Ichigo and his friends decided to join the Jacklot Battle Tournament. Upon arriving, they meet with old and new rivals. They have begun the first round. A trainer named Tsukishima caught Ichigo's eye, a trainer who is stronger than he appears. Ichigo was able to win his battle against Hons. Now, we'll see who will be advancing to the next match: Kugo vs. Mizuiro.
You're just a kid on a quest
To be the best of the best
Someday your destined for power and glory
You know you're up to the test
There's only one way to tell this story
Be a hero
Be a hero
All the power is at your command
Face your fears and show you're a hero
The future of the world is in your hands
Pokémon
(Ichigo's voice) Tag, We're Partners
"We're about to begin the fifth match of the first round. We've got Kugo vs. Mizuiro." The mayor said as the two of them faced each other.
"I'm all set to go." Kugo said as he took out his pokeball. "Crawdaunt, let's go!"
"Crawdaunt!"
"Crawdaunt..." Ichigo said as the others were watching. "That's one tough pokemon. Makes me wonder how Mizuiro is going to deal with a pokemon like that."
"Loudred, come on out!" Mizuiro said as he let out his pokemon.
"Loudred!"
"Talk about a loudmouth." Rukia said.
"I can tell that Kugo battles using instincts and guts. Mizuiro battles using intelligence." Ichigo said. "This battle just might go either way in reality."
"It looks like it's Crawdaunt vs. Loudred in this battle. This is sure to be an interesting battle." The mayor said. "What are we waiting for? Let the battle begin!"
"I think I'll take the first attack. Crawdaunt, let's start this out with Crabhammer!" Kugo said. Crawdaunt went at Loudred with water power forming around its pincers. Crawdaunt smashed its pincers down, but Loudred held its arms over its head and tried blocking the attack.
"Loudred, Strength!" Mizuiro said. Loudred had power flowing through its body and gave Crawdaunt a strong strike that caused it to slide back.
"It looks like those two are pounding hard against each other." The mayor said. "Loudred and Crawdaunt are both usually fierce pokemon. We'll see which one is the fiercer battler."
"I wouldn't know about that." Ichigo said. "It looks like those first attacks were just them sizing each other up."
"I think you're right. Those attacks were them seeing what the other got." Rukia said.
"Loudred might be a tough opponent, but you're just as tough." Kugo said. "Crawdaunt, Sludge Bomb!" Crawdaunt fired sludge from its pincers and they exploded around Loudred with some damage being dealt.
"Loudred, let's use Sunny Day!" Mizuiro ordered. Loudred fought through the Sludge Bomb and fired rays of light in the air with intense sunlight shining down on the field.
"Looks like we're having a warm day today." The mayor said. "Loudred's Sunny Day makes the sunlight even stronger."
"Sunny Day?" Orihime questioned.
"That attack is usually used to make fire-type moves stronger. Why would he use that now?" Rukia said. She wondered about that until she remembered one other attack that requires so much sunlight. "Could they be going for that attack?!"
"I don't know what you're up to, but this battle ends now! Razor Shell!" Kugo said. Crawdaunt had an energy blade form out of its pincers and charged at Loudred with the attack. They were going for the finish, but Mizuiro had everything under control.
"Hyper Voice!" Mizuiro said. Loudred unleashed a powerful sonic attack from its voice. Loudred blasted Crawdaunt and stopped Crawdaunt right in its tracks. "Now use Solar Beam!"
"Solar Beam?! Crawdaunt, get out of there!" Kugo called. Loudred gathered so much sunlight and fired it in a powerful beam. Crawdaunt got blasted by the attack and took a lot of damage. That blast knocked Crawdaunt out of the battle.
"Crawdaunt is unable to battle! Loudred is the winner!" The referee said.
"And now Mizuiro is our fifth winner!" The mayor said with Kugo surprised that he was knocked out of the first round.
"I knew he was going to use Solar Beam. That's why he really used Sunny Day." Rukia said. "Solar Beam charges much faster when an attack like Sunny Day is used."
"Mizuiro was in complete control of the battle the whole time." Ichigo said. "Once he knew how strong Crawdaunt really was, he knew how to finish this battle."
"Pretty good." Chad said. Kugo walked over to Crawdaunt and helped him get back up.
"Don't worry, Crawdaunt. He just caught us off guard." Kugo said as he made his pokemon feel better. He brought Crawdaunt back in its pokeball and acknowledged what a skilled trainer Mizuiro is. The rest of the tournament went on with Ichigo's friends facing their battles.
"Solrock, Gyro Ball!" Orihime said. Solrock smashed against a Golbat and won the battle.
"Jynx, Ice Beam!" Rukia said. Jynx blasted a Drapion with a cold beam and won as well.
"Poliwhirl, Focus Punch!" Chad said. Poliwhirl focused its power around its fist and smashed it against a Herdier. Chad won as well. Now all four of them are advancing to the next round.
"That was an exciting first round." The mayor said. "We'll end the day there. Before we depart, I want each of the remaining competitors to take a number." A worker held out a box for the remaining eight trainers. Each one of them took out a number from it. Ichigo looked down and saw he got the number seven.
"I wonder what this is for." Ichigo said.
"Remember your numbers and we'll reveal the point for them tomorrow." The mayor said. "For now, everyone get some rest and we'll see you all tomorrow." The first round is done. It seems like the next round could be an interesting one.
...
The Pokemon Center
With the tournament going on, all the trainers are staying in the Pokemon Center.
"Hons, your Emboar is doing much better." Nurse Joy said as she handed Hons his pokeball.
"Thanks." Hons said he took the pokeball back and was on his way out.
"Hons." Chad said with him and the others spotting him. "You're leaving?"
"Why bother sticking around when I lost? If I'm not the winner, I don't really care." Hons said. "Just remember that I'm going to beat you and your buddies if you mess with me again." Hons kept on walking and left the place.
"That guy has a lot of issues." Ichigo said.
"Ichigo!" Keigo called as he came at him, but Ichigo held out his fist and knocked Keigo right in the face.
"You've got to learn to control that energy of yours." Ichigo said.
"I was just going to see if you and your friends are going to join me and Mizuiro for dinner." Keigo said.
"Sounds like fun." Orihime said. They took the invite and headed for the dining hall. As they were all walking, Ichigo and Absol spotted Tsukishima alone with him reading a book. Tsukishima looked up and met Ichigo's gaze.
"Is there a problem?" Tsukishim asked.
"No..." Ichigo said, but he wasn't so sure.
"You're name is Ichigo, right? You're actually planning to enter the Kalos League, right?" Tsukishima said with Ichigo a little surprised that Tsukishima knows his plans.
"How do you know that?" Ichigo asked. Tsukishima just closed his book and stood up.
"I'm just a guy who likes to observe and see what happens. When you do that, you learn a few things." Tsukishima claimed and just walked away. This guy was giving Ichigo the creeps. It's like he's some sort of enigma. Either way, Ichigo doesn't want to lose to him.
...
The Next Day
"Welcome back, everyone!" The mayor said as everyone came back to the arena for the second round. "We are now entering the second round of our tournament. Yesterday, our eight remaining trainers were each given a number. The reason for that is because they will help decide who is battling who in this round and the next round."
"What does he mean by that?" Orihime asked.
"I think we're about to find out." Rukia said.
"If you all look at the board, you will see who is being paired with who. That's because the next two rounds are tag battles." The mayor said. They all looked at the screen and saw open slots with numbers in them.
"So that's what the numbers are for." Kugo said. "The next two rounds are tag battles. This is sure to be interesting."
"So our number up there is who we're partnered with." Chad said.
"Let's see. I actually got number three." Orihime said. "That means I'm partner with number four. I wonder who that is."
"That would be me." Mizuiro said as he showed his number was four.
"Aw! No fair! Mizuiro usually gets the girls!" Keigo said. "To add insult to injury, he got the prettiest girl around."
"Well, let's do our best, Orihime." Mizuiro said. Orihime was more than glad to do so.
"Chad, check it out. I got five and you got six." Rukia said as they both showed their numbers. "That means that we're partners."
"I'm number seven." Ichigo said. "Who could number eight be?" He heard someone clear his throat and got his answer. Ichigo had a bad feeling as he turned around and saw Tsukishima holding up number eight. It had to be the one trainer he was being the most cautious about.
"We will now begin the second round of the tournament! We'll battle using an actual tournament format. The team that wins will be our two final trainers who will battle each other to determine the winner." The mayor said. "The first battle will be between Ashely and Butch vs. Orihime and Mizuiro!" The two pairs stepped out on the field and were ready to start the next battle.
"Orihime, just follow my lead and everything should be okay." Mizuiro said.
"Okay. I'll trust you." Orihime said. Ashely and Butch let out their choices.
"Heatmor!"
"Whirlipede!"
"Ashely and Butch have chosen their pokemon. Ashely is going with Heatmor and Butch is going with Whirlipede." The mayor said.
"Azumarill, let's go!" Orihime said.
"Metagross, come out!" Mizuiro said.
"Azumarill!"
"Meta!"
"And Orihime and Mizuiro have chosen Azumarill and Metagross as their pokemon. Time for the battle to...begin!" The mayor announced.
"Heatmor, Will-o-Wisp!"
"Whirlipede, Toxic now!" Both pokemon used their attacks. Orihime was getting ready to counter, but Mizuiro stopped her from doing anything.
"Let me. Metagross, Safeguard!" Mizuiro said. Metagross formed a silver barrier around itself and Azumarill and was able to block the attacks.
"Metagross was able to block both attacks!" The mayor said.
"How'd it do that?" Keigo asked.
"Safeguard usually protects you from status condition attacks like those two." Kugo said. "After battling that guy myself, I can tell he's a formidable trainer."
"Heatmor, Fury Swipes!" Ashely said. Heatmor charged right at them with them with its claws ready to attack.
"Stop it with Confusion!" Mizuiro said. Metacross used the power of it's mind and stopped Heatmor right in it's tracks. "You're free to attack now, Orihime."
"Right. Azumarill, Waterfall!" Orihime said. Azumarill focused and unleashed its power through the ground. A pillar of water shot up under Heatmor and did massive damage to it. Heatmor was taken out in just one shot.
"Heatmor is unable to battle!" The referee claimed.
"And Heatmor is out in just one shot! Amazing, but fire-types are weak against water-types." The mayor said.
"I'll get them! Whirlipede, Steamroller!" Whirlipede started spinning at top speed and head straight for Metagross and Azumarill.
"Metagross, Confusion one more time!" Mizuiro said. Metagross used its psychic power again and was able to stop Whilirpede easily as well. "Now use Meteor Mash!" Metagross flew right at Whirlipede like a meteor and smashed itself against Whirlipede. Whirlipede was taken out in that one attack as well.
"Whilirpede is unable to battle!" The referee claimed.
"And it's over! Orihime and Mizuiro are advancing to the next round!" The mayor announced with the crowd cheering.
"Wow, Mizuiro! You handled everything perfectly!" Orihime said.
"It was nothing." Mizuiro said being modest.
"Pretty good, but they did had the advantage." Ichigo said.
"Better get ready, Ichigo. You'll be battling me and Chad." Rukia said with the two of them ready to go. That also means Ichigo has to battle with Tsukishima. He and Absol looked towards Tsukishima as they didn't like this at all, but they have to go through with it.
Our heroes are doing well in this tournament, but it seems like Ichigo has found himself in predicament. He has to battle with the one trainer he's the most cautious about. Can he even be able to work with him to pull out a win? Stay tuned to find out.
To Be Continued...
Pokemon Question: Okay, all you trainers. The answer to the last question was...Unown. Unown come in many different shapes, ones that represent the alphabet. Here's the next question. What pokemon actually has goons and will actually punish them for failure or betrayl?
