"Are you sure you don't want to participate in the Battle Tent, you still have serious skills in battle." Brendan pointed out.
"I'm sure, I've got some practice I want to do for my next contest." Ash said, grabbing his Pokeblocks case.
"If this is about how your last appeal went, you'll get better. Plenty of coordinators have hiccups like that." Brendan assured.
"It's not that. The bazaar has a whole section for coordinators and ribbons, and even group Pokeblocks making." Ash said. "Besides I can't even be there with you during the battle tent, remember?"
Brendan thought back to after the contest the other day. The two had gone to check out the battle tent, and while it was closing for the day, they were able to learn a few things. Including the fact that Brendan wouldn't even be able to use his own Pokemon.
"And on top of that, you haven't made Pokeblocks before, I'll be with people that it's their passion." Ash said.
"You've made them all of one time." Brendan commented.
"And I'm beginning to run low, hopefully I can make a larger batch this time." Ash retorted.
"Okay, okay." Brendan said. "Try and make some for Aron, I'm pretty sure he's been eating them when we aren't looking."
"I'll see what I can do." Ash laughed.
Personally Ash wanted to be there for the Battle tent, it seemed to be an interesting concept, but he wanted Brendan to have the opportunity to have fun, plus he felt off not using Pikachu for battles.
Brendan's day
"Alright Brendan, you may pick three of these Pokemon." A worker said, holding out six Pokeballs.
Looking at the information, Brendan could see that the Pokemon were: Numel, Wingull, Spinda, Makuhita, Marill, and Linoone.
"I'll take these three." Brendan said, grabbing Numel, Wingull, and Linoone.
"Very well then, please follow me." The worker said, taking back the other three.
Round 1
Across from Brendan was a young woman, already ready for a battle.
"Battle begin!"
"Numel, I choose you!"
"Tentacool, come on out!"
"Tentacool use Acid!"
"Numel use Earthquake!"
A purplish liquid splashed on the Numel, but it paid little notice before causing the arena to shake, instantly knocking out the foe Tentacool.
"Tentacool return. Come on out Mightyena!"
Mightyena bared its teeth intimidating Numel as it came out.
"Mightyena use Poison Fang!"
"Numel use Earthquake again!"
MIghtyena sunk its teeth into Numel's hide as the arena shook, neither Pokemon paying much attention to it.
"Mightyena use Howl!"
"Numel use Sunny Day!"
Sunlight shone through the arena as Mightyena began growling louder and louder.
"Mightyena use Odor Sleuth!"
"Numel use Ember!"
Mightyena sniffed the air, getting the hang of the battle as Numel shot out a series of flames at the wolf Pokemon.
"Mightyena use Howl!"
"Numel use Ember!"
Mightyena let loose an ear piercing howl as it was bathed in flames, clearly now in pain.
"Mightyena use Howl!"
"Numel use Ember!"
As flames consumed Mightyena it finally fell to the ground in defeat.
"Mightyena return. Come on out Solorock!"
"Numel use Ember!"
"Solorock use Harden!"
Numel continued it's flaming onslaught while Solorock began to spin.
"Numel use Ember!"
"Solorock use Harden!"
More flames shot out from Numel as Solorock's spinning sped up.
"Let's try something different. Numel, switch out. Let's go Wingull!"
"Solorock use Psywave!"
Wingull came out and into the arena, only to get blasted by a surprisingly powerful psychic attack.
"Wingull use Steel Wing!"
"Solorock use Psywave!"
Wingull sped across the arena, hardening it's wings before striking Solorock, only to be blasted into a wall moments later, completely knocked out.
"Wingull, return. Come on out Linoone!"
"Linoone use Headbutt!"
"Solorock use Psywave!"
Linoone slammed into Solorock, only to be blasted back by the Solorock's attack.
"Linoone use Tail Whip!"
"Solorock use Psywave!"
Linoone sped past Solorock, it's tail brushing against the rock type as it was blasted again.
"Linoone use Rest!"
"Solorock use Harden!"
Linoone fell asleep, as Solorock began spinning again.
"Solorock use Rock Throw!"
Rock's rose from the ground, launching at the resting Linoone.
"Solorock use Harden!"
Solorock began to spin again, while Linoone still didn't wake up.
"Linoone use Headbutt!"
"Solorock use Tackle!"
The two Pokemon collided in mid air, both launching back from the impact.
"Linoone use Headbutt!"
"Solorock use Psywave!"
Linoone slammed into Solorock, stunning it and keeping it from launching a counter attack.
"Linoone use Headbutt!"
"Solorock use Psywave!"
Linoone once again slammed into Solorock, stunning it and keeping it from launching a counter attack for a second time in a row.
"Linoone use Headbutt!"
"Solorock use Rock Throw!"
Linoone struck Solorock, only to get crushed beneath the rocks.
"Linoone return. Numel, it's up to you!"
"Numel, use Ember!"
"Solorock use Harden!"
Numel's flames burst apart against Solorock's spinning body.
"Solorock use Rock Throw!"
"Numel use Ember!"
Rocks fell on Numel as a few flames shot out from them, bathing the Solorock in fire.
"Solorock use Rock Throw!"
"Numel, use Ember!"
Still struggling to get out of the rocks, Numel was unprepared for even more rocks falling on it as a buzzer went off.
"Numel is unable to battle, the winner is Solorock!"
Ash's day
"Okay Pikachu, what do you want to check out first?" Ash asked.
"Hey there!" A girl in bright colors said, skipping up to Ash and Pikachu. "If you're looking for something to check out, how about you try my stall."
"Sure, what do you have?" Ash asked.
"Oh, I can see the bonds between trainer and Pokemon." The girl said.
"Can we test all of my Pokemon?" Ash asked.
"It would be my pleasure." The girl said. "I'm Katie by the way."
"Oh, I'm Ashton and this is Pikachu." Ash said.
"Will he be up first?" Katie asked.
"Sure, let's see what you've got." Ash said excitedly.
"Oh! Oh my!" Katie said, holding out her hand, shaking crazily. "The two of you, you share an energy on an almost exact wavelength. You two are incredibly close."
"Well, that's obvious. We've been together since day one." Ash said with a smile. "Pikachu was easy, but let's try something else."
Treecko came out of his Pokeball, sticking a twig into his mouth.
"I do need Pikachu to step aside before I can get a proper reading." Katie said.
"Pika." Pikachu said with a smile, holding out a paw to Ash.
"Yeah buddy, here you go." Ash said, tossing a Pokeblock into Pikachu's mouth.
Having had his treat, Pikachu happily hopped off of Ash's shoulder, getting out of the way.
"The two of you share a strange bond. Completely different in wavelength, but there is a similar signature a while back." Katie said. "My powers, they don't always work in the here and now, sometimes they worn in the then and yet to come."
"Wait, I visited Treecko's tree, and I was sure I had glowed green and created these whip like things." Ash said.
"Interesting, I can't say I know what that is, but it seems like when you did that, the two of you became connected." Katie said.
"Well, that's good." Ash said. "Ready for the next one?"
"Of course, whenever you are." Katie said, as Treecko hopped off of Ash's lap, and going by Pikachu.
"Alright Surskit, come on out." Ash said.
Surskit stayed on the booth's table, right in front of Ash as Katie went to work.
"Strange, with Treecko, and Pikachu, there were strong bonds, and even hints of previous connections, but with Surskit…" Katie paused.
"What? What is it? Is something wrong?" Ash asked.
"Surskit, they're almost on the far opposite of you." Katie said.
"Is, is that bad?" Ash asked.
"Yes, and no. Many Pokemon and trainers, especially early on, they won't be in sync with each other." Katie said.
"That's weird, I've had Surskit longer than Treecko." Ash said.
"It's not always straightforward, sometimes you connect at different rates." Katie said.
"Oh, well then, can we at least try the last one, we haven't been together long though." Ash said, looking at Feebas's Pokeball.
"I'd be more than happy to. Just remember, your shared emotions are no judge of you as a trainer." Katie said.
"Okay, come on out Feebas." Ash said, sending the water type out into the water next to the stall.
"Okay, go stand next to them." Katie said, walking over, and closing her eyes. "And can you have your Pikachu move?"
"Why?" Ash asked.
"I'm getting mixed readings, and the only one close to one of these is Pikachu's." Katie said.
"Pikachu, isn't by us." Ash said in confusion.
"Then, something is watching over the two of you, something that had an incredibly close bond to you at one point." Katie said.
"That's not possible." Ash said, quickly standing up, and recalling his Pokemon.
"You can't ignore the signs, I'm telling the truth." Katie said, as Ash rushed from the bazaar.
Author's Notes
For Brendan's attempt at the battle tent, I used an actual run of that battle tent in Pokemon Emerald, I didn't look at the moves before picking my Pokemon, or I might have noticed Linoone only had one attack, and Wingull didn't have a water type move. I came so close to winning, but it might have been for the best, that would have made the chapter run really long.
As for Ash's day, a bit of foreshadowing of things to come, and things that have happened. In the anime, Ash has always been interested in seeing what others thought of his relationship with Pikachu, and sometimes even his other Pokemon, so I thought it would be fun to go over that, since the friendship checker is in the Slateport Bazzar.
Also thanks to everyone who commented about the repeat chapter, my mistake.
