Whoa! I'm back with the next chapter, and it took only 22 days! Thanks for waiting, I'll let you read now! I don't own Pokemon except my characters! Enjoy!
Chapter 55: A Preliminary Start
A couple weeks after Angelina's defeat by Hoenn's Elite Four Champion and with much needed training, our heroes finally arrive in Evergrande City for the Hoenn League Championships. Its the most prestigious Pokemon competition there is where elite trainers come to compete along with trainers whom have earned eight badges by emerging victorious from a variety of gym battles.
Jeremy's good friend Tyson Rylie from Mauville City kicked off the competition by carrying the league torch from Evergrande City all the way to the Hoenn League Championship's Evergrande Stadium. A friendship was then forged between Tyson and Angelina's brother Ash after Team Rocket attempted to steal the league torch. This left Angelina and friends not wasting any time as they got registered for the tournament at the Pokemon Center and awaited instructions from Seamus's father for Angelina's upcoming Crystalline concert.
"You're going to like the deluxe suites the Hoenn League has for special guests," Seamus told Angelina, exiting the elevator with the everyone on the top floor.
Angelina unlocked the door and was amazed with the beauty of her suite. Living in here for the next couple weeks would be a piece of cake. Everyone threw their bags onto a couch in the living room while Angelina locked her door as they began to venture farther into the suite. The living room was equipped with a huge entertainment center.
The kitchen was connected to the living room. Jeremy opened the fridge and looked inside. It was fully equipped with water, soda, and food. There was a note in the fridge that displayed the number for room service. How convenient. He closed the fridge while Seamus opened a door to the left of the kitchen finding a small, empty den with a computer. The guys shrugged and closed the door, then entering the door to the right of the kitchen where they would be sharing a bedroom with the girls. The room had a king sized bed with a gold and amber canopy, which meant the guys would shared the living room couch that folded out into a bed. There was a big screened television inside of an empty armoire where the girls would fill up with their clothes.
Angelina and Dani went into the bathroom to look around. It consisted of a glass shower, a toilet with a gold plated seat, gold plated sinks, and a hot tub. Everything in the suite was so overdone and all they could do now was kick back and relax until the competition finally started.
Oh,
oh, oh, oh, oh, oh
I'm unbeatable
I'm
walkin' down this endless highway
With nothin' but my friends
beside me
We'll never give in, we'll never rest
Advanced
battle is the ultimate test
From
the earth of land, the sea, and sky
We can never win, but they
sure can try
Oh,
oh, oh, oh, oh, oh
I'm unbeatable
Pokemon
Advanced
Battle
Oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh
I'm undefeatable
From
the stars and the ancient past
They've come to play but they'll
never last
Oh,
oh, oh, oh, oh, oh
I'm unbeatable
Pokemon
Advanced
Battle
Oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh
I'm undefeatable
Oh,
oh, oh
Advanced Battle
I'm unbeatable
Pokemon
"I hear voices this way, guys." said Tyson, a young guy with spiky-shaggy brown hair and sharp green eyes. He was Jeremy's age wearing a dark green jacket over a dark red shirt with light green pants and blue shoes.
With only one day away from the Hoenn League Championships, Angelina and friends make final preparations with their Pokemon and catch up with Tyson along the way. They are venturing the forest near the stadium grounds and stepped out into a clearing finding Team Rocket with their backs turned and peering down into a hole.
"Now let's go do our trademark stealing and go grab all dose Pokemon!" Meowth ordered excitedly.
"Yeah!" Jessie and James cheered.
"Hold it!" Tyson said, startling the Rockets. "So we meet again."
"What trouble are you three up to this time?" Angelina asked.
"Dat's none of your business, sweetcheeks! So move along and take your twerpcateers wit ya!" Meowth replied.
"Meowth. Meow, meow. Meowth!" said Tyson's Meowth calmly. The feline Pokemon stood on its hind legs wearing a western-style cowboy piece. It wore a blue hat with a large yellow feather adorning the top, a small red scarf around its neck, and a pair of brown fur boots on its feet.
"That could not have been nice." James said.
"Oh, it was just sayin' I'm a pathetic embarrassment to Meowth's everywhere." Meowth said, then narrowed his eyes and glared, "WHAT DID YOU SAY?!"
"Maybe he's right," Angelina giggled.
"Just keep talkin' dere, smarty-boots, and you're gonna be real sorry!" Meowth growled.
"Me-owth!" Tyson's Meowth smirked.
"I DO NOT EAT HAIRBALLS!" Meowth screamed, then unleashed its white sharp claws. "All right! I didn't wanted ta come ta dis, but ya left me no choice!"
"Wait Meowth, hold on!" James screamed.
"Meowth, stealing the twerp's Pokemon is more important than a family feud." Jessie reminded worriedly.
"Nothin's more important dan a Meowth's honor except maybe a nice sandwich!" Meowth defended in rage, running quickly.
"Meowth! Use your Iron Tail!" Tyson ordered.
Tyson's Meowth's tail glowed white and slammed into Team Rocket's Meowth, sending the Pokemon backwards into Jessie and James; then sending them flying though the air.
"TEAM ROCKET'S BLASTING OFF AGAIN!"
Angelina stood next to Tyson, Dani, Amber, and Christina as they watched Jeremy pull Ash from the hole. Seamus also helped out a chubby boy around Ash's age with orange hair in a ponytail and wore a samurai-type outfit that consisted of a pink shirt and magenta pants.
"Hey Ash, do you know all these people?" the boy asked, glancing at the group of trainers, mostly the girls.
"Well yeah. That's Tyson and his Meowth. The guys that helped us were Jeremy and Seamus, then those girls there are Amber and Danielle, and those two are my sisters, Christina and Angelina." Ash said, pointing at each person he named, but did a double take at his sister and her friends. "How did you guys meet Tyson already?"
"He's good friends with Jeremy. We met him awhile back in Mauville City after I won my Dynamo badge." Angelina said. "Good time, but long story to be told later."
"Morrison!" a voice yelled from behind everyone, it belonged to Ash's best friend, Brock. "Hey Morrison, they're saying you're not registered over at the Pokemon Center."
"What am I supposed to be registering for?" Morrison asked.
"You have to be registered in order to compete in the tournament, and the cut off is at 5 o'clock." Brock said.
"FIVE O CLOCK? I GOTTA RUN!" Morrison said before taking off in a fast run. "GOTTA GO REGISTER!"
Everyone walked back to the Pokemon Center and found Morrison after he was registered. He was lucky that the group came along to help when they did, but mostly thanks to Tyson and his Meowth.
"Mee-owth." Tyson's Meowth walks away frowning.
"Why's Meowth so unhappy?" May asked.
Tyson sighed, "I'm afraid that it's been through a lot." he looked to Angelina as if he wanted to tell her something, though she quickly understood and nodded, then he smiles and runs after his Pokemon.
"Oh, good luck tomorrow." Ash called.
"See you guys in the preliminaries!" Tyson waved.
"So what are pre-lim-in-aries, anyway?" Morrison asked.
"You've gotta be kidding," Ash said in shock. "You mean you don't know?"
"The preliminaries are where the hundreds of contestants who have entered get narrowed down to the 256 who will actually compete." Jeremy informed.
"Battles are fought one-on-one in the preliminaries, and you have to register the Pokemon that you're going to use first." Max added.
"Wow Max!" Christina exclaimed in awe. "You really know alot about the Hoenn League!"
"Yeah, I guess so," Max blushed.
"Are you sure you're ready for this tournament, guys?" May asked, her hands on her hips.
"We're always ready," Ash said confidently. "Aren't we?"
"You got that right, buddy!" Morrison grinned.
"That's the spirit," Angelina said happily. "Better hope you don't face me, I won't go easy." she added with a wink.
"Oh ho," said another voice, only this time it sounded from a guy more arrogant.
Everyone turned around to see a young man with spiky olive-colored hair wearing a designer shirt, trousers, and black gloves.
"Let's see, you must be Angelina Murakami. The most talked about trainer in the Hoenn Region next to Ash Ketchum. If there's one trainer that people should be talking around, it's me."
Ash didn't seem to like the man's attitude. "Who are you?"
"You don't know who I am?" replied the man in an arrogant tone. "I'm gonna tell you who I am before I humiliate you in front of everybody. The name is Christian Joltmier. I traveled all around the world defeating trainers and gym leaders non-stop and collected more Pokemon than stamps to get here!"
"Oh really?" Angelina said, unimpressed. "I became Champion of Kanto and Johto even if I haven't yet competed in Johto's Silver Conference, so tell me something I don't know." she smirked.
Joltmier glared angrily, "Well there are two things that I have not done, and that's kick Murakami's or Ketchum's butt in a Pokemon battle!"
Angelina smiled evilly at the mention of 'Pokemon battle' while she fingered the minimized rhinestoned Pokeball on a silver chain around her next.
"So answer me, Angelina," Joltmier demanded, eyeing up her figure in the meantime and earning a few glares from Angelina's guy friends. "You and me, any round. What do you say?"
"Personally? It's out of the question since you're not my type," Angelina said, grinning. "Officially, I accept your match, and this will take Pokemon training to a whole new level."
"Too right! I will show everyone that I am more charismatic, more skillful, and more stronger than anybody!" Joltmier announced proudly. "No one will be comparing me to anybody else!"
"Yeah keep thinking that," Angelina rolled her eyes, then grinned darkly, "But I'm gonna show you something that you probably have never received from a girl, no mercy."
(S)12345(S)
The next day while the others attended the preliminary battles of Ash and Morrison, Angelina's friends sat among the crowd cheering Angelina on during her match of her Charizard versus Christian Joltmier's Jolteon.
"Jolteon! Thunder attack!"
"Already?" Angelina asked with a confident smirk.
Jolteon charged himself up until his electric powers were full; he then let out a huge roar as lightning was shot out from him and went into the clouds and then dived down at Charizard.
"Too easy," Angelina critisized. "Dodge to your left, Charcoal!"
Charizard did what he was instructed as he confidently took one step to his left, making the lightning hit the ground instead, missing him by an inch. A lot of people in the audience had surprised looks on their faces and gasped.
"Whoa!" Seamus said. "Smooth move, if that Thunder attack did hit Typhlosion, it would've done a lot of damage."
"Now Charcoal!" Angelina commanded. "Mega Punch attack!"
"Jolteon!" Christian yelled. "Pin Missile attack!"
Jolteon shot out his Pin Missile attack like wildfire. The attack did hit Charizard, but he wasn't even fazed as he continued to run at Jolteon at high speed.
Charizard went on to hit Jolteon with Mega Punch, but he jumped out of harm's way, making Charizard punch the ground instead. The punch was so hard that it created a hole in it.
"Jolteon!" Christian commanded. "Agility now!"
Jolteon started to run rings around Charizard.
"Stand still," Angelina said. "Don't worry too much about it."
Jolteon had been running around Charizard for a long time, but Charizard didn't show any signs of confusion or tiredness. Christian's Jolteon was beginning to get frustrated.
"Jolteon!" Christian ordered. "Tackle attack!"
"In front of him?" Angelina asked with criticism. "Charcoal, Shadow Punch!"
Charizard gave a stretched and swift punch to knock Jolteon down, like a Seviper would strike a Pidgey.
Christina gave several blinks. "What happened? I've never seen a Pokemon punch like that before."
"A Shadow Punch?" Dani asked. "I thought that only Dusclops learned that move."
"Angel has her own way of teaching moves." Jeremy replied.
Jolteon slowly picked himself up.
"Jolteon!" Christian commanded. "Thunderbolt attack!"
Angelina gave a confidant smiled as Jolteon charged himself up. Jolteon tried to let off the electric attack, but it was no use as he suddenly felt worn out.
"Hey! What's going on here?" Christian asked.
"Batteries have their own limits," Angelina replied. "And it looks like your Jolteon has reached his."
"What?!"
"Since Jolteon has been running around Typhlosion for a long time, he has been growing tired. That means that he had no longer had the energy to use his electric attack, let alone carry on with the battle. In other words…. You're finished."
"No way!"
"Charcoal, Focus Punch!"
Charizard turned around as he charged himself. Jolteon had no more energy to move, as Charizard flew quickly at him while giving a devastating punch, which caused an explosion, sending him flying.
"NO!" Christian cried as his Jolteon fell to the ground unconscious.
"Jolteon is unable to battle! Charizard is the winner! The victory goes to Angelina!" the referee called.
Everyone stood and gave a deafening cheer for Angelina. Christian Joltmier fell to his knees and was in tears as he called back his defeated Pokemon.
Angelina smiled, "Nice job, Charcoal! Return!" a red beam shot out and engulfed the fire/flying Pokemon into the Pokeball. She then walked out of the arena and met up with her friends; they walked over to another arena where Ash and his friends were watching Tyson and his Meowth in a battle with a girl and her Persian.
"Iron Tail!" Tyson ordered.
Meowth leapt into the air, its glowing tail smashes into Persian, which was sent spiraling backwards.
"Now follow that with a Thunderbolt, Meowth!"
"Quick Persian! Dig and escape it underground!" Vivica commanded.
Meowth shoots out the electrical attack right into the hole that Persian escaped through. It rips right right through the ground until it hits its target, and Persian is thrusted straight out and screaming from the attack, then smashes into the ground unconscious.
"No, my Persian!" Vivica called out.
"Persian is unable to battle. Meowth is the winner! The victory goes to Tyson!" the referee announced.
Suddenly, Tyson's Meowth extends its claws once more and runs toward the Persian, but Tyson grabs a hold of his Pokemon and says the battle is over.
"Oh no!" Angelina cried, while her friends watched in confusion as Meowth broke free and leapt towards Persian.
"No Meowth! Return!" Tyson yelled, holding out a Pokeball and watched his Pokemon disappear inside.
Outside the stadium, the whole gang gathered around Tyson, whom is sitting on a bench holding Meowth's ball.
"It all started just a few weeks into my journeys here in the Hoenn Region when I met this Meowth by accident one night in the forest not too far from here, in fact." Tyson explained to Ash and his friends while Angelina's gang were sympathetic from just being around to witness the events. "I remember it like it was yesterday. I was on my way back to the cabins where I was staying with some friends. It had just started to snow when I heard what sounded like a serious fight. In a clearing, I saw a Meowth battling a Persian. I didn't know what to do, but I know I just couldn't leave it there. Then I realized it was badly hurt. Back at the cabin, I saw that the fight with the Persian had done some real damage, especially to its legs, that's why as it began to heal, I put those boots on it to give them some support. I think the battle I saw must've been to decide the leader of the pack and Meowth lost. It would've been treated as an outcast, so wasn't able to go home again."
"It's lucky you found it." Ash said.
"Hmph!" Morrison folded his arms. "Well no wonder its got a rotten attitude toward all Persian."
"But wouldn't it be better if it just evolved into a Persian?" May asked.
"I don't think so, because this one wants to prove that even as a Meowth, it can beat a Persian." Brock replied.
"Exactly what I think." Tyson agreed. "I think the memory of that battle burns inside it all the time and it will never be at peace until it finally wins."
"Hey Angel, you okay?" Jeremy asked, noticing the girl was very quiet and had her eyes closed, thinking.
"Yeah, Tyson's story just reminded me of our Christmas a while ago, that's all...."
FLASHBACK
Angelina and friends were still traveling through Hoenn (now joined by Dani) and rented a cabin in the middle of a snow-covered forest for two weeks. The fireplace was crackling merrily, several bunches of mistletoe were lined up around the ceiling, streamers were hung across the house, along with several colored lights. The Christmas tree stood in the corner, tall and majestic with tinsel, glass balls, Pokeballs, garland, bows, and small glass lights. Bits of snow had also been placed on the tree, adding a twinkling effect to it.
They had finished decorating the house long before Drew arrived; the young co-ordinator was taking a break before participating in the Grand Festival. Even Jeremy invited Tyson to stay with them. Introductions were made and the festivities started with movies, video games, snowball fights, and relaxing in the cabin's jacuzzi.
Everyone was startled one night when Tyson entered the cabin carrying a wild Meowth that was badly hurt. He explained to his friends that he saw the Meowth was fighting a Persian for leadership of the pack, losing and abandoned. Angelina and Jeremy helped Tyson tend to the Pokemon's injuries; mostly damaged more on its legs, so it wore boots for support while being healed.
In the afternoon on Christmas Eve, Christina was occupying the Pokemon (Togepi, Roselia, TJ the Pichu, and Boots the Meowth) while Jeremy was talking to Tyson and Drew about their Pokemon. This left Dani and Amber getting lunch for everyone and Angelina was still upstairs getting ready.
"Lunch is ready, guys," Dani walked into the living room carrying a big plate of Christmas cookies and sandwiches.
"Yeah, don't forget the eggnog and hot chocolate," Amber added, carrying a tray of mugs of the drinks.
"Mmm, what smells so good?"
Everyone looked around when they heard a voice, but it was Tyson that looked up the stairs and his jaw dropped. Angelina was standing at the top, with a long white silk dress that shimmered in the light. She also had some green silk cloth wrapped around her waist, with some excess cloth hanging down from the knot. Her strawberry-blonde hair flowed delicately down her shoulders. She was wearing a chain necklace, with a small piece of mistletoe on it, as well as earrings in the shape of red Christmas-tree balls. A pair of pearl white angel wings were fitted on her back. She started to make her way down the stairs.
"Everything okay?" Angelina asked, then the other two guys spotted her. Jeremy was stunned and Drew's face was slightly red. Amber quickly sets down the tray on the coffee table and unplugged the Game Cube before the guys noticed.
Tyson was just amazed, he got up from the arm chair and approached Angelina while their eyes were locked together. "Wow, I guess all angels do have wings."
Angelina blushed almost the same color as her earrings, this made Dani and Christina squeal over them in delight while Jeremy chuckled.
Drew smirked and muttered something to Amber, who rolled her eyes and walked over to the older trainers, "Hey, I believe you two have something you need to do." she pointed at the ceiling, and looking up, they saw a fine piece of mistletoe above their heads.
"Oh my...." Angelina blushed.
"Well, if its a must," Tyson said, grinning as he took Angelina's hands into his.
So, with their friends watching, Angelina and Tyson shared their first kissed. And as the snow kept falling steadily outside and their hot chocolate was cooling down, they knew their kiss wouldn't be the only one shared during their christmas together and was the start of something new growing beyond their friendship.
END FLASHBACK
Now that the preliminaries have ended; Ash, Morrison, Tyson, Angelina, Danielle, Seamus, and Jeremy have qualified for the main event. In recognition of his previous work protecting the torch, Ash's granted the great honor of running the final leg, and with that torch, assenting the great stadium steps. As thousands of Pokemon fans, including family and friends, look on from all over the world, Ash lights the flame to begin the Hoenn League Championships. The competition Ash and Angelina will be facing will be the toughest they've had to contend with yet. Will either of the two siblings have what it takes to make it all the way? Hang onto yours seats!
§To Be Continued§
I took quotes from the episode 'Saved By The Beldum'. The only preliminary battles I didn't put in were Morrison's, Ash's, Dani's, Seamus', and Jeremy's. Thought I'd also put in a Christmas scene too. Not to worry though because there will be more battles to come. Thanks for reading! I shall return again!
