. Infernape on the other hand, kept an eye out for his human brother, who began his serve against Hareta.
The boys continued to hit the ball back to back, with their Pokémon partners joining in the clash. As the game went on, the young Aura Guardian slammed the ball hard, making it hard for the wild boy to reach for the ball!
"Ah! Empoleon!" Hareta yelped, causing the evolved Water Type starter to use his large fin to hit the ball back hard! It went right past the young Aura Guardian, catching him by surprise before Riolu quickly dashed and slammed the ball away with his leg!
The countermove surprised Hareta as the ball zipped past both him and Empoleon! The two yelped in surprise as the referee gave the point to Hikaru and Riolu.
"Hikaru Team! Point!" The referee declared.
Hikaru: 1
Hareta: 0
Hareta groaned before he shook his head, getting ready for the next serve. Empoleon was ready too, as they were getting a little fired up for the next game to begin.
"Well... At least Hareta isn't so nervous anymore... His eyes look like they're literally on fire!" Hikaru thought as he smiled, before he got ready to make the next serve to continue the game.
For Ash, he began the game by serving first! Wilkinson hit the ball back, allowing the game to go on normally with Pikachu supporting Ash and with Farfetch'd supporting Wilkinson.
But as Ash hit the ball back with Wilkinson countering, the ball went past the Kanto Trainer, causing Ash to call for Pikachu to hit the ball back.
"Pikachu! Get it!" Ash exclaimed, causing the Mouse Pokémon to leap in the air and slam the ball back with his tail! It went past Wilkinson, much to his surprise as both Ash and Pikachu smiled, getting confident for their point.
"Okay! Got it...!?" Ash started to say before he widened his eyes to see a Farfetch'd coming out from behind and slamming the ball back with its leek! The ball hit Ash under his chin, causing him to fall back.
"Pikachu!?" Pikachu cried out in worry, only for the Kanto Trainer to reassure that he was fine.
"Fine... I'm sorry." Ash apologized, recovering from the small hit he had taken from the Ping Pong ball. The point went to the opponent's side since the ball wasn't hit back towards them!
"Wilkinson Team! Point!" The referee declared, causing the opponent and his Flying Type to smirk at each other, both feeling confident for their victory.
Wilkinson: 1
Ash: 0
While Ash and Pikachu were struggling against Wilkinson and Farfetch'd, Dawn and Ambipom were trying their best against the scientist and his Alakazam! As the game went on, the evolved Psychic Type proved to be unpredictable with its movements.
That began to show when the ball was hit to where Alakazam stood. The Psychic Type was ready to hit the ball, with Dawn predicting its movements.
"Right or left? So which way will it go?" Dawn asked. As she watched, the Psi Pokémon looked like it was about to hit the ball with its left arm! Noticing this, the Twinleaf girl called for Ambipom to try and counter it.
"Ambipom! To the left!" Dawn exclaimed, allowing the Long Tail Pokémon to move to the left. But to their surprise, Alakazam didn't hit the ball with its left spoon, but with its right arm holding the spoon instead!
That caught the two off guard as their opponent team was given the point.
"No way!" Dawn exclaimed as the referee turned to the scientist's team.
"Good! Scientist Team! Point!" The referee declared, as a point was given to the scientist's team.
Scientist: 1
Dawn: 0
With the point given to the other team, the Twinleaf girl was more than ready to try and make a comeback now that she witnessed the complicated style Alakazam would use to hit the Ping Pong ball.
"I guess I won't know if they're going to hit with a right hand or the left until before!" Dawn spoke to herself before she made the next serve. But as soon as she served, Alakazam countered by using its unusual style!
"Which!?" Dawn cried out as she carefully watched to see Alakazam... using its right hand like before! The ball zipped past the Twinleaf girl, much to her surprise as she turned to see Ambipom jumping in and using her twin tails to hit the ball back!
An idea came to her mind when she realized how useful her twin tails can be at a time like this.
"That's an idea! We can return with your two tails!" Dawn exclaimed.
The ball shot down to where the scientist was, who quickly covered his face with the paddle to prevent himself from getting hit from the ball! The ball bounced back to where Dawn and Ambipom was, causing Ambipom to take the initiative again.
The Long Tail Pokémon used the strength of her tail to slam the ball! The scientist and his Alakazam widened their eyes in surprise to see a fast ball coming straight towards them before the ball passed them, giving Dawn and Ambipom the point this time!
"Dawn Team! Point!" The referee declared, allowing the score to even up.
Scientist: 1
Dawn: 1
"Thanks so much, Ambipom!" Dawn said gratefully, only to get a happy grin from her female Normal Type. With the twin tails and her paddle ready, the Twinleaf girl was ready to make a comeback with her Long Tail Pokémon.
"Now let's keep this up!"
"Ambipom!" The two started to feel fired up with the game going on, which proved to help them as the Ping Pong game and match continued on with the results going to Dawn's team! With their victory, they moved up to the second round.
Unfortunately for Ash and Pikachu, they were outmatched by Wilkinson and Farfetch'd playing against them, causing them to lose in the first round, making Dawn and Ambipom face the victorious team. Hareta didn't have any luck either with Empoleon as they struggled against Hikaru and Riolu.
Barry didn't have any trouble advancing towards the second round as he did so with Empoleon at his side! The games continued on, with Barry, Hikaru, and Dawn all advancing to the third round together!
That left Barry and Empoleon facing O and Shiftry with Hikaru and Riolu facing against both Dawn and Ambipom in the A Block division. The games were starting to get more intense as the crowd cheered for the remaining athletes to pull through.
At the stands, both Ash and Hareta joined Brock and the man at the stands, both disappointed for the loss they had taken from their match.
"Man... We lost." Ash groaned, with the Mouse Pokémon agreeing sadly.
"Just when we thought we had Hikaru and Riolu, they ended up outsmarting us..." Hareta groaned, with Empoleon patting on the wild boy's shoulder in comfort. The Kanto Breeder smiled sheepishly at his disappointed friends as he tried to reassure to them that they did their best.
"Don't feel bad, you two. It's the first time for the both of you playing in this game." Brock reminded, only for Hareta to pout and fold his arms.
"Yeah, you're right. But what about Hikaru and Dawn? This is their first time playing this game too, and they're doing way much better than how Ash and I did in our matches..." Hareta pointed out.
"Yeah, and not only that... I let Pikachu down. I'm sorry, buddy." Ash apologized, only to get a shaking head from the Mouse Pokémon.
"Pika!" Pikachu assured softly, as if he was saying it was alright, since it was just as Brock said. This was their first time playing in a Ping Pong competition, so it wouldn't be a surprise if they had lost in the first or second round.
With the boys getting out of their depressive mood, they looked down to see Hikaru and Riolu battling Dawn and Ambipom in the third round Ping Pong match.
"But like Hareta said, both Hikaru and Dawn made it to the first and second round! And man, they're doing great!" Ash exclaimed, with the Kanto Breeder agreeing with his old friend.
"Mm hm! And you'd never know it was both Riolu and Ambipom's first time out the way things are going!" Brock reminded, causing both Infernape and Piplup feel proud for their Trainers and their Pokémon friends.
"I'll admit... those friends of yours down there are certainly doing very well, despite of the fact that you said this was their first time competing..." The man agreed, as he too seemed impressed with how the Twinleaf couple were doing.
"That's Dawn for you! They're going to go so far in this competition!" Piplup boasted, with Pikachu smiling.
"I can understand on why you're excited about Dawn winning. But don't forget that Riolu is doing great too, and it's only been weeks since he hatched from his Egg!" Pikachu reminded, causing Piplup to remember.
"Right... There's no telling on who might advance to the next round, Piplup. So keep watching. I have a feeling that this match is starting to get intense. See down there?" Infernape pointed out.
The three Pokémon starters all watched to see Hikaru and Dawn hitting the Ping Pong ball back at each other, with both Riolu and Ambipom aiding them with their ways of hitting the ball back.
Hikaru: 10
Dawn: 9
As the game went on, neither of them had noticed O watching them from a short distance away as he awaited his match to begin. But as he was getting ready, he took notice of how well both Ambipom and Riolu were playing.
He frowned, unsure of whether to believe this was their first time competing in the Ping Pong competition like today.
"They couldn't have just started Ping Pong, could they? Just look at the both of them..." O said to himself in disbelief.
To be continued...
Hikaru's Team:
Infernape: (M): (Flamethrower, Mach Punch, Flame Wheel, Close Combat)
Buizel: (M): (Ice Beam, Aqua Jet, Razor Wind, Water Gun)
Togekiss: (F): (Ancient Power, Aura Sphere, Safeguard, Air Slash)
Leafeon: (F): (Magical Leaf, Shadow Ball, Synthesis, Leaf Blade)
Gardevoir: (F): (Psychic, Double Team, Thunderbolt, Teleport)
Riolu: (M): (Endure, Quick Attack, Foresight, ?)
With Prof. Rowan:
Dragonair: (M): (Dragon Tail, Aqua Tail, Thunder Wave, Safeguard)
Luxray: (F): (Wild Charge, Discharge, Iron Tail, Hidden Power)
Next chapters:
Chapter 38: The Ping Pong Conclusion!
Chapter 39: Phantom Thief Pokemon 7 Appears!
Chapter 40: Aura VS Thief! An Unexpected Bond!
Chapter 41: It's Class Time! Teacher Candice!
Chapter 42: Exhibition Match! Hareta's Chance!
Next chapter preview:
Hikaru: This game... It feels like I'm in the middle of a battle, but at the same time... it feels kind of fun, if I want to be honest.
Dawn: I'm having fun, too! But I guess I shouldn't get ahead of myself since there are other strong players that Ambipom and I need to beat.
Barry: W-What's the deal with that!? Did Shiftry just come from behind O!? Just... what is this technique!? It caught us off guard!
Hikaru: O... People said he was a pro Ping Pong player. Was that technique the reason why? There's more to than that, isn't there?
O: Your Ambipom may be good with those twin tails helping it hit the ball back, but don't expect that it'll help you forever!
Dawn: Oh man, oh man... At this rate, if he keeps this up... then we're both done for! We can do this, Ambipom! Let's make it through!
Events that occurred:
- The Pokémon Ping Pong Tournament begins