Disclaimer is on chapter one

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"So, this is Castelia City" Dragon muttered in awe as he looked round at the tall buildings surrounding him.

"S'matter? Never seen a city before?" Aden inquired playfully as he walked beside his fellow Trainer.

"Well, yeah obviously. It's just that I've never seen so many people in one place before" Dragon replied bashfully more used to places like Lavender Town, his hometown in Kanto region.

Aden could not really blame him. Even when he arrived in Unova, he was amazed at first at the larger than usual hustle and bustle the cities here seemed to be especially when it came to the cities like Castelia and Nimbasa before overcoming his surprise. If anything, his time in the region had raised the standards for how bustling and busy a city could be wherever else he decided to go next once this Tournament thing was over.

For his part, Dragon was just lucky he had run into another Trainer invited to the Pokémon League Tournament in the Archipelago. He had barely arrived in Unova before receiving his letter and was lucky enough to see Aden receive his one just minutes later and asked if he could tag along knowing that he would have likely missed the boat otherwise.

"So… Which way to the docks?" Dragon asked already feeling quite lost despite just arriving.

"That's easy" Aden replied making to point towards the docks when a girl around their age brushed passed them at such a speed it was a miracle none of them were knocked over.

"'Scuse me! In a hurry!" She shouted back to them not bothering to slow down to see if they were alright.

"The way that girl just went" Aden finished off lamely both Trainers watching as the girl seemed to slip through the midday rush followed closely by a Growlithe who was easily keeping up with its Trainer.

"Do you think she got an invite as well?" Dragon asked curiously.

"Hope so" Aden grinned as he took off after the female Trainer leaving Dragon standing there until he realised he was being left behind and quickly followed after him.

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He had nothing against them in general but there was something about cities like Castelia that made Alastor want to just be invisible or back out on the open roads. Maybe it was the amount of people a single city could contain at any one time or that there was always so much noise compared to the towns and villages he had been to during his travels.

Whatever the reason, the blue haired Trainer subconsciously withdrew into himself keeping to himself and not letting anyone get close to him. Sure, he was no lonely Cubone or social Butterfree, he could be social if he wanted to be especially if he was meeting a fellow Trainer or Gymleader not to mention the rare encounter with a member of the Elite Four or Champion, but Alastor felt more comfortable travelling by himself with just his pokémon at his side for company only putting up with these places just to find Pokémon Centres, Pokémon Gyms and the whichever place the Pokémon League was held in whichever region he was currently travelling.

Or, in this case, the ship which would be taking him to the Velgander Archipelago meaning he would have to put up with being stuck in a boat with who knows how many other Trainers of varying experience like himself who he would either be battling in the not too distant future or at least be putting up with until they reached their destination. If he was lucky, he might be able to get some peace and quiet to himself to think up suitable strategies for the tournament but he knew that was just wishful thinking.

"All I need to do now is find the ship" Alastor muttered as he glanced over his invite again to see what dock he needed to go to only to find that that piece of information seemed to be conveniently missing. Was this some sort of test to prove their worth or some mishap when typing up the original draft?

Whatever the reason, Alastor merely shrugged it off instead adjusting the straps of his backpack before heading off in the direction of the harbour where, hopefully, there would at least be a sign of some kind to point him in the right direction.

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Zai's brow furrowed in concentration as his hand flew across the sheet of paper his eyes darting from the sketchpad to the flock of Wingull nesting not several metres ahead of him as he took in every minute detail of them and drawing it flawlessly as if the pencil had a life of its own. He knew he should not rush his drawings but he needed to hurry before-

(BOO!) One of the seagull Pokémon suddenly squawked causing the rest of the flock to take to the skies in fright and leaving Zai practically frozen in place as he watch his sketch fly off into the distance.

"Zorua!" He groaned sending a tired and frustrated look at the Wingull as it reverted into a small black and red furred fox cub.

(What? I'm just making things interesting for you?) Zorua sniggered seemingly oblivious to her Trainer's unhappiness at her antics.

"Just once, I'd like to draw something without you ruining the picture" Zai sighed as he put away his sketchpad. "How did you get there without me catching you leave your Pokéball?"

Zorua just grinned mischievously in response causing Zai to sigh again as he realised that he would never understand some things about Pokémon despite the fact that he was a Pokémon Researcher working under Professor Rowen the person who had given him Zorua. He was actually starting to regret accepting her from his superior but was too fascinated by her unique ability at the time to realise just how much of a troublemaker she really was.

(Weeeeeeeeeee'rrrrrrrrrrrrre…) A large wailing cry rang out causing both Trainer and Pokemon to jump at the sudden sound of their method of transport speaking. (…heeeeeeeeerrrrrrrrrre)

Blinking in surprise, Zai looked up to see that they were already approaching the Castelia harbour docks.

"Looks like we'll make it after all" Zai grinned quickly packing away everything into his rucksack and recalling Zorua while his Wailord slowed its approach as it neared the closest empty dock for its Trainer to get off.

When he had received his invite, Zai had currently been travelling through the Decalore Islands to Kanto and had noticed that he would not likely reach Vermillion City in time to catch the ship in Kanto bound for the Velgander Archipelago so had decided to abandon ship and return to Unova via his trusty Wailord who really did make short work of the journey back to the region he had just visited although he now needed to restock his rations the first chance he got.

"Thanks for the lift, Wailord" Zai said as he jumped down off the floating whale Pokémon and finally noticing all the stares he was getting from onlookers most likely due to how he arrived and because he was almost a head tall than the tallest of people in the crowds.

Recalling Wailord so that it could get some well-deserved rest, Zai paid no attention to the looks he was getting and instead moved down the harbour in search of the ship he needed to take for the next leg of his trip.

It was not long before he spotted a cruise ship near the end of the docks where a small crowd had gathered not far from the gangplank to observe what appeared to be a Pokémon battle between two different teams. Quickening his pace, Zai arrived just in time to see the team of a Lucario and a red Gyarados deal the finishing blows to a pair of Vigoroths.

"That must have been some fight" Zai marvelled noticing how the victors were panting and had looked to have sustained some moderate damage over the course of the battle.

"Not really" One of the onlookers provided for Zai before the Trainer of the Lucario spoke up.

"We won now let us pass!" He demanded to the Trainers he and his partner had just defeated.

"You ain't won nothing yet!" The opponent smirked recalling his downed Pokémon and throwing out another Pokéball while his partner did the same. "When we said you had to beat us in a match, we didn't say how many of us you had to beat to win!"

"What's going on?" Zai asked the audience hoping for a little light to be shed on what was currently happening.

"Those people blocking the way to the ship have been there since yesterday. They say they're here to weed out the strong from the weak out of those invited to the Tournament over in the Velgander Archipelago but their really just a gang stopping Trainers from getting on board" A fellow Trainer beside him supplied as the battle resumed. "The rules were whoever beat them in a one on one was allowed passed but they just keep sending out new Pokémon to continue the battle. If any of their opponents try to do the same, they claim they broke the rules and are disqualified"

"And nobody has tried to go against them because of their leader" The Trainer beside him added pointing out the gang leader and the Pokémon standing beside him.

"Metagross, the iron leg Pokémon. Steel/Psychic-type, stands at five foot three and weighs in at over one thousand two hundred and twelve pounds. With the combined intelligence of four brains, it can analyse and calculate its opponents as fast, if not faster than a supercomputer" Zai recited as he recognised the Pokémon leaving the two Trainers beside him slightly gobsmacked at how much detail he had put into what seemed like one sentence and breath.

"Uh…yeah…well, basically, whenever a Trainer or a group of Trainers try to strike at the same time that Pokémon just Psychics them away" The first Trainer explained after overcoming his shock.

"Has no one tried using Fire or Ground-types against it?" Zai pointed out recalling the only two types Metagross was weak against.

"Several Trainers tried just that before these two showed up" The second Trainer chipped in. "They had even decided to try as a group but the leader saw it coming and had Metagross beat them before a single command could be made"

Zai frowned at this but was prevented from speaking up again as an explosion was heard followed by the ground trembling beneath his feet as the Gyarados and Lucario were knocked down by the combined assault from a Magmortar and Electivire.

"Tough luck, losers! You've got no right to board this ship if you can't beat us" one of the gang jeered as he recalled his Pokémon.

"Seeing how it took eight Pokémon to take out our two, I think you guys need to go back to Trainer school" The owner of the Gyarados mocked them as he tended to his injured Pokémon.

"Yeah! We beat you and you know it!" Lucario's Trainer spoke up getting angry yells of agreement from the crowd.

"Say what you want but you're not getting on this ship!" The Leader sneered before looking to the crowd particularly the Trainers mixed within. "Who's next?!"

"I am!"

Bursting forth from the crowd to stand beside the two defeated Trainers, the female Trainer stood boldly before the gang with a determined glint in her eyes.

"Hey, Aden, isn't that the girl who bumped into us earlier" One of the two Trainers Zai had been talking to previously suddenly spoke up.

"Yeah, that's her alright" The Trainer called Aden smirked as he recognised the purple haired girl from earlier and her Pokémon companion.

"You two know her?" Zai inquired.

"Not really. Me and Dragon here just had the fortune of having her run into us upon arrival here" Aden explained. "I was actually wondering where she had gone. She definitely got here quicker than us"

"Jin, attack with Flame Charge!" The Trainer ordered pointing at Metagross before her battle with the leader's underling could even get his Pokéball palmed.

Stamping his feet as flames licked and danced across his fur, the Growlithe nicknamed Jin suddenly became a fiery blur as he shot towards Metagross catching nearly all of the gang off-guard at the underhanded tactic she had decided to use.

"Metagross, use Psychic!" Sadly, the leader had suspected the girl might try something like that and quickly ordered his Pokémon to stop the incoming pup with Psychic catching and suspending the Pokemon before the attack could connect.

"Did you really think you were gonna beat me with a pathetic attack like that?" The leader scoffed although he was quite shaken by how close the suspended mutt had managed to get to his Metagross before it was stopped. "Go back to your Mommy and leave the battles to the professionals!"

With a snap of his fingers, Metagross hurled Growlithe back to his Trainer sending them both skidding across the ground to the feet of the crowd.

"Now, are there any real Trainers here or are you all just a bunch of babies?!" The leader declared to the crowd hoping to get a rise out of some of them.

While more of a Researcher than Trainer, Zai was about to step forward along with Aden to challenge the gang when another Trainer beat them to it. Not bothering to waste time with words, the Trainer merely stepped out of the crowds to stand before the gang a Pokéball already in hand for his battle.

"Oh, great he's still here!" Aden groaned apparently recognising the Trainer.

"You know him?" Dragon asked curiously.

"That's Alastor. He was in the Vertress Conference last month. Lost to the same Trainer who beat me" Aden explained briefly.

"How's that bad?" Zai asked puzzled as to why Aden seemed not at all pleased about this new challenger stepping up to the plate as it were.

"I lost in the Semis whereas he made it to the Final" Aden replied. "I was hoping not to run into him again. That serious look he's sporting just gives me the shivers"

Zai had to admit, the look on this Alastor person's face did seem a bit intimidating but he was not going to judge a person just because of some facial expression that seemed to be permanently set on his face. For now, he would just watch and see how this Trainer would fair against the gang and see how he would fair with his choice of Pokémon.

"Okay, buddy. No subs allowed and you win only when you beat us, got it?" The gang member said as he palmed a Pokéball of his own.

"Got it" Alastor muttered as he threw his Pokéball. "Serperior! Show 'em what you got!"

"Serperior, the regal Pokémon. Grass-type and is nearly eleven feet in length. The look they can give their opponent is said to be like a combination of the ability Intimidate and the moves Leer and Glare and only those who can shrug it off get the privilege of seeing it battle at full strength" Zai recited before he could stop himself upon seeing the large green snake materialise earning looks from Aden and Dragon.

"Did you swallow your Pokédex or something?" Aden could not help but ask while Alastor's opponent sent out a Zangoose.

"Sorry. I tend to do that whenever I see a Pokémon that I've only seen pictures of beforehand" Zai grinned apologetically while scratching the back of his head in embarrassment before focusing on the match at hand where the gangster had decided to give Alastor and Serperior the opening move.

"Let's wrap this up quickly, Serperior. Attack with Dragon Tail!" Alastor ordered.

Obeying her master's order, the regal Pokémon's tail glowed a cyan blue as she swiftly zeroed in on her target. Before anyone could comprehend what had happened, Serperior had slithered forward and sprang into the air somersaulting so that her tail and the attack had more centrifugal force added to it when it came crashing down upon not Zangoose but Metagross' head.

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An to be continued moment if it were because it's nearly four in the morning & I just want to get this belated B-day present of mine up before it's way too late.

Review if possible & until next time

Watch this space & peace out!