The 27th match would begin soon. Nick had just gotten back from the Pokémart. Jared was still in his seat reading the bracket, filling in the names of the challengers in the next round.
"I had to go run a few errands." Nick said as he sat down in his seat, "What are you doing?"
"Just completing the bracket." Jared said as he penciled in a name, "So it went Greg, Chris, Steve..."
"Hey, that's a good idea." Nick said as he looked at the paper, "Who will I be fighting next?"
"That Brian guy from the 13th match." Jared said as he pointed to the name on the bracket, "He was the guy with the Alakazam."
"Well, at least I won't have to deal with an Alakazam." Nick said with a relieved tone, "He got K.O.ed right?"
"Yeah, he did." Jared replied, "But he still had his Espeon at the end of the match. You're not totally out of the woods yet. You should probably get your Feral -- oh wait..."
"Yeah, he kind of got knocked out last time." Nick said, "So how do I combat a Psychic Pokémon with no Dark-Type moves?"
"Bug is also effective against Psychic, you know." Jared answered, "Try your Jolteon."
"Oh yeah." Nick said as he thought to himself, "He knows Pin Missile, and that's a Bug move."
"Right, so you're all set then." Jared replied, "Just try not to get him fainted. You might need another Psychic counter later, unless you can find some way to teach another one of your guys a Dark or Ghost move."
"Hey, wait!" Nick said with a start, "They sell TMs down at the Pokémart. Maybe they have a TM 30 in stock."
"Yeah, that's Shadow Ball." Jared said as he figured out what Nick was saying, "A lot of different Pokémon can learn that, too. Just don't buy it yet. You might not need it."
"Yeah, OK." Nick said as he leaned back in his seat, "This tournament may be too easy."
"Don't underestimate these trainers." Jared said matter-of-factly, "Some of them are very good."
"Alright, trainers!" said the announcer, "It is almost time to start the 27th match of the first round! The next battle will be between Matthew of Lavender Town and Jared of Azalea Town! Please make your preparations now!"
"Did he say Lavender?" Nick said as he sat up in his chair, "That's where Pokémon Tower is! This guy might have ghosts!"
"Hmm..." Jared said as he pondered, "I better get my Houndoom ready." Jared went looking through his pack. He had all of his Pokéballs inside. He dug through and found his Houndoom.
"Well, who else to bring with me?" Jared said to himself as he continued to look through his pack, "Ah, here we go!" Jared pulled out two more Pokéballs from his pack and stuck them to his belt with his Houndoom.
"Who do you have there?" Nick asked as he pointed to Jared's belt.
"You'll see." Jared answered as he walked down to the stage. He looked determined and very excited, almost as if he already knew the match would be over before it started.
"Alright, trainers! Please come forward! The 27th match will begin now!" Jared stood on the right side of the arena, while his opponent, Matthew, stood at the opposite end.
"I hope you're ready for a real challenge!" Matthew yelled across the arena.
"I hope you're ready to accept it." Jared replied as he grabbed a Pokéball from his belt.
"Trainers! Are you ready?!" the announcer yelled, "Begin!!" Jared threw his Pokéball into the air. It opened, and out came a monstrous Pokémon.
"Kangaskhan, eh? Well how bout this!" Matthew said as he threw his Pokéball to the ground. A strange looking bird Pokémon emerged from it.
"Alright, Xatu!" Matthew said to his Pokémon, "Use Night Shade!" Xatu flew up in the air and spread its wings. With that, the entire stadium went dark. A large, purple haze flew at Kangaskhan and hit it, but Kangaskhan didn't even blink.
"What?!" Matthew said watching in terror, "Why isn't it knocked out?"
"How did you get into this tournament with that lack of knowledge?" Jared replied, "Night Shade is a Ghost-Type move. Ghost moves don't affect Normal Pokémon such as Kangaskhan, and even if they did, Night Shade does damage equal to your Pokémon's level. The most you could have possibly done was 50 damage, and Kangaskhan has 165 HP. Not smart." Matthew looked shocked. Jared simply stood and prepared for his first attack.
"Alright, Kangaskhan!" Jared said pointing at the Xatu, "It's Flying-Type, so give it hell with a Blizzard!" Kangaskhan clenched its fists and unleashed a wave of ice. It hit Xatu right on, and Xatu fell to the ground. Matthew didn't look happy. He recalled Xatu and whipped out another Pokéball. This time, a Haunter came out. Matthew suddenly had a grin on his face.
"What's so funny?" Jared asked as Matthew started to giggle connivingly, "It's another Ghost-Type. How dumb are you?"
"Normal-Types can't hurt Ghosts" Matthew said with a slight laugh, "You're finished! Haunter! Confuse Ray!" Haunter outstretched its hands and a thin, white beam came from its eyes. Again, Kangaskhan didn't budge.
"You moron!" Jared screamed at Matthew from across the stage, "Ghost-Type moves don't affect Normal-Types! I just told you that! Do you have the memory span of a goldfish or something?" Matthew was still looking pissed. He thought the confusion would still work.
"Ok, Kangaskhan." Jared said to his Pokémon, "Normal and Fighting-Type moves won't work, so give it an Earthquake!" Kangaskhan wound up its fists and struck the ground with full force. The ground shook violently and Haunter was driven with rocks and dirt. It fell unconscious to the ground.
"What?!" Matthew said as he looked at his K.O.ed Ghost Pokémon, "Earthquake is a physical move! How did it affect my Ghost?"
"Didn't you know that Gastly, Haunter and Gengar are all Ghost and part Poison as well?" Jared said with a scowl, "Ground-Type moves slaughter Poison-Type Pokémon. I guess I shouldn't have expected you to know that."
"Shut up!" Matthew replied as he brought back his Haunter, "Just because there's a few things I don't know doesn't mean you get to harass me!"
"I'm just wondering how you beat the Gym Leaders with you're knowledge." Jared said, still staring right at Matthew with a scowl, "Unless you just said you did and forged your badges. At least you're smart enough to lie and cheat. That takes skill. I'm impressed."
"Shut up right now!" Matthew said reaching for his final Pokéball, "I'm sick of you insulting my intelligence! I'll show you my secret weapon! Go, Machamp!" Matthew threw his Pokéball and out came a tough-built Machamp. It smashed its four fists together. Jared started sweating. His Kangaskhan could get slaughtered by a Fighting-Type, as well as his Houndoom. He realized that he wouldn't be using either of them any longer. He would have to rely on his last Pokémon.
"Machamp! Use Cross Chop!" Matthew ordered. Machamp started charging at Kangaskhan full speed, its four arms pulled back behind it. It came up on Kangaskhan and chopped at it with all four arms. Kangaskhan went careening into the wall.
"Ha ha, yes!" Matthew said jumping straight into the air, "I win!"
"Hey, crap for brains!" Jared yelled across the room while he returned Kangaskhan, "I still got two more Pokémon remember? Man, you are stupid. Now you're going to pay for knocking out Kangaskhan! Go Beedrill!" Jared launched his Pokéball into the air, and a big, hornet-looking Pokémon emerged forth. Beedrill hovered in the air and buzzed around.
"Beedrill! Double Team!" Jared commanded. Beedrill suddenly started buzzing around faster and faster until it looked like there were three of them there.
"Alright, Machamp!" Matthew said, "Whip out a Submission on the righthand Beedrill!" Machamp charged down the right Beedrill and tried to grab it, but ended up going right through it.
"Now then, Beedrill! Give him the Toxic treatment!" Jared said pointing to Machamp. Beedrill sprayed a thick, green substance straight at Machamp. It hit Machamp in the face and it stumbled back.
"Nice move by Jared!" the announcer said, "Machamp is now poisoned!" Matthew looked ticked. He looked at the screen overhead and saw a small skull and cross-bones next to Machamp's picture.
"Machamp! Try a Seismic Toss!" Matthew said. Machamp charged at one of the Beedrills again, only to miss a second time. Machamp then knelt down, clutching it's chest.
"Machamp is hurt by it's severe poison condition!" the announcer said, "Is there any way for it to recover?"
"Ok, Beedrill!" Jared said to his Pokémon, "This one is for Kangaskhan! HYPER BEAM!" Beedrill charged itself up until it glowed a bright orange. Then, suddenly, a huge beam of yellow light shot from it's stinger. The beam hit Machamp directly just as it was getting up from it's poison damage. Machamp went soaring across the arena and through the wall.
"It looks like Machamp won't be getting up from that! Jared is the winner!!" Jared ran up to his Beedrill. He was going to give it a high five, but then he remembered that those stingers hurt. He had learned that the hard way. He just told Beedrill good job and put him back in his Pokéball. Matthew ran outside and recovered his Machamp, and after coming back inside, walked up to Jared.
"I...just wanted to tell you that...you were right. I'm not really a very good trainer. My brother just lent me his badges and his Pokémon for the tournament. Sorry about that. You won't tell anyone will you?"
"Of course not." Jared replied, "You fight pretty good for an amatuer. With a little more training, you could be ready for next year's tournament. Here, take this." Jared handed Matthew a small book.
"What's this?" Matthew asked, looking at the little book. "It's a Pokémon Trainer's Handbook." Jared answered, "It will tell you everything you need to know about raising your Pokémon. It also tells you how to effectively combine attacks, as well as reveal weaknesses and strengths of each type. Use it wisely."
"T-Thank you." Matthew said reluctantly, "I'll use it well."
"Good." Jared said as he turned around, "I look forward to seeing you next year." Jared walked off into the lobby to meet up with Nick and get some medicine for Kangaskhan.
"Sweet match, man!" Nick said as Jared came in the room, "You creamed that kid!"
"It wasn't a very honorable match." Jared replied as he walked up to the Pokémart kiosk, "He was just an amateur."
"How did he get into the tournament?" Nick asked as Jared payed for his medicine, "Was that thing you said about him faking it true?"
"I don't know." Jared said as he walked back up to his seat.