"speaking"
"Thinking"
On with the story
Ken was on his journey to Veilstone city as he had Gible walking with him
He thinks that It'd be best for his Pokemon to take a whiff of the fresh air outside then inside their Pokeball at all time
Ken made a routine to switch everyone out so that he can also gain experience in examining their behaviors
"so that's Veilstone city" Ken said as he sees the city up ahead
"let's go, Gible" Ken looks to his friend as Gible nodded
After some walking, Ken and Gible arrived to Veilstone City where the first thing they find is a giant board that had some writing on it
"Veilstone Tournament, let the true winning fighter be the champion!", sounds like a fun match" Ken said reading the sigh as Gible nodded
"let's go and register" Ken carried up Gible as he made his way to the registration table
He and Gible got in line as they waited for their turn
After a couple of minutes, Ken and Gible got to the registration table where Ken started to fill out the form but was stopped by the receptionist
"sorry, but you have to participate with a Pokemon that is a Fighting Type only, any other is not allowed" the receptionist said as Ken nodded in understanding
"sorry, Gible" Ken said as he registered Hitmonchan's name on the form
Gible got a disappointed frown but Ken patted its head to cheer it up
"there we go" Ken gave the receptionist the form as she signed it and Ken was now in the tournament
Ken was at the Pokemon Center now as he was in the middle of chatting with Fuji
"a Fighting Tournament for Fighting Type Pokemon, how interesting" Fuji said with a smile
"yeah, and I think it would be great for Hitmonchan to get some battles after a while" Ken said as Fuji nodded
"I'll go get him" Fuji said as he disappeared from the screen for a good one minute before coming back with Hitmonchan
"Hitmonchan, you ready for some fights?" Ken asked as Hitmonchan nodded while doing some shadow boxing
"I'll have him transferred right now" Fuji said as he called back Hitmonchan to its Pokeball before setting it on the transfer machine
After a few seconds, a pokeball was transferred to Ken
Ken took the Pokeball and Hitmonchan pops out of it
"you ready?" Ken asked as Hitmonchan nodded
"I wish you luck, Ken." Fuji said before looking to Hitmonchan "And you too, Hitmonchan. Show Ken how your fighting skills have evolved"
Hitmonchan nodded before the call was hanged up
"let's see this new fighting skills you got, Hitmonchan" Ken said as he and Hitmonchan went to the open battle field, behind the Pokemon Center
When they entered the field, they find a Machamp fighting against a Hariyama as the two Pokemon were glaring at each other hard
"come on, stop it" a young trainer said to the Hariyama which Ken assumed was its trainer
"yeah, we're supposed to have a friendly battle" another trainer said while trying to pull away Machamp
The two Pokemon didn't heed their trainers before they started a brawl against each other
"guess the rivalry here is tense" Ken said as he nodded to Hitmonchan who nodded back
Hitmonchan had a blue sphere charging up in its hands before it fired at the two Pokemon and caused a minor explosion
"Aura Sphere? That's something new!" Ken said with a smile as Hitmonchan got in between the two Pokemon while crossing its arms
Machamp and Hariyama got up before the two Pokemon went on the attack against Hitmonchan
Hitmonchan saw them coming as the Fighter Pokemon jumps up before Machamp and Hariyama collided with each other
Hitmonchan let out a few cries as Machamp and Hariyama looks at him before to each other
The two scoffed before shaking each other hands
Hitmonchan nodded as he made the two make peace with each other
"good work, Hitmonchan" Ken said as Hitmonchan nodded
"wah! It's Ken! The Indigo League Champion!" "and that's Hitmonchan! Hitmonchan was so awesome!" "yeah! In that last battle! It uses all of its strength and fired its Focus Blast at Lucario and won the match!"
The trainers around surrounds Ken and Hitmonchan as they were bombarding them with questions
"come on, you guys." Ken said as he was a bit embarrassed about being too famous in Sinnoh "it's Shirona who you should be impressed with, not me"
"I beg to differ" someone spoke out as everyone looks behind and sees a young girl wearing a fighter's outfit with a Lucario beside her "your passionate bond with your Pokemon makes you a very strong trainer, that's what makes you a very amazing trainer as well!"
"you're.." Ken said as the young trainers backed away to let the young girl and her Lucario go to Ken and Hitmonchan
"the name is Sumomo! The Veilstone Gym Leader!" she introduced herself "and this here is Lucario"
Lucario nodded before it looks to Hitmonchan and the two Pokemon glared hard against each other
"looks like, Lucario wants a match with your Hitmonchan" Sumomo said as Ken looks to Hitmonchan and could see the fiery blaze of a fighter in its eyes
"do you want to fight Lucario, Hitmonchan?" Ken asked as Hitmonchan nodded
"how about it? One on one?" Sumomo asked Ken "I'll even throw in the Cobble Badge if you win"
"no need" Ken said shaking his head "getting a Gym Badge so easily is not what a trainer should do. They must earn the badge by fighting the Gym Leader at the fullest!"
"honorable words!" Sumomo exclaimed before she and Lucario jumps to their side of the field "then!"
Ken nodded as he and Hitmonchan nodded to each other before going to their side of the field
"can we have someone be the referee?" Ken asked as one young trainer volunteered
"this will be a one on one match! No substitution is allowed! The match will be over if one side's Pokemon is unable to battle! Are both trainers and Pokemons ready?!" the referee announced as Hitmonchan raises up its fists and so did Lucario
"let the battle begin!" the referee announced as Hitmonchan and Lucario dashed towards each other
"Thunder Punch!" Ken shouted as Hitmonchan pulled back its right fist as it was coated in electricity
"Lucario! Bone Rush!" Sumomo ordered out as Lucario forms a long energy bone stick before spinning it around and then dashing towards Hitmonchan
The two Fighting Pokemon got into a close combat battle as they clashed their attacks against each other
The crowds wowed as they can't believe to see such a battle
Hitmonchan punches its Thunder Punch straight but it was blocked by Lucario's Bone rush
"use Dynamic Punch!" Ken shouted as Hitmonchan jumps away from Lucario before firing its Dynamic Punch at it
"Dodge!" Sumomo shouted as Lucario jumps away from the Mach Punch before closing in on Hitmonchan "Force Palm!"
Lucario sends its right palm straight at Hitmonchan's abdomen before its chest and then its chin, resulting in Hitmonchan skidding back
"she's strong" Ken said as he looks to Hitmonchan and sees that the Force Palm did some real damage
"Aura Sphere!" Sumomo pushed out both of her hands forward as Lucario charged up its Aura Sphere and aimed it at Hitmonchan
"we won't lose! Hitmonchan!t!" Ken shouted as Hitmonchan focuses its energy into an Aura Sphere as well
The two Pokemons glared at each other as their attacks were nearly charged up
"fire!" Ken and Sumomo shouted as their Pokemons were about to fire their attacks but were stopped when someone came running in
"SUMOMO!" the person shouted out as Hitmonchan and Lucario stopped their attacks "what are you doing here!? The Tournament's Preparation is still halfway finish!"
"ah! I forgot!" Sumomo shouted before looking to Ken "I'm sorry! Me and Lucario have to prepare the tournament!"
"ah…alright" Ken said as Sumomo and Lucario left with the man
"we'll meet again in the tournament!" Sumomo shouted out to them before she turns and started running
Ken and Hitmonchan looks at them running before to each other and shrugs their shoulder
After the halted battle with Sumomo, Ken was at the Tournament where they were watching the bracket of who would be their first Opponent
"ah, it would seem that fate has intertwined us!" someone spoke out as Ken and Hitmonchan looks to someone who was wearing fancy clothes and had a rose in his mouth "my name is Chandlerina! And me and my beautiful Machoke will defeat you, Indigo League Champion! And our fame will be spread out and I shall be famous! Hohohohoho!"
Ken and Hitmonchan sweatdropped as the trainer's Machoke was throwing flower petals around him
Two minutes later, Ken was at his first bracket match and suffice to say, his opponent was all bark but no bite
"OH NOOOOO!" Chandlerina shouted out in horror as his Machoke was defeated in mere seconds by Hitmonchan's Thunder Punch
"the winner! Ken and Hitmonchan!" the referee announced as Chandlerina was crying his tears out for his Machoke
"can that even be a win at all?" Ken asked as Hitmonchan shook its head
After he got his first win, Ken was at the spectator room and was waiting for the quarter match
"hey!" someone called out as Ken looks to the side and sees Sumomo running towards him
"oh, its you" Ken said as he stands up from his seat
"sorry about last time! I was supposed to help prepare the tournament and when I saw you, I felt the urge for battle and all!" Sumomo said while apologizing
"it's fine" Ken said with a smile "are you also in the tournament?"
"yup!" Sumomo said with a grin "missing a chance to fight against someone like you? That's going to be a regret of a lifetime!"
"I see" Ken said before the two looks to the tv screen as the last fighters had finished their match
"looks like they're going to decide for the semifinals and then the finals" Sumomo said as Ken's and Sumomo's face were on screen as they were shuffled with their opponents
After a minute, the list had been decided as Ken is going to face another trainer and so was Sumomo, but in the finals, they are going to face each other
"it would seem that we will have our rematch soon" Sumomo said as Ken sweatdropped
"I wonder if you really can call that a match" Ken thought as their previous battle got stopped halfway
"well then! Let us meet each other again! In the battlefield!" Sumomo said as she and Ken shook hands
"yeah" Ken said before Sumomo runs off, probably waiting for her match to come
Ken sighs before he looks to the tv and watched the first quarter match undergo
After a few matches, Ken's match came and the trainer was winning
Hitmonchan was up against a Hariyama and the Punching Pokemon had an advantage in speed
"Dynamic Punch!" Ken shouted out as Hitmonchan sends its attack at Hariyama and sends the Arm Thrusting Pokemon crashing to the wall, knocked out
"Hariyama is unable to battle! Hitmonchan is the winner!" the referee announced as the crowds cheered for Ken and Hitmonchan
"you did great" Ken said as Hitmonchan nodded before the two heads off for the next match to begin
Ken was now at the waiting lounge as he watched Hitmonchan do some shadow Boxing, so that it can keep its fighting power in shape
Ken smiled to Hitmonchan before the two watched the tv screen as it was Sumomo's match
Her Lucario was facing against a Hitmonlee as she was at a disadvantage for Hitmonlee's speed and attack, exceeds that of Lucario's
"speed and attack, those are the two things that even Lucario lacks" Ken said as he watched how Hitmonlee sends Lucario flying to the air with a high jump kick "but what it lacks in speed and attack, Lucario has its determination to cover it"
He watched as Lucario dodged Hitmonlee's Close Combat attack before firing a direct Aura Sphere at Hitmonlee and sends the Kicking Pokemon flying before crashing to the ground, knocked out
Ken smiles as Sumomo and Lucario won their match
"ready yourself, Hitmonchan" Ken told his partner "we're up against a Gym Leader"
Hitmonchan nodded as he pumps up his fists
The tournament reached to the finals as it was Ken against Sumomo
"ready, Ken?" Sumomo asked as she punched out her fists and so did Lucario who mimicked her
"we sure are" Ken said as Hitmonchan did some Shadow Boxing and was ready to fight
"let the match! Begin!" the referee announced as both Hitmonchan and Lucario dashed towards each other and got into a close quarter combat battle
Hitmonchan sends blurs of punches at Lucario but the Aura Pokemon blocked them all before sending a kick that got blocked by Hitmonchan
The two Pokemon clashed their fists against each other in a stalemate before they jumped away against each other
"Dynamic Punch!" "Power-up Punch!"
Both Ken and Sumomo shouted out as both Pokemon launched their moves against each other
The collision between Dynamic Punch and Power-up Punch caused a powerful explosion to nearly blew them away
"Hitmonchan! Jump and then use Thunder Punch!" Ken shouted as Hitmonchan followed his order
Hitmonchan jumps up before delivering its Thunder Punch flying towards Lucario
"counter with Aura Sphere!" Sumomo shouted as Lucario charged its Aura Sphere before firing it at the incoming Thunder Punch
A big explosion blew out when the Thunder Punch collided with Aura Sphere
"go! Dynamic Punch!" Ken shouted as Hitmonchan came flying down with the Dynamic Punch readied
"no way!" Sumomo and Lucario looks in shock as Hitmonchan pulled back its right fist before sending the Dynamic Punch straight at Lucario
Lucario let out a grunt of pain before It was sent crashing down to the ground by the Dynamic Punch
"Lucario!" Sumomo shouted out as the Dynamic Punch caused a small dust explosion to cloud the field
After waiting a while, everyone watched and sees that Lucario who was knocked out on the ground with Hitmonchan who was standing on the field as the Punching Pokemon raises its fist
"Lucario is unable to battle! Hitmonchan is the winner!" the referee announced "therefore the champion of the Veilstone Fighting Tournament is Ken and Hitmonchan!
The crowds instantly cheered and screamed for Ken and Hitmonchan as the two won the battle
Sumomo smiles as she went to Lucario
"you did great, Lucario" Sumomo told her friend as Lucario nodded before standing back up
"thanks for the great match" Ken said as he and Hitmonchan went to Lucario
"the pleasure is all ours" Sumomo said as Lucario nodded in agreement
Sumomo reached into her pocket before she pulls out the Veilstone Gym Badge, the Cobble Badge and then gave it to Ken
"here" Sumomo said as she placed the badge in Ken's hand "you deserve this"
"eh? But i.." Ken tried to retort but Sumomo held up her hand
"this is just a selfish wish of mine but you've already earned this the moment you won" Sumomo said "your strong bond with Hitmonchan created the most incredible power that not even me and Lucario could top against, therefore the Cobble badge is yours"
Ken looks at the Cobble badge in his hand before grasp it and then nod to Sumomo
"thank you" Ken said in gratitude as Sumomo nodded
"and besides, I just remembered that my last challenger used Dig with her Pokemon and the Gym Arena is all messed up" Sumomo said while rubbing the back of her head in embarrassment
"I see" Ken said as he, Hitmonchan, and even Lucario sweatdrop to Sumomo
The night had come as Ken was at an inn for the night
He wore his night wear as the trainer sits down on his bed
"what a day" Ken said a bit tired as he had just won the Veilstone Fighting Match and was rewarded with the Cobble badge by Sumomo and a Black Belt as the winning prize
He gave the black belt to Hitmonchan as it was said to increase a Fighting Type's battle power dramatically before sending him back home to Fuji
As Ken flops down on his bed, he got a call from Shirona on his Poketch
He picks up the call as he sat up and sees a hologram screen of Shirona appearing
"hey, Ken, hope you're not busy" Shirona said as Ken shook his head
"it's okay, what brings you to call?" Ken asked
"oh yes" Shirona replied "where are you at currently?"
"Veilstone City. I just got my third badge" Ken said while showing her his badge case that has his three won Gym Badges
"I see, then the next place you're heading is the Pastoria Gym, right?" Shirona said as Ken nodded "good, I was wondering if you want to visit my hometown, Celestic Town, it's just past Pastoria City"
"your hometown?" Ken said before he takes out his guide book and flips around the page and found the information about Celestic town
The town was small but it held many ancient histories dating back to the time Sinnoh was discovered
"do you want to visit?" Shirona asked as Ken nodded
"sure, I'll be there after getting my fourth badge" Ken said as Shirona nodded with a smile
"great! I'll see youthere!" Shirona said before the call was hanged up
After the call got hanged up, Ken flopped back on his bed before taking another quick look of the information of the Celestic Town in the guide Book
"Celestic Town, huh?" Ken muttered out before he yawns and decided to sleep for the night
That's a wrap!
Bye bye
