Greetings everyone, Mgunnels3 here, and welcome back to A promise Kept Ash's, Johto Journey. Before we begin, I know someone suggested two more trainers for this tournament, but I am sorry to say that I have other trainers ready. And it doesn't seem fair for them to show up only to either be knocked out off-screen or not Ash will battle at all. So sorry for Assunta and Corey though he may appear in the third story, maybe? Those said, let's get this chapter going, shall we?
Chapter 29: Ash vs. Rudy rematch.
'For Pokespeech
"For Human speech
The first match of the grass-type tournament was about to begin as both Bayleef and Exeggutor were staring each other down, raring to fight.
"Bayleef vs. Exeggutor, let the battle begin," The ref said as Ash and Rudy were now ready to fight. "Alright, Bayleef, use razor leaf," Ash commanded Bayleef, who launched a flurry of leaves towards Exeggutor.
"Use Egg bomb and then sludge bomb Exeggutor," Rudy commanded his Pokemon as the two attacks hit the Razor Leaf attack. "Now, use Psychic attack," Rudy commanded his Pokemon, who hits Bayleef and sends her back to the wall. "Bayleef, you okay?" Ash asked Bayleef, who nodded at this. She was stubborn as a Tauros.
"Humph, I must admit Ash, she's like you stubborn and very arrogant when I met you," Rudy said to Ash as Bayleef, while saw that as a compliment got mad at this. "Use Barrage," Rudy commanded his Pokemon, who sent out a flurry of small balls at Bayleef.
"Use Ancient Power Bayleef," Ash commanded her, who launched rocks right at the Barrage and hits Exeggutor. "Use Bodyslam before it could fight back," Ash commanded Bayleef, who slammed her body right at Exeggutor, which hits him but doesn't end the fight.
"Use Sludge Bomb now," Rudy commanded his Exeggutor, who used it as Bayleef was on top of him before she could get off him. Bayleef was sent back to Ash. She was mad as she was stomping on the ground. As it started to shake, Ash noticed this.
"Alright, use Earthquake Bayleef," Ash commanded her, who slammed her legs on the ground as it shook Exeggutor, which caused Rudy to be shocked that she could use that. "Exeggutor, use Egg Bomb," Rudy commanded his Pokemon, who launched the attack right at Bayleef.
"Use Ancient Power Bayleef and then use Vine Whip," Ash commanded her as the Ancient Power canceled the Egg Bomb as Bayleef held Exeggutor. "Sludge bomb now," Rudy commanded Exeggutor.
"Slam him to the group before he could do that, Bayleef," Ash commanded her, who did so as Exeggutor was slammed by her Vine Whip hard. "End this with a Bodyslam," Ash commanded Bayleef, who did such a move hitting Exeggutor, knocking him out. "Exeggutor no," Rudy said as he wasn't expecting this.
"Exeggutor is unable to battle Bayleef wins moving onto the next round is Ash Ketchem from Pallet town," the ref said as Ash cheered at this as Bayleef sighed. Ash walked over to Bayleef, who smiled at Ash.
"You did great, girl, but man, that was a close battle," Ash said to Bayleef, who agreed. 'You weren't wrong about him being a tough battle Ash, but the man did he made me mad by comparing both of us like that,' Bayleef complained about that. Rudy walked over to Ash.
"You two did well, not going to lie, Ash. Sadly, this will probably be the last time we will see each other given that I was invited here as a guest and not taking part in the league," Rudy said to Ash and Bayleef and offered a handshake which Ash accepted.
"Thanks, Rudy, and when you get back to Trovita, tell your little sister that Misty and I said high, and if you talked to the other members of the Orange crew, same as well," Ash said Rudy, who nodded at this.
"Well, Sissy is here in Johto for the Whirl cup. That is much I can say haven't seen the others since you won the league," Rudy said as they walked back to the waiting room for the trainers. However, Ash and Bayleef were watched by a weird-looking group and a Bayleef beside them.
'So, my little sister had evolved as well, it seems,' Bayleef said as he turned to his trainers, who nodded. 'I can't wait to put her in her place to betray me like that, especially with my new growth in power courtesy of your power growth and Technician.'
"Remember, Bayleef, it's still in production, and you are a test subject for this, and we can't use too much of it," James said, who was in disguise as the trainer taking part in this tournament. "And our next opponent is Jeannette. Her Victribel gave the twerps Pokemon trouble back in the league. We'll make an excellent example of how pathetically easy she is and why your sister's trainer is weak."
'Two birds with one stone, perfect. You command I follow,' Bayleef said, bowing. He's much taller and looks like he's gone through a lot more brainwashing, including ones through Noctowl even though he joined willingly.
Meanwhile, Ash made it back to the waiting room as he was scoping out more of the competition of his block in this tournament again, not many of them aside Erika and Jeannette he recognized.
As he sees Jeannette was heading to the battlefield just as Misty and Brock walk into, congratulating Ash for his win in the match. "Thanks, you guys, but man, Rudy didn't make that match easy for me," Ash said to the two who sighed at this.
"Even without music, he's still strong as a trainer. No wonder he is a member of the Orange crew," Misty said to Ash. 'Ugh, I wouldn't like hearing any music when it comes to battling. It's a distraction,' Bayleef said as Bulbusaur nodded in agreement.
'Given that I had battled against that said Exeggutor, I can relate,' Bulbasaur said to Bayleef as the two shared a laugh. "By the way, was that Jeannette Fisher we just saw walkout, man you got some good competition for this tournament, Ash?" Misty said to Ash, who nodded in agreement.
"Her, Casey, and Erika, yeah, that'll be a fun competition, and given that she is the next opponent, I feel that we'll be battling each other in the next round," Ash said as right on cue the announcer said. "Jeannette is out of the competition, ladies and gentlemen," shocked Ash and the others when the camera panned to her comforting a badly hurt Victribel and a Bayleef who looked like he hadn't taken any damage at all.
"Woah, I wasn't expecting that would happen. That was the Bellsprout that gave me trouble back in the Indigo League," Ash said as Bulbasaur was surprised by this. On the other hand, Bayleef was wide-eyed. 'B-brother,' Bayleef said aloud, seeing that Bayleef caught Ash and the others off guard as Ash ran to the Pokemon center where Jeannette was. Casey noticed this and followed Ash as her match was later on in the tournament.
Ash arrived at the Pokemon center to see that Victribel was in intensive care. "Jeannette, you okay?" Ash asked Jeannette, who shook her head at this.
"No, Ash, that Bayleef personally injured my Victribel and that she's out for a while," Jeannette said as Casey came in at the tail end of this. "I could barely get an attack in. With one attack, Victribel could not do anything against him," Jeannette said.
"I saw the match as well, Ash? I never saw a Bayleef that strong before, let alone take on someone known to be tough to take down," Casey said to Ash and Jeannette. "I do," Ash said quietly, and both Jeannette and Casey were surprised hearing Ash say that.
Ash explained everything about both the situation that led to Bayleef joining Ash. And Bayleef recognized her brother in the competition. "If that is the case, then we should be able to overturn the win, shouldn't we?" Casey questioned but was interrupted by someone who was listening to this.
"And, what would be able to do with that?" A young man with green hair, blue pants, and a purple shirt that Ash recognized instantly, as did Casey. "D-Drew," Ash said, and he smiled at this.
"Fancy seeing here. Ash, it's been a long time. But I'm not here to catch up right now," Drew said to Ash as Casey wondered what Drew meant.
"Cause Victribel is my only grass-type on my team. That is what he means, Casey?" Jeannette said to Casey as Drew nodded at this. "According to Nurse Joy, Victribel won't be able to battle until the competition is over."
"In other words, even if we do get the trainer disqualified, that wouldn't change the outcome because Jeannette is ineligible to continue. That and we don't have proof of wrongdoings? Team Rocket or not," Drew said as Ash and Jeannette nodded.
"I may sound mean, don't get me wrong, you two, but you should be more focusing on your upcoming matches," Drew said before turning around. "We can catch up on the day off of the competition when the top 32 happens. Until then, see you two around," Drew said before leaving.
As Drew left, he heard a familiar voice talking to him. "You may have been right about that ruling, but you could've handled it better, Drew," A young man with black hair, green and yellow jacket, and redshirt talked to Drew with a Grovyle by his side.
"You're here to Tyson. I thought you were in Kanto taking part in the league," Drew said to Tyson. "And, if I recall correctly, you are also taking part in the Johto contests here and not a battler," Tyson said to Drew.
"Battles, contests, tournaments, leagues. They're all the same to me. That and contest battles do have Pokemon battles remember," Drew said before looking at him. "As for what I said? I am not taking it back, just pointing it out, and like them, I suggest you also focus on your next match because we will be facing each other at some point, Tyson." Drew said before leaving.
"He hasn't changed as arrogant as always but know's how to speak the truth," Tyson said before heading into the Pokemon center to check on how everyone is doing.
"Man, I know that what he said is true, but I felt there should be some re precautions for this?" Casey said to Ash, who sighed at this. "As he said, there isn't much we can do other than try to beat the said trainer," Tyson said to the group, who turned around.
"Don't mind, me. I'm here worried about what happened earlier and am surprised that you two knew Drew given that he's from Hoenn like myself," Tyson said to the group.
"Thanks for coming, Tyson, and I'll manage. You all should do as Drew said and focus on your battles," Jeannette said to Ash and the others. "Come on. We should be heading back to the tournament. We can talk on the way there. See you around, Jeannette," Tyson said to her.
The three of them headed back to the stadium as they talked and introduced themselves and Ash got to meet Grovyle, who sounded like a girl. Then again, he had never met one before. Ash asked Tyson how he knew Drew.
"Well, we started as trainers at the same time along with another fellow Hoenn trainer who is doing gym badges here in Johto. His name is Harrison. We are technically rivals even though Drew was more interested in Pokemon contests than battling in the league," Tyson said to Casey and Ash.
"So, how do you know him? I mean, he's not the type to stick around for long after he's done with things and rarely made friends with those he battles," Tyson asked Ash.
"I met Drew back when we were in trainers school, but it was before he moved to Hoenn," Ash said to the three of them. "While his personality hadn't changed back then, we saw each other as friends, but he only was at the school for about a year before moving," Ash said to the group. "I wonder what brought him away from Hoenn?" Ash asked.
"I can answer that similar to both Harrison we wanted to start at different regions and me," Tyson said to Ash and Casey, who was now curious. "He's taking part in the contests here in Johto, and the Grand festival is coming soon after this. As for me? I was invited to participate in this as I will be taking part in the Indigo league soon and couldn't say no."
The group arrived back at the stadium just in time for Tyson's match to happen. The first rounds of both blocks in the tournament are now in the top 64. Ash, James, Erika, Drew, Tyson, and Casey all made it through to the next round. It was shown that Ash would be up against James in the next match. Ash felt nervous as he had to come up with a way to beat the Pokemon that caused harm to Jeannette's Victribel and Bayleef back then as the next battle was the next day.
With the grass Pokemon tournament now in full swing and already having trouble. Ash must now face Team Rocket to progress to the next round. What do they have in store for Ash? As the grass Pokemon Tournament continues.
Stay Tuned.
Done and done, man that chapter took a while to finish. Yes, I added two more rivals to the tournament. Don't worry for those wondering if Jackson will make his appearance. He will appear in the next chapter. As for Drew, I felt like he should be introduced in this chapter and part of this tournament, given that he has a Rosellia and he's the right fit for a rival for this tournament. The same goes with Tyson. Introducing him this early would benefit him later down the road. As for backstories for why Drew knew Ash, let's say that he isn't the only rival introduced in this story. Aside from that. It's Ash against James in the next chapter. See you all next time.
