"The 6th match of the day brings us a trainer from Vaniville Town itself, Zeno! And his opponent, the ferocious Remo! Their field is the rocky one, so let's see what interesting strategies these two trainers can show us today!"
I rubbed the middle pokeball on my belt. "Ash, you sure did amaze everyone earlier with your Greninja. While I already knew of your bond, to think you would even take down that Mega Altaria in just two hits. I'll have to do a lot to prove just how strong I am." I enlarged the ball and threw it. "I choose you!"
"Biiishaaarp!" Bisharp cried, striking his metal arms together, a clanging sound echoing around the stadium.
Clara smiled from the stands. "So he's taken good care of you then. Thank you, Zeno."
Remo hefted his Ultra Ball, swinging it out like a pitcher. "Gurdie!"
A Gurdurr roared as it entered the battlefield, hefting a red metal beam with one hand.
"Let the 6th match, begin!" the referee swung down his hand.
"Bisharp, use Swords Dance!" I shouted, thrusting out my hand. He clanged his arms together again, glowing swords surrounding him as his attack was boosted.
"Gurdie," Remo stomped one foot. "Bulk Up!
Gurdurr slammed his beam into the ground, his muscles expanding slightly as a red aura surrounded him.
"We can't afford to waste anymore time," I realized. "Bisharp, Metal Claw!"
Bisharp's blades extended, growing sharper as they glowed. He ran towards Gurdurr, sliding past him as he sliced. Gurdurr dropped to one knee, wincing.
Remo furrowed his brows. "Strong is he? Well, we won't be put down that easily!" He slapped his leg. "Slam him!"
Gurdurr turned around, swinging his beam in an arc towards Bisharp. He rose both arms to hold off the blow, but was still slammed to the ground.
"Now," Remo grinned broadly. "Superpower!"
Bisharp's eyes widened as Gurdurr hefted him up, then swung him with all his might. Bisharp crashed and skidded along the ground. He struggled to stand, but collapsed.
"Bisharp is unable to battle!" the ref called, his hand moving to point towards Gurdurr. "Gurdurr wins!"
"A fantastic show of strength! In just two moves Bisharp has been taken out, claiming his first victory!" On screen, Bisharp's face faded into gray, only two of my pokeballs now highlighted still.
"Guuurduuurrrrr!" Gurdurr roared, proudly swinging his metal beam with both hands.
"You take a good rest, Bisharp," I returned him. "Despite evolving, you're still pretty new to this team. I'll be sure to take that into account next time. In the meantime, let us finish this." I tossed my pokeball into the air, my second Pokemon being revealed.
"Amazing!" the announcer cried as the crowd gasped and cheered for my Water type. "That gleaming black skin! It's a shiny Greninja!"
"Grenin," Greninja croaked, folding both arms as he stood tall on both legs. He glanced back at me, asking a silent question.
"Not yet," I answered, nodding. "For now, just show them what you can do! Water Pulse!"
Greninja crouched as he formed a sphere of water, shooting it towards Gurdurr. The Fighting type, lacking speed, was unable to dodge as he took the attack head on. He shook himself, slamming the beam on the ground.
"Let's push our advantage," Remo commanded. "Focus Blast!
Gurdurr stuck the metal beam into the ground and began forming a sphere of energy.
"Forwards!" I shouted, Greninja hopping towards the Fighting type
"Blast him!" Remo roared.
"Use Cut!" I shouted.
Greninja swung a glowing blade, slicing the Focus Blast in two, the attack slamming into two separate rocks, blowing them up.
"Use Superpower!" Remo shouted. "Send those rocks flying!"
Gurdurr swung his beam around, using the terrain to his advantage by smashing several rocks, the shattered pieces flying towards Greninja.
"Use Smokescreen!" I commanded.
Greninja slammed a small object in front of him, smoke quickly engulfing him and the surrounding area. The rocks flew in and the sounds of their crashing could be heard
"Keep an eye out Gurdie!" Remo's head darted right and left, trying to catch a glimpse of Greninja. Gurdurr stood his ground, beam held out in front of him like a shield.
Just as the smoke began to thin, I shouted, "NOW!" A dozen black Greninjas shot out from all sides of the smoke, each wielding a shuriken. "Water Shuriken!"
A dozen Water Shurikens zoomed towards Gurdurr and he couldn't protect himself from all of them. He was flung back, struggling to stand.
"Finish him!" I shouted. "Power-Up Punch!"
Greninja sped towards the rising Gurdurr, slamming his fist into his stomach. The Fighting type's eyes widened as he was flung back, crashing at Remo's feet, knocked out cold.
"Gurdurr is unable to battle! Greninja wins!"
The crowd cheered, making me smirk. They hadn't seen nothing yet. If they thought Ash's Greninja was truly shocking, I would have to stun them beyond belief. Once Gurdurr was returned, Remo let out a Rhyperior.
"We may be at a disadvantage," Remo gripped his free hand, his muscles bulging slightly. "But we are still powerful enough to take you down!"
"Those are fighting words! Can Rhypo seriously take down a powerful Greninja!?"
"Your call," I met Greninja's gaze. "Want to show them?"
"Grenin," he appeared to be smirking, nodding his head.
"Alright then," I held up my fist, feeling adrenaline begin to course through me. "Let's show them all we got!" I felt our connection spike as Greninja's red eyes gleamed as he burst forwards. "Kage-Shinobi!"
Water burst around him, forming a sphere of liquid around himself as shards of stone zoomed towards him. He leaped and dodged as he went, every sharp stone missing. Greninja flung his hand, the water bursting outwards, swarming back in to form the cloak and a large shuriken in his outstretched hand.
"Water Shuriken!" I roared.
"Greninjjjjaaaa!" Greninja cried, flipping as he flung the shuriken. It slammed into Rhyperior's chest, knocking the Rock type onto his back. Greninja leaped backwards, landing standing up, two fingers held up in front of his face.
"ASTOUNDING!" The announcer shouted as the crowd went wild. "The second Greninja today has made his appearance with an unexpected form without the use of a Keystone! What a surprising turn of events!"
"Just like that Ash kid from before," Remo rubbed his jaw after returning his Rhyperior. "I was amazed at his power and wasn't so sure if I could match up to that," he grinned, both letting out a Garchomp with a blue necklace and a Mega Stone attached to it, and swinging his umbrella around to have the Keystone placed at the top face forwards. "But once we defeat you, victory in the Kalos League is all but assured."
"Don't get too confident now," I felt elated, all eyes upon the visual bond Greninja and I had accumulated up till now. "'Cause here we come!"
"Bring it on!" Remo bellowed. "I, Remo the great Dragon Trainer, will defeat you here and now! Open your eyes and take a good look! Garchoo, Mega Evolve!"
Light burst from his Keystone, connecting with Garchomp's Mega Stone. Garchomp grew slightly taller, more spikes appearing along his body, and his arms turning into scythes.
"Use Dragon Rush!" Remo roared.
"Meet him head-on!" I commanded. "Night Slash!"
Garchomp flew up into the sky, a spectral dragon forming around his body as he blasted towards his opponent. Greninja swung two blades into his hands, both darkening as he jumped to meet Garchomp. He swung both blade, unleashing a wind of darkness as Garchomp collided with him. Greninja, body smoking, crashed to the ground, but immediately leaped to his feet as Garchomp still hung in the sky.
"Draco Meteor!" Remo shouted and Garchomp reared back his head, shooting a glowing rock into the sky. It burst, sending over a dozen flaming missiles raining down on the rocky terrain.
"Show time," I cracked my knuckles. "Show them your athletic prowess!"
Greninja ran, dodging the crashing rocks. He leaped onto a large stone and leaped into the sky before a missile smashed through it. He then leaped onto one of the Draco Meteors while pulling off his cloak, using the resulting explosion to send him above Garchomp, who looked up in surprise.
"Now then," I reached my arm behind me, Greninja mirroring my movements as he grasped his large shuriken on his back. "Water Shuriken!" Greninja swung the weapon into Garchomp as he roared with me, an explosion ripping through the sky.
...
"Much of this tournament has already shown off many Mega Evolved Pokemon, a trend likely to continue up until the finals! To advance further in this league, having a Mega Pokemon may be the deciding factor if you move up or get disqualified!"
"Yeah, keep thinking that," Clara smirked. "Scizor, use Bullet Punch!"
Scizor repeatedly slammed his pincers against the Mega Blastoise, forcing the Water type back a couple steps.
"Tank those attacks!" Herbert shouted. "Hydro Cannon!"
Blastoise fired off three shots, two from his arm cannons and one from the large cannon protruding from his back.
"Fury Cutter!" Clara thrust out her hand. "Quick succession!"
Scizor hit each incoming bullet of water, blasted back several feet, but still standing and had taken less damage than he probably would have if he had taken them head-on.
"I see," Robert cocked an eyebrow next to me. "Just like how your Arcanine uses Reversal."
"Huh?" I glanced at him, then focused my attention back to the battlefield where I quickly realized what my friend had meant.
"Fury Cutter!" Clara shouted and Scizor slammed his pincers against Blastoise, the force of the attack sending the Water type crashing onto his shell, spinning five full revolutions before stopping and reverting back to his base form.
"Blastoise is unable to battle! That means Clara advances onto the next round of preliminary match-ups!"
"Despite the power boost that Mega Evolution offers, this Scizor proves that even that isn't enough for a well trained Pokemon and sheer determination!"
"You're up soon," I glanced at Alex, who was already starting to stand.
"Yep," she grinned, pushing back her hair. "I'll show you just how easily I can advance on to the next round."
...
"Night Slash!" Both girls yelled, the two moves cancelling one another out.
"Well who could have predicted this development," Robert chuckled. "It's almost like the the universe is taunting Alex."
Clara smirked. "It would be almost too funny if she lost like this."
"Oi, shut it, the both of you," I sighed, but I had to admit, this was a very coincidental match-up.
Back on the battlefield, Alex muttered, "Bet they're having a happy time up in the stands watching this."
"Down to their last Pokemon each, both Astrid and Alex have both pulled a surprising twist to their battle, with both having a Mega Evolved Absol! Who will falter first!?"
"Not us," Alex growled. "Absol, Dark Pulse!"
Her Mega Absol held her ground, blasting a beam of darkness towards the other Absol.
"Block with Mega Horn!" Astrid commanded. "And take her out!"
The enemy Mega Absol swung her head, her green glowing horn blocking the Dark Pulse before rushing towards her opponent.
Alex grimaced. "Sucker Punch!" Her Absol darted forwards, swiping her paw against her enemy's left flank. "Now Double Team!"
Just as the enemy Absol swung her head around, multiple copies of her enemy appeared, her attack going through one of them.
"Perfect," Alex smirked, gripping her fist in front of her. "Foul Play!"
A crash and the enemy Absol was flung into the air before crashing into a tree, leaves fluttering down. Light quickly enveloped her and disappeared, the Absol back to her normal form.
"Absol is unable to battle! That means Alex advances onto the next round of preliminary match-ups!"
"Oh heck yeah," Alex hugged her Absol as she reverted back to normal. "You're amazing Absol!"
Absol blinked, before closing them contently, welcoming the hug from her trainer.
"Now all that's left to do is wait for the battles to finish and see what the next match-ups will be for tomorrow," Serena commented next to Ash.
"Yeah," Ash nodded. "I wonder who I'll be battling..."
I listened to their conversation for a minute before noticing Preston in the corner of my eye. I glanced at him, but he shook his head. Nodding, I sighed in relief. So far, no sign of Team Flare. Maybe Alain being here was just so he could battle Ash and not for Team Flare...
...
"And that concludes the preliminary battles for today folks! If you would please direct your attention to the big screen, we will have the next match-ups for tomorrow's preliminary battles!"
On screen, the faces of all remaining 32 trainers began swirling around for ten seconds, every one of the trainers holding their breath. With a ding, it was done. I quickly scanned for my face, finding it close to the end, the 14th match-up against some auburn haired girl.
"Oh hey, Alex," Robert pointed. "You're first for tomorrow!"
"I am," Alex looked surprised, then her eyes widened further. "And my opponent is-!"
"Me," Piers said from the seat behind us. He rubbed the back of his neck, smiling. "So it seems I'll be up against a pretty strong trainer. Guess I shouldn't be lazing around no more."
I stared at the screen, shocked at seeing someone's face that I hadn't expected to see. Blue hair and cold calculating eyes.
"Kamake," I muttered. "What are you doing here?"
And the first round is over! All our heroes have made it to the second rounds, but now either Alex or Piers will be eliminated! Next chapter, "Obstructing Opponent", a showdown between everyone's favorite heroine and the Dark type Gym Leader of Galar! So until then! Toodles
