"Metang, use Take Down!"
"Electabuzz, go for Thunder Punch!"
Metang hovered forward with orange energy outline of itself as Electabuzz's fist began to spark and went for a jab. The two Pokémon collided with each other and kicked up dust. Metang floated back to its trainer as Electabuzz was shoved back to his.
"Use Thunder Punch again!"
The Electric Pokémon charged his fist again and rushed in, ready to end the fight.
"Confusion!"
The Iron Claw Pokemon's eyes shined blue before halting Electabuzz in place. "Now Take Down to finish it!" Metang rocked forward with another orange energy outline and nailing the restrained Electric type. The Kanto Electric type was knocked back and down for the fight.
"Electabuzz is unable to battle. Metang is the winner. Therefore, Morrison of Verdanturf Town advances through the preliminaries!"
"Alright, we did it!" Morrison, one of Ash's Hoenn rivals, cheered before hugged Metang, who cheered along with its trainer.
From the stands, Ash, Brock, May, and Max watched the whole fight through. Seeing how Ash's body was later today, he figured he should watch his rivals and potential opponents to get an upper hand on in future matches. Morrison got himself lucky with Beldum evolving into Metang which gave him the extra boost it needed to end the match.
"Woah, Morrison sure has gotten stronger," Max recognized.
Brock nodded, "Yep, that makes him a trainer to beat."
Ash silently agreed before they left to check out Tyson's match.
"Water Pulse!" Vivica, Tyson's opponent, shouted.
Her Pokémon for the match is Persian, who was up against Meowth. The dressed up Scratch Cat Pokémon had just used Double Team to confuse the Classy Cat Pokémon. The Water Pulse was blasted onto the ground, creating a huge wave of water that washed the copies away, along with the actual Meowth.
"Use Shadow Ball!" Vivica continued her attacks.
Creating an orb of spectral energy, the quadruped cat Pokémon shot the Ghost type move towards the cowboy dressed cat. The attack made contact with the ground, knock Meowth back to a wall.
Deciding the counterattack, Tyson called for his next move, "Iron Tail!"
Meowth's tail turned to steel and he rushed towards his evolved form before slamming it. The Classy Cat Pokémon was sent flying back before catching herself.
Tyson kept up the pressure, "Thunderbolt!"
Vivica responded this time, "Dig!"
Meowth began to charge and fire a concentrated lightning bolt but missed due to Persian having Dug away from the attack. Meowth didn't stop there though and fired in the hole, striking the evolved form and causing an explosion underground. Said explosion ended the match as Persian lied defeated.
"Persian is unable to battle. Meowth is the winner. Therefore, Tyson of Mauville City is the winner!"
The crowd cheered at the brunette's victory but Meowth began to extend his claws the downed Classy Cat Pokémon. The crowd's cheer turned to one of fear as the Scratch Cat Pokémon attacked. Tyson, though, quickly returned him to his Pokéball before any damage was done and gazed at it.
"Exploud, use Hyper Voice!"
The Loud Noise Pokémon took a deep breath before bellowing sound waves across the battlefield towards his opponent.
"Altaria, Safeguard!"
The Humming Pokémon shimmered green and casted a teal forcefield that took the sound attack. Altaria began to flap his wings before ascending and getting into position.
"Use Dragon Dance then Sky Attack!" His trainer, a lime green haired boy, called.
Altaria glowed with a red aura with bits of black storm like particles around himself before a yellow aura covered him.
"Exploud, cut it off with Screech!" Guy* shouted.
The Normal type let out a brief roar before firing sound waves that were to disorient the attack. The Dragon/Flying type flew through the sound attack with his Sky Attack and collided, causing Exploud to fall defeated from the Flying type move.
"Exploud is unable to battle, Altaria is the winner. Therefore, Wally of Petalburg City is the winner!"
Altaria flew over to Wally, who chuckled at his affection.
"That was quite the match," May said from the stands.
"You said it," Max commented.
Ash, now thanks to watching the battle, had learned the boy's name was Wally. And Ash couldn't help but grin at the thought of challenging him to a battle.
It was finally Ash's turn to battle as he made his way to the battlefield. Pikachu was on his shoulder, ready in case he was to be selected to battle. Ash's opponent, a young martial artist in a white gi approached the battlefield from his end before they both stopped at their selected corners.
The referee began the match, "This battle is between Gilbert and Ash. Trainers may only use one Pokémon for this battle. Battle begin!"
"Hitmonlee, go!" Gilbert said, throwing out the infamous Kanto Kicking Pokémon.
"Primeape, I choose you!" Ash said, showing his Fighting type.
Both Kanto Fighting types Pokémon were summoned and eyed their opponent. Hitmonlee had a bit of a cocky look on his face but Primeape had experience in fighting all types of fighting types at this point. The Pig Monkey Pokémon rolled his arms before getting in a boxing stance.
"Start with Rolling Kick!" Gilbert commanded and the Kicking Pokemon leapt into the air, before extending his leg down to strike his opponent.
"Detect!" The Pallet Town native shouted and Primeape's eyes glowed red for a brief moment before sidestepping the Rolling Kick. Ash took this opportunity to capitalize, "Go for Low Kick!"
The Pig Monkey Pokémon took the chance to swept his right leg, as Hitmonlee was still in the air and was sent back to the ground. Primape puffed up before do a "bring it" motion with his gloved hands. The Kicking Pokémon took offense to that taunt and leapt back into action, ready for more.
Gilbert took the next attack, "Use High Jump Kick!"
The martial artist's Pokémon took to the air again, but this time went down with a knee strike.
"Primeape, Bulk Up then Aerial Ace!" Ash said.
Primeape glowed with a red aura, his muscles increasing in size before leaping towards the descending Fighting type. With a white streaks surrounding himself, the simian Pokémon met the human-like Pokémon head on, causing a small explosion to occur.
Both Fighting types were sent back, the simian flipped and landed on his feet before letting out a cry while the humanoid Pokémon hit the ground with a thud before getting to his feet.
Gilbert grit his teeth at his Pokémon's pain. His Hitmonlee was exceptional when it came to most opponents, especially other Fighting types, but this Primeape had him stumped. If only he knew that Primeape had encountered plenty of Hitmonlees before.
"Use Mega Kick!"
"Catch it with Fling!"
The Kicking Pokémon once again extended his foot but the Pig Monkey Pokémon caught it before hurling it over himself and into the stadium wall behind the martial artist. The evolved form of Tyrogue managed to pick himself up but slighlty cringed in pain from the impact.
"Rush back in and use Mega Kick!" Gilbert shouted. He wanted to end the battle quickly.
Hitmonlee shook off the pain, thinking it was nothing, and ran back in before launching his foot forward.
"Primeape, Vacuum Wave!" Ash called for.
The Pig Monkey Pokémon leapt in the air before spinning, creating a drift around himself. He then launched it into his opponent, causing the Kicking Pokémon to fight the drifts of wind. Unfortunately, Hitmonlee was taken along with the wind and sent towards the ground. The wind drifts dispersed, before revealing an unconscious Hitmonlee.
"Hitmonlee is unable to battle, Primeape is the winner. Therefore, Ash from Pallet Town is the winner!" the referee declared.
"Way to go Primeape!" Ash cheered and Primeape punched his fists in the air in celebration.
"Linnone, go for Gunk Shot!"
The Hoenn Normal type conjured an energy trash bag before hurling it at his opponent.
"Dodge it!" the white hat trainer said to his Pokémon.
Said Pokémon was his Breloom, who dodged it by jumping.
"Pin Missile!" Nicholai* said.
Linonne's fur fizzled before firing multiple energy pins towards the Grass/Fighting type.
"Counter them with Seed Bomb!"
Breloom inhaled before firing multiple large green seeds that intercepted the Pin Missile.
"Now, Sky Uppercut!"
The Mushroom Pokémon rushed in with a glowing claw and landed an uppercut at the Normal type. Linoone was sent back to Nicholai and down for the count.
"Linoone is unable to battle, Breloom is the winner. Therefore, Brendan of Littleroot Town is the winner!" the referee declared.
Ash and his friends attended the battle as this Brendan trainer had caught the Pallet Town's eye. Brendan seemed like an amazing trainer and like Wally, he was hoping to battle him.
The preliminary matches of the Ever Grande Conference concluded that night and Ash, along with the other competitors, all watched the flame become lit signaling the end of the preliminaries.
"That torch lightening concludes our preliminary matches! And now for your next three rounds, they will all be double battles! So teamwork between the two Pokémon you choose should help you in these next rounds!" the announcer informed.
On the screen, images of the trainers began to swirl around before stopping and showing who each trainer would be up against in the first set of double battles. Ash found his picture with a teal haired guy.
However he was, Ash was sure that he would win the match against him.
A/N: *Guy is from "Exploud and Clear" episode.
*Nicholai is from "In the Knicker of Time!" and "ZigZag Zangoose" episodes.
They were suggested by a Guest reviewer, so thanks for informing me about those two characters.
Brendan and Wally are competing in the Hoenn League and I plan to put Sawyer and Alain in the Kalos League.