"Here we are boys, Slateport City." Mr. Briney said.
"Home of my next gym badge." Brendan said.
"Umm, no." Ash said, looking at his Pokenav. "The closest gym is still in Mauville, but there is a contest coming up, along with a battle tent." Ash said. "Along with an outdoor market, and a boat dock."
"Plus a beach far larger than any on Dewford." Mr. Briney said.
"How long until the contest?" Brendan asked.
"I'm not sure." Ash commented, having not found that information out.
"Well, don't you still have to figure out your appeal?" Brendan asked.
"I was thinking of using the same one I used for Rustburo." Ash said, offhandedly.
"That might work for most gym battles, but I don't think it will work for contests." Brendan pointed out.
"He's right, the judges are looking for something new and impressive, you can't just reuse the same tricks over and over again, or they'll get stale." Mr. Briney said, as the boat slowed to a stop at a small dock.
"So are you heading back to Petalburg now?" Ash asked.
"No, I think it's time I explore the seas again with Peeko by my side." Mr. Briney said with a smile.
"Good to hear that." Ash commented. "Hopefully we'll see you again."
Ash and Brendan stepped off the dock, surprised at the size of the beach, and how bustling it was.
"Hey there trainers, are you looking for the hottest and most happening place on the beach. Then come on down to my pops shop, enjoy a meal and some cold fresh water." A young boy said.
"We haven't eaten in a bit, why not get some lunch there, and then head into the city, to figure out when the contest is?" Brendan offered.
"Sounds good to me, lunch here we come!" Ash said.
"Pi Pikachu!" Pikachu said excitedly.
At the beach lunch spot
"So what's going on here?" Ash asked, looking inside to see a sign up table.
"Oh, we're having a tournament, the winner eats for free." A girl said. "Would you two like to join?"
"What kind of tournament?" Brendan asked.
"A battle tournament." The girl said.
"How about it Ash." Brendan asked.
"You're more than welcome to go for it, but I'd rather stay out of it." Ash admitted.
"But you love food, and you know so much about battling." Brendan said.
"And it doesn't look like there'll be a judge to end the matches properly." Ash said. "Someone could get hurt."
"Oh, no the boss is a registered battle judge." The girl said. "He holds this once a month, its the only way he can do this."
"Then it that case, you have no reason to not sign up." Brendan said excitedly.
"Okay, okay. I'll do it." Ash relented, grabbing the clipboard and signing up.
"Best of luck to the both of you." The girl said.
Brendan Round 1
"Alright, Mudkip come on out!" Brendan said.
"Come on out Zigzagoon!"
"Mudkip, we've got this. Use Water Gun!"
"Zigzagoon use Headbutt!"
Zigzagoon sped forward, only to get blasted back by the water.
"Mudkip use Tackle!"
"Zigzagoon use Headbutt!"
The two Pokemon slammed into each other, both falling to the ground.
"Mudkip use Water Gun!"
"Zigzagoon use Pin Missile!"
A flurry of pin like furs launched at Mudkip as a jet stream of water blasted into Zigzagoon, causing it to faint.
"Zigzagoon is unable to battle, the winner is Mudkip."
Ash Round 1
"You won't be beating me with that Pikachu. Come on out Sandshrew!" Ash's opponent said.
"Surskit I choose you!"
"Sandshrew use Scratch!"
"Surskit use Bubble!"
A series of bubbles shot out, slowing down the Sandshrew before it struck Surskit, sending the bug type spinning back.
"Sandshrew use Rapid Spin!"
"Surskit use Quick Attack!"
The two Pokemon sped at each other, with Surskit narrowly dodging Sandshrew's attack.
"Come on Surskit, use Bubble!"
"Sandshrew use Scratch!"
Sandshrew took each of the bubbles as it moved towards Surskit, it's speed severely lowered.
"Surskit use Quick Attack!"
"Sandshrew use Rapid Spin!"
Surskit sped forward, and struck Sandshrew before it had even begun to use it's attack.
"Sandshrew is unable to battle, the winner is Surskit!"
Brendan round 2
"Okay, I know you don't have a lot of experience, but lets give this our all." Brendan said. "Aron come on out!"
"Let's go Beautifly!" A girl dressed in red said.
"Aron use Iron Defense!"
"Beautifly use Silver Wind!"
The strange attack seemed to do little to harm Aron, as it stood it's ground.
"Aron use Tackle!"
"Beautifly use Gust!"
The strong winds did little to prevent Aron's heavy body from pinning the bug type to the ground.
"Beautifly use String Shot!"
While Beautifly couldn't do much to damage Aron, it could halt its progress with ease, as the bug escaped the pinning.
"Beautifly use Silver Wind!"
"Aron get out of there!"
Aron struggled to no avail, it was stuck on it's back, tangled in the silk at it was hit with the attack that seemed to make Beautifly stronger.
"Beautifly use Silver Wind!"
"Gotta think." Brendan said. While Aron was currently at no risk of being defeated based on the Beautifly's moves, if he couldn't come up with a plan soon, they'd be knocked out for sure. "Wait, that move Roxanne used, what was it? Aron use Rock Tomb!"
Aron's eyes shimmered for a moment as boulders shot out from the sand, each of them landing on Beautifly, knocking the bug type out.
"Beautifly is unable to battle, the winner is Aron!"
Ash round 2
"Alright Pikachu, you've got this." Ash said.
"Let's go Shroomish!"
"Pikachu use Thunderbolt!"
"Shroomish use Headbutt!"
The Shroomish leapt forward, only to be easily struck back by Pikachu's attack.
"Now Pikachu use Quick Attack!"
"Shroomish use Headbutt again!"
Pikachu and Shroomish collided, with the grass type being knocked out, but not before releasing a strange dust onto Pikachu.
"Pi 'cough cough' ka." Pikachu moaned.
"Pikachu! What happened?!" Ash exclaimed. "I didn't hear an attack that could do that?"
"It's Shroomish's special ability, Effect Spore, it's a defensive mechanism in case he's attacked, it can put his attacked to sleep, paralyze then, or in this case poison them.
"It's alright buddy." Ash said, digging through his bag. "Drink up." Ash said, handing Pikachu an antidote.
"Despite the commotion. The winner is still Pikachu!" The owner said. "Now onto the semifinals!
Brendan Round 3
"Alright Taillow, you're up!"
"Come on out Gulpin!"
"Taillow use Wing Attack!"
"Gulpin use Shock Wave!"
An electrical pulse shot out from the Gulpin, entangling Taillow in its sparks.
"Taillow!" Brendan shouted, but Taillow got back up and kept going, flipping the Gulpin into the air.
"Gulpin use Sludge Bomb!"
"Taillow dodge it with Quick Attack!"
Taillow moved fast and didn't keep in any one direction for long, making her hard to hit as she slammed into Gulpin.
"Gulpin use Shock Wave!"
"Taillow use Peck!"
Taillow did a dive bomb, straight through the electricity, sending Gulpin flying in defeat.
"Gulpin is unable to battle, the winner is Taillow."
"Great work Taillow, take a long rest." Brendan said, knowing she was exhausted.
Ash Round 3
"Come on out Numel!"
'Numel, the Numb Pokemon, a Fire and Ground Type.' The Pokédex quickly explained.
"Well then, Surskit come on out!"
"Numel use Rock Throw!"
"Surskit dodge it!"
Surskit was off quickly, barely dodging the rocks being launched at him.
"Surskit use Bubble!"
"Numel use Ember!"
Each flame collided with a bubble, defeating both attacks.
"Surskit use Bubble again!"
"Numel use Magnitude!"
The arena shook, as Bubbles went flying everywhere, not one even getting close to the Numel. They just weren't strong or fast enough to hit the Pokemon.
"Come on Surskit, give it your all with another Bubble!"
"Numel use Ember!"
At first only a few bubbles came out of Surskit's mouth, but out of nowhere a stream of them shot out at incredible speeds, blasting into the fire type and knocking it out instantly.
"Was that, bubble beam?" Ash asked in shock.
Surskit turned around proudly, as it had learned a new move in the nick of time.
"Numel is unable to battle, the winner is Surskit. Onto the final match."
Both Ash and Brendan realized what this meant, they were the final two competitors. While it had always been a possibility neither had thought much about it before now.
Ash and Brendan Round 4
"Treecko I choose you!"
"Come on out Nuzleaf!"
With the rest of their Pokemon in a weakened state, or otherwise unable to battle in the given area, it was down to the two grass types. Nuzleaf looked down at his opponent with a smirk, as Treecko stood strong, putting a twig in his mouth.
"Nuzleaf use Nature Power!"
"Treecko use Pound!"
Treecko leapt into the air as the sand began shifting, slamming his tail into the side of Nuzleaf's head.
"Nuzleaf use Bullet Seed!"
"Treecko use Dig!"
Treecko dove beneath the sand as the seeds piled onto the ground where he was previously.
"Nuzleaf use Nature Power!"
"Treecko get out of there!"
The ground shook, and the sand shifted, but Ash didn't see Treecko come back up.
"Treecko!" Ash exclaimed.
"Tree." Treecko said, hopping out of the ground behind Brendan, leaping high into the air, before striking Nuzleaf.
As the sand settled, the two grass types were in a match of wits, rather than power, both heads pushing against one another, not letting up, or listening to their trainers. Treecko however had the upper hand, swinging his tail around, he knocked Nuzleaf off balance and onto the ground in victory.
"Nuzleaf is unable to battle, the winner is Treecko. Congratulations Ashton, you and you team eat for free today." The owner said.
"Great work Ashton." Brendan said walking up. "I guess I have a lot more I can still learn."
"You will eventually, trust me." Ash said.
While Brendan and his team hadn't won, they were able to buy food for themselves so they could eat with Ash and his Pokemon.
"Treecko." Treecko said approaching Nuzleaf, with a Watmel Berry.
"Nuz?" Nuzleaf said questioningly.
"Tree." Treecko said, holding out the berry.
"Nuzleaf." Nuzleaf said with a smile, taking the berry.
Brendan's Current Team and their moves
Mudkip: Tackle - Mud Slap - Water Gun
Nuzleaf: Bide - Fake Out - Bullet Seed - Nature Power
Taillow: Peck - Focus Energy - Quick Attack - Wing Attack
Aron: Tackle - Iron Defense - Rock Tomb
Ash's Current Team and their moves
Pikachu: Thunderbolt - Agility - Thunder - Quick Attack
Surskit: Bubble - Quick Attack - Bubblebeam
Treecko: Pound - Quick Attack - Dig
Feebas: Splash - Tackle
