"All set now?" Brendan asked as Ash returned to the Pokemon Center.
"Yeah, sorry about that, I got sidetracked when I was at the bazaar." Ash half admitted. "We should have enough Pokeblocks for a while."
"Good to hear." Brendan said. "I made sure they were all healed up and ready to go." Brendan continued, handing Ash three Pokeballs back. "Also when were you going to tell me you caught a Feebas?"
"I don't know, it just never came up." Ash admitted. "I caught it when we went fishing."
"Okay." Brendan said, dropping the subject. "So what's our next stop?"
"Well, there are two ways to Mauville. A bike path, restricted off from anyone on foot." Ash said, looking at his Pokenav.
"And neither of us have a bike." Brendan pointed out.
"And then there's the lower road. It's a bit longer, but is safe for on foot traffic." Ash said.
"What about that thing right there?" Brendan asked, reaching to point at Ash's Pokenav.
"The Trick House? I'm not sure what that is." Ash admitted.
"Well, it's on the way, why don't we check it out?" Brendan said, excitedly.
"I don't see any harm in that, so sure, let's see what its all about." Ash said, as the two rushed off.
Outside The Trick House, many trainers had gathered around the strange and mysterious building, as an oddly dressed man came out the front doors.
"Hello everyone!" The man said. "Some of you may know of me, but for those who don't I am the Trick Master, and this is my house of Tricks!"
As the Trick Master said that, fireworks went off behind him.
"Now for the rules. Should you chose to enter, there is no chickening out. The only ways out are by losing, or by winning." The Trick Master explained. "So, if you are brave enough, strong enough, and fast enough, please enter the doors, and test your luck to win the grand prize!"
"Let's do this." Brendan said, as Mudkip popped out of his backpack, a sock sticking off of one of his head fins.
"Ready Pikachu?" Ash asked.
"Pika!" Pikachu replied excitedly.
Ash and Brendan ran in amongst the crowd of trainers, somehow managing to enter the maze at the same point.
"Nothing says we can't work together to get through here." Brendan pointed out.
"Between the two of us, nothing can stop us." Ash said.
"Pika!"
"Mud Mudkip!"
"Sorry, four of us." Ash said.
"Technically ten." Brendan pointed out.
"Do you want to win or not." Ash said, done with the nonsense.
"Sorry, come on lets go." Brendan said with a chuckle.
The two ran through the maze, passing by other trainers at times, and even hearing screams in the distance.
"Do you think they're okay?" Brendan asked.
"Yeah, they should be fine, I hope." Ash said. "I mean, he wouldn't purposely hurt anyone, right?"
"Right, lets keep moving." Brendan said.
The two continued onward, eventually exiting the maze to find a set of stairs.
"Race you to the top." Brendan taunted, rocketing forward.
"Oh no you don't!" Ash said, chasing after him, with Pikachu and Mudkip keeping up with the others trainer.
As Brendan reached the top, he heard a loud twang. Turning around, he saw a trap door open up, taking Ash and Mudkip out of the competition.
"Ash!" Brendan exclaimed.
'Buzz buzz.'
Brendan looked around, finally noticing it was his Pokenav going off.
"Ash?" Brendan asked, answering it.
Cut to Ash
Ash had one hand holding his Pokenav, with a green tendril wrapped around his arm shooting up, while the other arm had Mudkip.
"Hey Brendan, we're okay. Keep going, I'll try and catch up." Ash said, watching another trainer take the slide out of the trick house.
"Okay Ash, just be careful with Mudkip." Brendan said.
"Same to you with Pikachu." Ash said, before hanging up. "I really hope I can climb you." Ash said, grabbing onto the tendril with his other hand as Mudkip moved to the top of his head.
Back with Brendan
"Alright Pikachu, you heard Ash. Let's do our best." Brendan said.
"Pikachu!" Pikachu said with a smile.
Brendan and Pikachu ran into the second room to find a series of training dummies charging at them.
"Alright Pikachu use Thunderbolt!"
Pikachu sent a bolt of electricity out at one of the dummies, only for it to be replaced by two more.
"Man, I wish Mudkip was here right now. Pikachu use Thunder!"
Pikachu released a burst wave of electricity out at the dummies, clearing a small path going forward.
"Let's move!" Brendan said, hearing other trainers coming up behind them.
Brendan and Pikachu leapt over several of the training dummies, reaching a large door with a face on it.
"Whatever the challenge is, we've got this." Brendan said confidently.
"The past were challenges of will, and of strength, but this is a challenge of the mind." The door said.
"A challenge of the mind, I'm terrible at tests." Brendan groaned.
"A test I am not, rather a riddle." The door replied.
"Okay, I can do a riddle." Brendan said.
"If a train leaves Fallarbor Town, heading West, how long will it take to reach Lilycove City?" The door asked.
"I thought you said it was a riddle, this is a math problem!" Brendan said angrily, while thinking.
Back with Ash
"Hold on Mudkip, I think we're just about at the end of the line." Ash said, as he grabbed onto what the strange tendril like thing had wrapped itself around, pulling himself up and onto it. "Oh come on!" Ash exclaimed, finding himself surrounded by walls, and not sure how to recreate the tendril he used to climb up.
Back with Brendan
"Okay, so if a train leaves Fallarbor Town, and we account for the average speed of a train…". Brendan said, drawing in the dirt. "I've got it! Pikachu use Thunder and fry the door open!"
"Pika? Pi!" Pikachu said in confusion, before getting a mischievous grin on his face, giving his all, zapping the talking door.
Back with Ash
"AHHHHHHHHHH!" Ash screamed, as electricity surged through him.
"MUUUUUUD!" Mudkip said in pain.
Attempts to destroy the building are cause for elimination." The Trick Master's Voice rang out, opening a trap door directly below Brendan and Pikachu.
"Now's our chance!" Ash said, leaping into the building, not noticing Brendan and Pikachu falling from the very same hole.
"Interesting, I've never seen someone enter through one of my exits before." The Trick Master said.
"Yeah, it wasn't easy." Ash said, now holding Mudkip.
"Let's see if you do better than the trainer before you. To open the door you must solve a riddle." The Trick Master said.
"Alright, not exactly my strength, but shoot." Ash said.
"I have an age, but do not grow old. Space nor time can weaken me, only make me stronger. I can be large, and small, and can end in an instant. What am I?" The Trick Master said.
Ash sat down, thinking for a few minutes, there was no guarantee he had multiple chances at this, so all he could do was think.
"Friendship." Ash said.
"Correct." The Trick Master said, opening the large door. "Congratulations on your win, here is your prize."
Back outside
"So what did you end up getting?" Brendan asked.
"Get this, the grand prize was the offer to become the next Trick Master." Ash said with a laugh.
"Why would a trainer want that?" Brendan asked.
"Who knows, I'm pretty sure the guy could just stop doing it if he wanted to get out of it. Or hire someone else who's actually qualified." Ash sighed.
"So Mauville City?" Brendan asked.
"Yeah, lets get going." Ash agreed.
