Welcome back everyone! It's been a bit since the last chapter and hopefully this is good coming off of the events Ash just went through.

Ch 24: An Arrival

"Pikachu, Quick Attack and right into Iron Tail!" Ash shouted. His fist punched forward as Pikachu leapt across the ground. His legs ripped at the grassy terrain as chunks of dirt flew into the air. The Electric-Type zigzagged as Electabuzz waited.

"Cha!" Pikachu shouted as his body slammed against Electabuzz. The Pokémon remained stationary as Pikachu bounced off his body and spun in the air. The Mouse Pokémon continued to spin as his tail grew heavy, a metallic tint present as he swung it down at Electabuzz.

"Block with Thunder Punch!"

Surge's voice erupted outward as Electabuzz smirked, one of his fists being used to block the Iron Tail while the second rammed itself into the Mouse Pokémon's face. Pikachu tumbled backwards as dirt stuck to his fur, his paws digging into the ground to stop his momentum.

Now standing before Ash, the duo smirked in preparation for their next attack. Their battle brought to an immediate end however as a Hyper Beam cut through the field. Ash blinked slightly as he looked in the direction of the attack, an angry Kiyu standing next to her Tyranitar as a spatula sat in her hands.

"Don't act like you two can't hear me! Dinner's ready so come and eat before it gets cold."

Ash turned to Surge as he awaited a response. The older man said nothing however as he instead just nodded towards the picnic table. Ash followed the Gym Leader as they sat down before plates of food, Kiyu already eating as Pikachu and Electabuzz joined Tyranitar.

"We were just trainin' extra hard. Not like we meant to ignore ya," Surge stated as he poked at the dish set before him. The steak was rather well done as Ash wondered if she overcooked it on him on purpose considering the fact he enjoyed it pink.

"Training or not he still needs to eat and rest up. You don't want him eliminated tomorrow because he's exhausted, do you?" Kiyu asked, her knife pointed at the duo as both Ash and Surge slid away slowly. Despite being nicer ever since she left Team Rocket, Ash had learned that she still had a mean streak in her at times. Something that even Surge knew not to push.

"There's no way I'm losing now," Ash stated triumphantly. He raised his arms in excitement as Pikachu copied the motion, his face stuffed with Pokémon food as he did so. Slowly lowering his arms back down, a slight ripping noise was heard as his sleeves fell off his jacket. The new lightness felt a bit cooler as the night breeze passed over him.

"Guess we trained harder than I thought."

"I can't fix that," Kiyu mused as Ash picked the ripped fabrics up. The boy chuckled lightly as he removed his blue jacket, several patches present as it had been ripped countless times over the past two months. Fortunately Kiyu had been able to repair it for him though that didn't help with the tightness that had begun from his slight growth.

It wasn't a noticeable change, but over the past couple months he had grown a few inches along with his body becoming more toned. His muscles were more present now as his training didn't include just his Pokémon. There were several days he was ready to quit but he continued on with each ridiculous challenge Surge gave him; from climbing to the top of a mountain to traversing an island filled with naturally aggressive Pokémon. It had been Hell, but he survived.

"I guess I can just wear it without the sleeves. I know we've been training in the Orange Islands to help get myself and my Pokémon adjusted to the heat, but it's still too hot with the jacket."

Ash bit into a cut portion of his meal, the boy realizing that despite both Kiyu and Surge having steak they only gave him chicken. A slight annoyance entered his mind, but he ignored it and instead continued to eat his dinner.

"Don't be ridiculous, Kid," Surge called out as he placed his utensils down. The shook slightly as his hand slapped the table, Ash's drink being knocked over as Pikachu also jumped from his spot. "Ya wearin' a jacket is kind of your thin'. I can't picture ya without one."

"Well there's no time to get a new one," Ash answered. His fork pushed around the broccoli that sat there as it poked at the carrots, the boy popping them into his mouth. They swirled about as Ash chewed them into tiny pieces before they slid down his throat, the boy placing his fork down before throwing his hands behind his head. "We're on a deserted island and the tournament begins tomorrow. So there's no way we can get one."

"Please," Kiyu remarked as a box slid across the table. It stopped before Ash, the boy looking at it in confusion.

"Don't look so stupid. Ya never heard of a present?"

"But why?" Ash asked as he pushed his plate away, the only bits remaining were his broccoli.

"Ya really bad with dates and keepin' track of time, Kid," Surge replied, his arms crossed as a smirk fell upon his face. Pikachu scurried over to the table as he jumped atop it, his paws patting the box.

"Yer birthday passed and we wanted to get ya somethin'. Open it up, Kid."

Ash hesitantly pulled at the paper, Pikachu helping as he nibbled at a corner of the box only for Surge to grab the Electric-Type. Pikachu's ears drooped at that but quickly learned to sit patiently. As Ash finished pulling the paper off, a box sat before him as he lifted the cover up. The top of the box rattled across the ground as a breeze knocked it around, Ash reaching inside the package as he pulled out a jacket that looked similar to his old one. The only difference he noted was that instead of his usual blue, it was instead a shade of green similar to Surge's.

"Turn it around."

Ash did as he was instructed, the back of the jacket now facing him as he noticed the design plastered on it. It was an image of the Vermilion Gym's badge, the object planted directly in the center as Ash tried it on. The fabric felt lighter than his old jacket as it allowed a more cooling presence as a breeze passed by.

"Thank you," Ash said as he moved easily within it. Pikachu seemed to enjoy it as well, the Electric-Type cheering in agreement as Ash placed it back within the box. "But when did you have time to get it?"

"Please," Kiyu responded as she picked at her fingernails. A smile sat atop her face, but Ash could tell she was trying to hide it. Between their limited interactions he still had no clue what that woman's personality was really like. "You didn't expect me to sit around camp all day while you were off training, right?"

"Actually, I asked her to pick it up," Surge stated as he struggled down the last bit of his steak. "We had it custom made, so it ain't goin' back. Besides, I'm expectin' ya to wear it with pride. Ya now representin' the entire Vermilion Gym while wearin' that jacket."

Ash could only nod as words seemed to be escaping him. The boy had no way to properly express his thanks for not only this but for the past two months. He figured it must have put a dent in Surge's bank account since he closed the Gym to help train Ash. And while he wasn't supposed to hear it, Ash had overheard Surge mention having to turn down sponsorship deals because of their training. The older man seemed to notice Ash's shyness, a smirk crossing his face as his hand rubbed against Ash's messy hair. Ash felt his fingers tickle the top of his scalp, the Pallet Town native noting how he would need a haircut soon. His wild hair was getting to crazy even for his usual style.

The ruffling quickly turned to pain as Ash felt Surge grip the top of his head, the man's smirk turning to a blank expression as his free hand pointed to Ash's plate.

"What's this? Ya thought I wouldn't notice that ya haven't ate yer broccoli. Kiyu spent a long time cookin' so eat it up. Otherwise ya won't get big and strong like me."

"You know I hate broccoli. Besides, I ate everything else."

Surge didn't seem to accept that as an answer, the man lifting Ash's fork and stabbing one of the broccoli with it. The fork moved towards Ash as the boy tried to avoid it, but the Gym Leader was too strong as he forced the vegetable into his mouth.

"Eat. It. All."

Ash nodded as his mouth chewed the broccoli up, his hand taking the fork from Surge as he tried to force himself to eat the remaining pieces. Though he struggled with it, even Pikachu scurrying away as Ash forced another piece into his mouth. As his plate eventually became clean, Ash found himself free of Surge's stare as the man sat by their campfire.

It was currently out, Ash ripping a few pages of his packet to use as kindling as Surge added some twigs. With a single match the duo managed to get the fire going as Kiyu joined them with a magazine. The cover stuck out to Ash as it showcased tomorrow's tournament with Lance on the cover.

"This thing seems pretty big."

"Course it is," Surge answered as he tossed a log onto the fire. Sparks flew into the air for a moment as Ash stepped back from them. Pikachu joined them now, the Electric-Type helping Electabuzz and Tyranitar move the wood pile closer (even if he only carried a few sticks). "League Committee has a large stipulation ridin' on this."

"How so?" Kiyu asked, her eyes peering from over the top of the magazine. She flipped the page while waiting, but Surge merely said.

"Can't say. Would if I could but yer hear tomorrow."

Ash yawned at that, his eyes now drifting towards his sleeping bag as Pikachu now rested inside it. Surge seemed to catch his drift as the man pulled a small alarm clock out of his bag.

"Go get some sleep, ya want it for tomorrow. I've got an alarm clock so we don't oversleep."

Ash didn't argue as he stretched slightly, the five pokeballs on his belt rocking in agreement as he laid next to Pikachu. The Electric-Type sighed out in content as Ash stared at the alarm clock next to his head. Though it seemed like Surge and Kiyu were going to stay up for a bit longer considering it was still early in the night.

His eyes started to grow heavy as he counted the stars above, the boy realizing this was the earliest he had gone to sleep since their training began. Most nights he would be training until Surge quits. Sometimes that meant going two, maybe three days without sleep much to Ash's frustration. But he knew he couldn't argue, not with both Surge and Kiyu going out of their way to help.

Eventually his entire body grew relaxed, his body drifting off to sleep. It was a nice feeling as time seemed to pass by until he heard Surge and Kiyu also head off for bed. His dream started to become more vivid now, the boy imagining that his classmates were with him. That Janine and Brock were by his side as he and his partners were ready to face down Gary. Ash gripped at the clock as he mistook it for a pokeball within his dream, his body tossing it forward as the device erupted open in his dream. A small crashing noise could be heard but it failed to wake Ash or the others up.

"Bulbasaur, I choose you…" Ash muttered in his sleep. His body turned slightly within the sleeping bag as he rolled atop of Pikachu. The Electric-Type muttered out for a moment, but it went ignored as Ash called for the first command.

Within his dream Bulbasaur fought hard against Gary's Wartortle, his Vine Whip keeping the Water-Type at bay. Though he felt something was wrong as a sudden jolt raced through his body. Both Bulbasaur and Wartortle vanished, replaced by an image of Pikachu as lightning rained down on him.

"Chuuuuuu!" Pikachu cried out as Ash felt the electricity race through his body. The shock was enough to wake the boy as he looked around. Sun shined on them as he noticed the clock sitting broken at the base of a nearby tree.

"Surge, wake up!" Ash shouted, the boy scrambling to pick up the many parts of the clock. The Gym Leader sighed slowly, his body rising up as it cracked a few times. The man seemed confused by the rude awakening as he rubbed at his eyes. But Ash's next words got him moving.

"We overslept! We'll be late now!"

"How!? I gave you an alarm clock," Surge asked as his eyes rested upon the broken object. Ash chuckled slightly as he dropped the many pieces while Surge stared him down. "Did you break another one in your sleep?"

"I warned you that this happens more than you'd believe," Ash argued. Pikachu sighed in agreement as the Electric-Type shook his head in defeat. Ash paid him no attention as he instead noticed the area was empty; their entire campsite cleaned except for their sleeping bags as even Kiyu was gone. "Where'd Kiyu go?"

"Damn her!" Surge shouted as he threw his sleeping bag over his shoulder. Ash copied the motion as he grabbed his now burnt sleeping bag and tossed it over his shoulder. With his free hand Ash grabbed his backpack and slung it over his free shoulder.

"That woman woke up early and left us. She even knew the alarm was broken too."

"Guess even now she's still running out on you."

Surge didn't laugh at the joke, smacking Ash as the reaction elicited a laugh from the young boy. Regardless of their frustration however, the duo left the campsite and made their way for the small dock and the boat they had rented. With their few supplies gathered aboard the vessel Surge took off. Ash felt his body jerk forward from the sudden sensation, his hand clasping onto his hat as Pikachu held tightly to the wooden deck.

The breeze that whipped up from their movement felt refreshing to Ash when it didn't smack him with salt water. The sight of the island where he spent his final few days training quickly vanished into the horizon as other islands took its place. Ash able to recognize them as different training grounds where he spent the past two months. It seemed to mean nothing to Surge, however, the man silent as he picked up even more speed.

This time Ash lost his balance from the jolt, his body landing on the deck of their vessel only to stand back up. A slight chuckle came from Surge, Ash having a feeling that was payback for his earlier comment.

"So how long will it take!?" Ash yelled out over the engine and waves. Water washed aboard as Pikachu shook himself dry. Ash could see the sight of Pummelo off in the distance, a few other boats ahead of them as he also saw a plane descend towards the island. It was as if everyone were arriving at once.

"Probably 30 minutes. Maybe 40. Beats me," Surge replied as he started to really push their luck. Their speed increased once more, the engine now crying out as Ash wondered just how much longer it could last under this pressure. As it was the boat itself wasn't anything to write home about as the paint had been peeling for a while and rust was present along the sides.

Smoke could be seen pouring out of the engine but Ash turned away from it. He didn't want to think what would happen if it were to break. Most likely he would need Wartortle and Fearow to help pull the boat the remaining distance.

"But remember, Kid, if you get matched up just stick to the plan."

"Yeah," Ash replied. He nodded his head as the pokeballs on his belt rocked in agreement. "It's funny though, I'm not much of a planner."

"Ya ain't tellin' me nothin' I don't know. But raw strength won't work."

A loud clang could be heard from the engine as Surge smacked it a few times, the boat continuing to move as Ash looked on in worry. Surge merely gave a reassuring smile as he struck the engine once more. It appeared to sputter for a moment before returning to normal as a cloud of black smoke trailed behind them. Ash could hear Surge muttering about the boat, but his attention was zoned in on the stadium that stood atop the island.

"Pikapi!" Pikachu cried out, the Electric-Type looking determined to prove their two months hadn't been for nothing. Ash nodded as the duo shared a fist bump. He knew that everyone viewed it as their chance to make their big entrance.

The ride continued to cause Ash's heart to skip a beat or two as the engine would overheat or stall every so often but after what felt like an eternity they finally arrived at the dock. Noises sputtered from the engine as they pulled into an open area, Surge playing with it for a moment as nothing happened. Ash sighed out in relief that they managed to make it here before the boat died on them, though Surge appeared to be the opposite.

"Damn it. Last time I buy a boat without meetin' the person first.

"Go on, Kid. Find ya class and get registered and all that junk. I'm just gonna play with the boat for a bit."

Ash didn't need to be told twice as he stepped from the boat onto the wooden dock. His eyes examined the surrounding area as the ferries and nicer vessels were docked closer to the boat terminal, their locations all having cement docks as Ash noted their dock had a few boards missing. The Pallet Town native watched his step as he walked around the missing boards, the boy feeling the dirt and grass as his shoes planted against them once off the dock.

With a deep sigh Ash adjusted his backpack before looking back to the boat. Surge was already tinkering with the engine as his wrenches laid scattered around the deck. "Thanks again for all the help, Surge. I'll make you proud."

Surge didn't respond to his words, the man chuckling for a second as he grabbed a towel. Wiping his hands clean of oil, he flashed a thumbs up to Ash. The boy nodded with a wide smile, Pikachu imitating it as they took off running for the other side of the island. His eyes looked upon a large clock as it read roughly noon. If he remembered correctly registration closed around one or two in the afternoon with the event beginning shortly after that.

With an added sense of urgency he picked up his pace. His shoes beating the worn trail as dirt and grass gave way to concrete. Sounds of students echoed through his ear drums as Pikachu's ears perked up at the sound of familiar voices. The two shared one look amongst each other as their eyes glanced over the likes of Ritchie and his class arriving and boarding a bus along with other students such as those from Celadon University.

There was no time for pleasantries as the boy started to jog down past the boat terminal and onto the road that he had traveled several times during his vacation here. His speed was constant as the sight of the hotel entered his view, Ash wondering if they would be staying there during the entire event or if it would be completed within a day. The latter seemed unlikely but after the Class Battle, he wasn't going to assume this was meant to be a normal tournament.

The sound of a second pair of footsteps entered his vicinity as a small smile grew across his face. Pikachu likewise smiled as he sniffed at the air, the duo glad to have a familiar individual also running late. Strolling up beside them with a backpack and sleeping bag strapped to her back, Mayaka chuckled out slightly as she smacked the boy on his back.

"Ya finally returnin' my dad?" the girl asked as they continued running. Ash noted how her hair was tied back now into a ponytail due to the increased length. Her face caked in mud and dirt as her arms had cuts running down them. "And here I thought ya ran off with him."

"Nah," Ash replied as the duo continued their run. The young boy could feel people staring at them, especially since the majority of students had arrived by now or were taking shuttles up to the colosseum. "But it's been a while. How'd your training go? I honestly thought you'd come with us once I heard Agatha allowed the class to spend the last month training individually."

"No way!" Mayaka grabbed at her backpack tightly as the duo rounded a corner and approached the town. A few tourists were looking at the different vendors that lined the streets, but otherwise it appeared dead on such a nice dead. Ash figured most were already waiting at the colosseum considering the broadcast the League had for announcing the tournament.

"Just cause I don't hate ya doesn't mean I'll let ya learn all my new secrets. Besides, we're rivals. Every last one of us. Plus we still need to settle the score from last time. No ties."

Ash nodded as the realization finally hit him. He wasn't just a rival for the likes of Gary or Ritchie or even Janine, but for every student that was taking place in the event. Everyone had the same vision of winning even if they had to take down their friends to do so.

"Your right, there won't be a tie cause I'll win," Ash replied. A cheeky grin sat on his face as Mayaka kicked his rear end. The action caused Ash to stumble slightly but he caught himself and managed to run up the approaching stairs. The area was becoming crowded now as music blared through the area along with vendors that hadn't been positioned here during his last visit. The duo weaved through the crowds as they tried to reach the colosseum.

"Not in yer dreams, Hotshot! I didn't go through hell and back just to lose to ya of all people," Mayaka stated. Her voice was becoming strained however as the noise created by the crowd overpowered her. Ash also lost sight of the girl, her sleeping bag unseeable in the sea of tourists. Though he had no interest in finding her since they had the same destination. Instead he decided to just head to the check-in station.

"It's gonna be tough, Pikachu."

"Pipi," the Electric-Type responded confidently. A few shocks ran through Ash's body as Pikachu released a little electricity. Ash could feel Pikachu's determination as it matched his own, the duo finally able to wiggle out of the crowd. Though in the process they may have accidently knocked over a person or two.

A bus came to a stop across the street from them, Ash noting how it came in a different way as students he had never seen before got off the bus. It made him wonder where they could have been from considering they were all disorganized. Their body language told Ash they only arrived since they were forced to, and he wondered just how strong they might be.

"I know what ya thinkin', Hotshot," Mayaka's voice called out as she squeezed through the crowd. Her momentum carried her into his backside as the duo toppled over. Pikachu cried in annoyance as his body was crushed, a surge of electricity flowing outwards as it enveloped Ash and Mayaka.

The duo cried out in slight pain until Pikachu finished, both students sitting on the ground. Mayaka coughed for a second, her fist pounding against her chest before speaking up. "That's Saffron Community. Don't expect any to do well. They ain't too strong."

"Really?"

"Yep. Dad looked at the school for possible interns, but this is their weakest class in years. Ya better watch out for Celadon and Cinnabar though." Mayaka patted herself off as she stood up. Her eyes scanned the area for a moment before turning away from Ash. A hand was tossed up slightly as she waved before walking away. "Catch ya on the field, Hotshot. Don't lose early."

Ash stood back up now, his hands clinched as Pikachu copied the motion. His arms shook slightly as the excitement of facing several different schools encompassed him. His thoughts only remained on the prospect of battling as he almost missed a notice that rang through the area.

"All contestants who have yet to sign up, please make your way to the check-in station. Registration will be closing in ten minutes. Registration will be closing in ten minutes."

The announcement played on a loop for a few times as Pikachu tugged at Ash, the boy's shirt being stretched slightly as Pikachu alerted him to the news. Realizing this, he scooped Pikachu up into his arms and took off into the colosseum and raced down its concourse.

His first thought had been to head for the main field, but thanks to Surge letting him know the exact location he was able to race for it. Across the concourse and down a flight of stairs, Ash passed by a few workers who were guiding trainers. Ash didn't need their help however as he quickly found himself underneath the colosseum as booth stood before him. A sign atop it read registration as a short man blowing his nose sat there.

He seemed familiar to Ash, as if he had seen him before but the thought was dashed as soon as the man spoke.

"You just made it young lad. Registration was about to close." The man didn't allow Ash to respond as he instead blew into his handkerchief. With a slight dab of his nose he placed the fabric away for the time being and slid a form towards Ash. The boy filled it out properly, making sure that his school was spelt correctly and he had the correct class down.

"So how many people showed up this late?" Ash asked, a nervous chuckle escaping with his words. He slid the completed form back to the man who appeared to look it over with mild interest before filing it away.

"None so far. Most of the schools pre-registered either online or arrived here a few days early. In fact, between you and the wild girl a few minutes earlier we've only had a handful sign up this way."

Ash blinked at the news as he questioned why no one told him about signing up early, both himself and Surge had been under the assumption you couldn't register until the day of the event. Regardless, the man began to stand up and shut down the booth when a call could be heard down the hallway.

"Wait, we're here! We're here!" a voice cried out as footsteps echoed down the hall. To Ash's surprise a man of average height stood before a group of children as he gasped for air. His (assumed) students appeared rather fine as the man tried to gather his breath, his glasses now fogged while his white lab coat was ripped in areas.

"Please wait..." he gasped out once more, hands on his knees. After a good three or so minutes he stood tall and adjusted his glasses, Ash looking behind him to see Jimmy and a few other students look bored. "My class is here to register. We were only late due to travel problems."

"More like a problem. Your special student made us late," a voice called out from the crowd. It shut up immediately however as the man stared back towards his class. Ash continued to watch in confusion as the man approached the desk with a pile of applications.

"In case you didn't know, but you probably did, I'm Professor Elm of Johto and my class has been permitted access to take part in this event. Our forms are in order so if you could just take care of them we'd be on our way," the man stated. He stood proud as Ash wondered if his class was any good. There only appeared to be a dozen or so students behind him and besides Jimmy and his friends he had never interacted with any of them. Of course he knew that meant little when a battle began.

The man at the booth sighed slightly, blowing more mucus into his handkerchief as Ash swore some of it landed on Professor Elm's lab coat. It seemed the intelligent man didn't notice however as he watched the short man file away the papers. Professor Elm didn't wait for any clearance however as he instead led his class back up the stairs.

It was in that moment however that something stuck out to Ash, a tuft of orange hair sitting atop the other heads as Ash recognized that hairstyle. He wanted to call out and question why Cross was here, especially since he had never been part of a school but before the words could form within his mouth the class was gone.

"You don't have to wait here."

Ash jumped from the voice as the man wiped away at his face. Ash wondered if he had allergies of some kind or if it was just an awful cold despite the wonderful weather. However, he figured it would be best not to ask and upset the man who held his paperwork.

"I'm sorry, but come again?"

"You don't have to wait here. The preliminaries will begin in two hours. Return here then." Not waiting for a response, he walked away from the booth and down the hallway. However, instead of in the direction that Professor Elm had just led his class, he instead walked deeper down the hallway to which Ash figured would be where these "preliminaries" were to be held.

"Guess we have some time then," Ash stated as he and Pikachu began to climb back up the stairs. It took them little time to do so as they found themselves back in the concourse. The area now packed with tourists and fans. The boy looked around in the hopes he could find familiar faces but all he saw was Mayaka.

The girl appeared to be talking to some photographer with a Beedrill and Ash figured it would be best to leave them alone. Most likely she had an interview thanks to Surge and he didn't want to interrupt it. Instead he continued around the concourse until finally making it back outside. His eyes scanned the island down below as students wandered about, Ash unable to make out who they were.

"Want to sight see?" he asked Pikachu, the Electric-Type crying out in agreement as they walked towards the path that would bring them to the top of the island.

Compared to the last time he had trekked it though, the path was different. It had been paved over as a few buildings were being built up there including a Pokémon Center along with what seemed to be several housing sections. The boy decided to make his way towards the area as he made out different students entering and leaving the housing. Making his way towards a gate, Ash was quickly stopped by security.

"Registration information," the man asked. His hand remained open as he awaited anything. Ash however was unsure of what he wanted and what he meant by registration. He had registered for the event already but there was nothing given to him there.

"Registration information."

"I have no clue what you mean by that," Ash replied. The security guard didn't reply but instead glared slightly at him. Ash could tell it wasn't an "angry" glare but rather one of annoyance.

"Fine. What school are you from?"

"That's easy. Pokémon Academy."

Ash watched as the man reached for a phone attached to his hip and dialed a number, a conversation starting immediately as he heard the name Agatha mentioned. The Pallet Town native figured the conversation wasn't longer than two minutes as he hung up the phone.

They waited in silence as Ash wondered what would be happening next only for a buzzing noise to echo outwards. To his shock, Agatha stood on the opposite side of the now opened gate. She motioned for Ash to follow her and he did so, knowing she was one of the few people who it was best to always listen to.

"So, you finally arrived, Mr. Ketchum," Agatha stated. Her cane tapped against the blacktop as Ash looked at the different sections of housing that were built up. It felt more like motels than anything, each housing complex appearing to be several floors high while also being wide enough to have ten rooms on each floor. A large pool sat before all the complexes as Ash saw a few students he recognized take a dip in it.

"They really went overboard on this place," Agatha mused as they reached one of the buildings. With a swipe of a cardkey Agatha unlocked the door as they entered a lobby of sorts. "Drake said they just had to build a housing complex here since once they become an official League, trainers will flock here to take part in their League season. Could have just used the hotel down the road and shuttled them in but what do I know. League has plenty of funds to blow.

"Anyways, here's your card key that you show to the guard and flash it to get in the building and into your room."

"Is that it?" Ash asked as he shuffled his backpack slightly. Agatha arched an eyebrow for a moment as she shrugged. It seemed to Ash she had no words to speak of, so he asked another question. "Is everyone here then?"

"Yes. You were the eighteenth and final student from our class. All twenty from the beginner's level are also here. Not that they'll do much."

"Wait...why only eighteen?" Ash asked, the boy struggling to count on his fingers how many students would be missing. Pikachu shook his head at Ash's display of poor math skills, but Agatha thankfully saved the boy from his struggles.

"Obviously Thad was expelled following his actions, not that we ever saw him again. And Brock chose to rescind his entry and instead take part in the usual Inter-School competition at the Indigo Plateau. He's helping the Health course as we speak."

"That's great for him," Ash stated. He pushed down his feelings towards the mention of Thad, instead choosing to focus on his friend's own endeavors. He wanted to ask Agatha where everyone else was, but the older lady was already walking into the building. Her cane tapped against the floor as Ash heard her mutter something about it being too hot for her until her voice finally trailed off.

"So, what's the plan, Pikachu? Check out our room or go find everyone?"

Pikachu sniffed at the air for a moment as his face scrunched up, Ash understanding just what his best friend meant as he caught a whiff of himself. The smell that had come from his body was too strong, Ash unable to remember the last time he had a proper shower as he looked at his key card. The room listed on it was fortunately on the first floor as Ash walked down the hallway.

The duo passed by a lounge area where he noticed a television set up along with vending machines and recreational games such as ping pong and pool tables. Ash wondered just how much they put into these buildings as a cafeteria appeared in the next room over. It wasn't anything too crazy, enough to hold a couple hundred people at most as he got a sniff of the food. It was alright, but he figured both his mother and Brock cooked better.

Eventually he made it down the hall and towards the rooms as he scanned each number until he finally came to his. Looking at the number on the wall, he made sure that it matched the eleven engraved on his key card. With a quick swipe of it the door became unlocked as Ash opened it slowly. The inside being smaller than he imagined as there was a bed and a desk along with a computer and a small television. The only other thing of importance was the bathroom to which Ash felt was a bit small as he looked at the cramped area.

With a sigh he tossed his backpack onto the floor and dug out his present from Surge, the boy placing the box atop the desk before ripping off his old clothes. Fatigue continued to wash over his body as he struggled to fight the urge to sleep. But he knew if that happened then he would definitely sleep through the preliminaries. Wrapping a towel around his lower half, Ash forced himself towards the bathroom as he walked right into the shower. Pikachu joined him as the Electric-Type turned the water on slowly, the duo feeling the warm sensation wash over their tired bodies.

Ash wasn't sure how long it had been since he first registered, but the boy figured it had to be close to the start of things. Shutting off the television in his room he stood up and reached for his new jacket. He made sure to throw his old clothes into his backpack however, the object resting atop his bed as Ash decided to leave it there. The fabric rested comfortably against his body as it allowed him to breath despite the warmer temperatures. Adjusting his hat once more, Ash made his way out of his room as the door locked behind him.

"Here goes, Pikachu," Ash stated as they walked down the hall. Inside the lounge appeared to be a few students from the other courses that were merely there to cheer on their friends. Or at least Ash hoped that was the case, otherwise they would be disqualified rather soon. In what felt like no time at all, Ash exited the housing building and walked across the pavement as he noticed a path that led straight for the colosseum.

A few other students walked along it as Ash noted the ivory stairs that cascaded down onto the concrete path. A detail Ash felt really tried to oversell the importance of this area. Regardless of his feelings, the boy moved along the blacktop until trekking down the stairs and seeing the colosseum in the near distance. Just as he had seen from the side entrance, a gate stood erected before him only this time the guard allowed him through with no questions asked. A few of the other students right beside him as they all moved forward. Though before he knew it, Ash found himself back in the concourse as a crowd had formed. A few tourists called his name as they recognized him from the Class Battle, Ash waving back awkwardly as he continued on his way.

In front of him he managed to make out a few of his own classmates but much to his annoyance there was no sign of his friends. Traversing the packed area, Ash made his way to the stairs he had descended earlier until finally appearing in the now lit up hallway.

"Looks a bit different, Pikachu," Ash muttered as they looked around. The area he thought was once a narrow hallway now revealed itself to be an actual wipe open floor as eight raised fields, or Ash figured they looked more like square rings, stood around the area. Gone was the registration booth as well, instead the man who had worked it now stood beside a large white board that complied an entire bracket. Ash blinked at the board, the boy shocked to see the final number being one hundred and fifty-one.

Students were gathered all around as Ash quickly noted how schools stuck together in their own little groups. Except for Cross, Ash able to get a clear view of the boy now as he leaned against a nearby wall. The orange haired trainer noticed Ash's stare and responded with a slight smirk as Ash decided to walk off elsewhere. Eventually he managed to stumble upon some familiar faces as Janine met him halfway. The duo quickly slapped hands as it turned into a fist bump, a few of the other students looking at them as they shared a quick smile.

"I was wondering if you'd show up."

"And miss this? You should know me by now," Ash joked as Janine laughed at his response. She seemed a bit more hesitant however, Ash unable to understand why as the duo walked towards one of the walls. He felt that for the time being it would be best to stay out of the spotlight for now.

"So, what have you been up to these past couple months? I heard Surge took you on a special training course," Janine asked, the girl tucking her hands behind her back as she leaned in closer to Ash. Her curiosity got the better of her as the boy scratched at the side of his face, unsure of how to exactly explain his training. Luckily his friend changed her attention towards his new jacket, saving him from explaining his time with Surge. "You look different now, a bit bigger and a new jacket as well. I almost didn't recognize you."

"You like it?" Ash asked as he showed off his newest possession. He made sure that the Vermilion Gym symbol could be seen as the girl inspected it for a moment, her hands running along the fabric as if to get any fold marks out of it. "Surge got it as a birthday present to mark the end of my training."

"It suits you. Though I feel blue is more your color."

"It really is. But I felt it was only right to wear it. Plus, in the few hours I've had it, I've grown attached to the jacket."

Janine nodded at that, the girl moving her interest to rubbing Pikachu as her hand scratched behind his ear. The Mouse Pokémon cried out in joy as Janine continued the action. Ash noticed a symbol on Janine's own clothes, her ninja outfit looking slightly different now as it looked lighter. Almost as if she had dropped the weights from it and instead replaced it with a mesh netting of sorts. Not that he understood fabrics at all. He wanted to ask about the symbol, the boy having a strong suspicion that it was the Fuchsia City Gym symbol but before he could a ringing noise shot through the area.

Pikachu yelped in pain as both Ash and Janine covered their ears from the noise, Ash able to see it coming from the man from earlier in the day as he tapped against a microphone. Speakers placed around the large room echoed out as the ringing started to die down. The man however took his time as he blew his nose once more, the noise radiating over the sound system.

"Testing. Testing one, two. Testing," the man repeated as the words boomed outwards. A few students took it as a chance to tease him, acting like they couldn't hear his words or letting him know they heard him upon the first testing. The man however ignored their jeers as he looked over at the white board behind him.

"I would like to welcome each of you to the inaugural freshman tournament," the man stated as more workers appeared throughout the room. Each of them were carrying large boxes as Ash noticed lines formed around them. "As some of you have found out, the first stage will consist of a preliminary screening which has already begun. If everyone could make their ways to one of the employees with a box to draw a number that would be fantastic.

"Currently there are one hundred and fifty-one of you taking part today from seven different institutions. Obviously not all of you can take part and so the preliminaries will be used to whittle that number down to a reasonable sixteen participants. Though don't take this lightly as more than just a spot in the final rounds is on the line."

"You know what he means by that?" Ash asked only to be hushed by Janine. The girl leaned slightly against the wall as they waited for the nearest line to die down. Ash looked around as he noticed Gary reaching within one of the objects, a small paper resting in his hand as he removed it from the box.

"With recent events causing negative publicity for the schools, the Kanto League has found it tough to keep sponsor funding to operate all their schools. Ironic considering the money pumped into the trainer village recently built behind the colosseum." The man coughed at his last comment, his handkerchief being grabbed as the action caused him to drop his clipboard. A few papers fell from the object but the man was in no apparent sign of worry as Ash finally recognized him from the Class Battle.

"Because of this, in an effort to cut costs, all schools will be closed except one. Which will be whomever wins. In the event that Newbark University wins, then the highest-ranking Kanto school will be kept open."

"Wait...so what happens to us?" Ash asked, his eyes wide for a moment as he looked at Janine. The girl bit at her thumb for a moment, a few beads of sweat running down her face.

"I don't know," she answered. "We'll just have to win."

Ash nodded at that statement as he made his way over towards one of the lines, Janine right behind him. As he reached into the box, he heard the man try to calm the crowd of confused students, but their voices easily swallowed his even with the speakers making him sound louder. Chaos was quickly spreading throughout the area as students were worried, some trash now flying around as Ash pulled a piece of paper out of the box. He noted the small 17 written on it as he shoved it within his pocket.

"Everyone please calm down! I understand this is a trying time, what with a tournament being held to determine if your school will remain, but there's more to it!" he cried out. These words managed to calm most of the students down as their voices faltered, now drowned out by the speaker system once more. "Regardless of who wins, you will all be students of that school. Giovanni has pledged to support building an entirely new dorm system and to donate funds to keep one school operational. You will all be able to continue your dreams. Just possibly at a new school."

"So, wait. There's one hundred and...what, seventy-two of us? And only sixteen actually make it into the actual tournament? Besides the fact that everyone is now fighting for their lives, how's the math work for that, my brain is hurting from thinking about it."

"He just said one hundred and fifty-one. And we wouldn't want your brain hurting from being overworked," Janine joked, tapping Ash slightly on the shoulder as Pikachu snickered. The boy merely rolled his eyes at her response before turning his attention back to the announcer. The bracket on the board made much more sense now as it had been broken up into eight blocks labeled from "A" to "H".

The man coughed for a moment to quiet down the group of freshmen as they all looked back at him. Wiping his nose clean of mucus, he turned towards the white board behind him and pointed at it slightly. Based on what Ash could understand of it, it appeared that two individuals from each block would advance into the actual tournament. Though it also appeared that not every block was evenly split up as some had more numbers than others.

"With one hundred and fifty-one students participating the school boards figured the only fair manner to decide the final sixteen would be through a preliminary screening. And so each of you have been placed within one of our eight blocks to battle your way through head to head matchups until only two remaining in each block.

"Our block champs will then gain entrance into the top sixteen and battle it out at Pummelo Stadium in front of a packed crowd. Now let's please move towards your respective blocks so we may start things off."

Ash chuckled slightly at the concept of it all, his eyes scanning the room as the atmosphere changed tremendously. Gone was a lighthearted feel and replaced with what Ash could only describe as life or death. It reminded him too much of his time in the Silph Corporation or even just a few months ago with Thad. Students who had once been chatting ideally with their classmates now looked ready to do whatever it would take to win. With a glance at Janine, Ash felt a cold sweat start to form over the prospect of possibly facing her in the preliminaries.

"Don't worry, I'm in block "C"," Janine stated as she flashed her number with a smile. Ash sighed in relief as the number "57" sat on her piece of paper. Though it didn't quell his worry of facing any of his other friends and rivals in the preliminaries.

"I wonder where everyone else was placed." Ash muttered out loud, looking around the room to see everyone else. The likes of Ritchie, Gary, Paul and Misty stood out to him as he also saw Leaf off in the distance. Hoping he wouldn't have to be matched against any of them in the preliminaries, his worries were calmed due to Janine.

"Does it really matter? We only have to worry about ourselves for the time being. I'm sure Leaf and the others will be just fine." Janine then flashed a smile towards Ash, the boy returning it as he felt the pokeballs attached to his belt wiggle slightly. "And besides, I'm just glad we're in different blocks. I wouldn't have wanted to face you after your time training with Surge."

Ash didn't respond, the boy's attention being pulled away due to the shifting of the crowd. It seemed as though the attendants were now directing people to the different stages spaced around them. With battles having already started, Ash and Janine decided to split off to find their own blocks.

"You better make it through, Ash."

"You two."

With one final clasp of their hands, the duo split off as Ash easily found his ring. It was fortunate enough for him that the "A" block began with the number one, and the first match would obviously begin with the first number. Though it was the boy who stood up onto the ring that surprised Ash.

"Contestants one and two will now begin their preliminary screening match. The rules are simple: one minute will be put on a timer and the winner will be decided when one side can no longer battle. You may also win by knocking your opponent out of the ring. In the event that the timer reaches zero and no winner has been decided, I shall declare one of you the victor with my best judgement. Now begin!"

Ash watched in silence from the edge of the ring as Cross called on Lycanroc while his opponent (clearly confused by the creature) sent out a Rhyhorn. The Ground and Rock-Type shaking the area as it landed atop the ring. Lycanroc appeared unimpressed however, as it picked at its claws. With the drop of the judge's hand, a timer started to tick down as the match began. Ash becoming interested in seeing how Cross would begin.

To Ash's amazement the battle moved in an increasingly fast pace, the boy unable to comprehend how Cross could react in such a quick manner. Though he figured after Surge's training he hoped he could do that, to see Cross do so left him confused. Whether it was how good he handled the match or just him being here, Ash wasn't sure as Lycanroc howled menacingly.

With his strength increased, the Rock-Type pushed against Rhyhorn, bringing it to the edge of the ring only for an Earthquake to be used to force him away. Cross wasn't worried however, Ash surprised to see him end it all with a single hit as Lycanroc released a Sucker Punch on Rhyhorn. The impact caused the Ground and Rock-Type to tumble out of the ring as those gathered remained speechless.

"Contestant number two advances to the next round!" the judge cried out. Cross turned towards Ash, the boy winking at him as Ash wanted to call out. Beginning to say his former classmate's name, the boy vanished amongst the crowd before Ash could finish saying his name. "Contestants three and four please make your way atop the ring."

Ash watched on as the battles continued, a few of them rather boring as he wondered if perhaps a few of the students were in the beginner's level if that was available for their school. A few battles were interesting however as he watched a Hitmonchan face off against a Hitmonlee, the match going the full minute as the judge declared the Hitmonchan's trainer as the winner. Though after what felt like forever, Ash finally heard his number called out.

"Could contestants seventeen and eighteen make their way atop the ring?"

Ash clinched his fists tightly as he leapt atop the ring. Standing opposite him was a young boy with a green headband and a red shirt. Over the shirt appeared to be a denim jacket that had its sleeves ripped off. He appeared to carry himself with a slight ego as his hand reached for a pokeball.

"It's a shame your first match is against the strongest trainer in Pummelo's school. To think you would have to face me must really make you worry."

"Not really," Ash replied. The boy honestly didn't seem like much of a threat as he tossed a pokeball forward. A Poliwrath emerged from the capture device as a belt sat across its stomach. Ash thought the device was strange but he didn't care.

"Haven't you heard the stories of my training? I, Tad, am the only one in my entire class to have defeated two of the four Orange Island Gyms!"

"Oh right!" Ash replied with a snap of his fingers. A small smile crossed over his face as Pikachu also let a chuckle out. "Surge told us about the Gyms here. He complained that they're responsible for creating weak trainers down here since they don't put much focus on battles. Instead it's stuff like races and what not. Right?"

Tad merely bit down on his teeth at Ash's words as the Pallet Town native wondered if he said something wrong. He figured if Surge had said it then it had to have been true. Especially since the man was a Gym Leader himself. But based on the kid's reaction Ash knew he couldn't take things lightly. He decided to start things with a bang.

Reaching down to his belt, Ash gripped a pokeball as it grew within his hand. Using his free one, Ash turned his hat around and tossed the pokeball forward, a bright light escaping from the device.

"Scyther, I choose you!"

The Bug and Flying-Type emerged from the device with a slight cry, his arms raised in self defense as both trainer and Pokémon eyed their opponent. The judge called out for the match to begin, Ash noticing that the timer ticking down as he gave the first command.

"Scyther, start off with a Slash attack!"

"Scyther!" the Mantis Pokémon shouted, his scythe glowing white for a second as he raced across the stage. Scyther vanished within a second, his body reemerging behind Poliwrath as a cut mark appeared across his body. A gust of wind kicked around the area as students from other blocks turned their attention to Ash's match. Ash and Scyther both awaited Tad and Poliwrath to counter, but instead the Water and Fighting-Type fell forward in defeat.

"Poliwrath can no longer continue! The winner is Scyther and contestant seventeen."

And we're finally entering the homestretch of Lessons. It's been a while, but only a few chapters remain for it. Just the tournament and a little something after it and then this story will be completed. Now, there might be some questions so I'll just explain what I can.

First, no, this has nothing to do with the Alola League in regard to only sixteen trainers moving on and there being one hundred and fifty-one trainers. There's one fifty-one because between the schools there's actually one hundred and fifty-three but take away Brock and Thad and you get one hundred fifty-one.

Second, yes, Ash didn't have a Scyther before the time skip. But it'll be explained next chapter. Though I feel it should be obvious where it came from.

Thank you to everyone who reads and supports the story. Please leave a review with your thoughts on the chapter and how I could improve it.