"Next stop Rota Town." The conductor said over the intercom.
"I thank you guys for helping me get here, but why are you guys here?" Ash asked, looking at Drew, Roxy, and May.
"There's a contest there." Drew said.
"How long has this been happening?" May asked.
"Since Sootopolis was attacked." Ash admitted. "Look none of you have to follow me to the tree, that's my journey alone."
"Not happening." Brendan said. "You won't be sidining me or Wally for this."
"Exactly." Wally said.
"You can count me in too. I can get my first ribbon another time, but you encouraged me to follow my dream." Roxy said.
"As much as I don't want to, if you died, I'd loose a lot of competition in the Grand Festival." Drew said with a smirk.
"Well don't leave me in town alone." May said.
"Thanks guys." Ash said. "It's great to know I can count on all of you."
A few hours later, at the gate leading from Rota town to the tree of life.
"I'm sorry kids, but if you want to pass through here, you need a pass from the Rota Royal Family." A guard said.
"Come on this is urgent, can't you just let us through?" Brendan asked.
"Sorry, rules are rules." The guard said.
"We could just overpower him, there's six of us." Roxy said.
"Hey Roxy, next time whisper a plan like that." Ash said, as the guard took an offensive stance.
"Right, sorry." Roxy said.
"So how do we get approval from the Royal Family, I doubt we can just walk in there." May commented.
"We get honored to meet them." Wally said.
"What do you mean?" Ash asked.
"There's a knighting tournament that is happening this afternoon, and the winner gets to meet with the crowned princess." Wally said, reading from a pamphlet.
"What kind of tournament is it?" Brendan asked.
"A costume and battle style." Wally said. "Single battles only."
"So if we all enter, we have six shots at meeting the princess!" May said. "Ooh, I always wanted to be a princess."
"Calm down, you're meeting her, not becoming her." Drew said. "So that's our plan, enter a tournament and hope one of us wins?"
"We have three somewhat competitive battles here." Brendan said, pointing at himself, Ash, and Roxy. "And you three are nothing to take lightly."
At the arena
"This is a lot bigger of an arena than I usually fight in." Ash said, seeing the colloseum. He had on the aura guardian costume.
"Don't worry, there's only 32 trainers, which means just five rounds. We've got this." Brendan said, wearing a court jester costume.
"I think I make this look good." Wally said, wearing a full suit of armor.
"I'm also pretty sure that isn't a costume." Drew said, wearing a wizard's robe.
"Well, I'm up." Ash said. 'And no using my powers!'
'OUR POWERS!' The primal force argued.
Ash Round 1
"Milotic I choose you!" Ash called out.
"Come on out Hitmontop!" Ash's opponent said, dressed in a fairy costume.
"Milotic use Attract!"
"Hitmontop use Triple Kick!"
Milotic sent out a spray of hearts before being spun around by Hitmontop's attack.
"Milotic use Dragonbreath!"
"Hitmontop use Rapid Spin!"
Milotic turned around sending out a blast of blue flames as Hitmontop stopped spinning in a daze.
"Perfect, the attract kicked in!" Ash said. "Now Milotic use Water Pulse!"
"Hitmontop dodge it!"
Hitmontop was still stunned as it was hit by the water attack, knocking it out with ease.
Wally Round 1
"Come on out Cacturne!" Wally said.
"Let's go Camerupt!" Wally's opponent said. They were wearing a body suit with armor, making it impossible to tell if it was a guy or girl underneath.
"Cacturne use Needle Arm!"
"Camerupt use Eruption!"
Cacturne spun and jumped out of the way of the plumes of fire, striking into the side of Camerupt for minimal damage.
"Uh oh." Wally said. "Cacturne use Drain Punch!"
"Camerupt use Body Slam!"
Camerupt slammed it's side into Cacturne's arm, sending the grass type tumbling back.
"Now end this with Eruption!"
A plume of fire shot straight on Cacturne, knocking Wally out of the competition.
"Sorry Ash." Wally apologized.
"It's alright, we just need to be careful." Brendan assured, while Ash was intently watching the screen.
May Round 1
"Come on out Plusle!" May said, she had on a ball gown with Beautifly wings on the back.
"A Plusle! Ha! No match for my Quagsire!" May's opponent said, wearing a toga.
"Plusle use Hidden Power!" May called out.
"Quagsire block it with Mud Bomb!"
Green orbs of energy shot out from Plusle, colliding with the Quagsire's attack, nullifying both out.
"Plusle use Nasty Plot!"
"Quagsire use Hydro Pump!"
Plusle ran around the field giggling as it outsped the blast of water.
"Now use Hidden Power again!" May called out.
The green orbs shot out from Plusle, colliding with Quagsire, surprisingly knocking it out with the single attack.
"Okay everyone who's now afraid of May, raise their hand." Brendan said, shooting his up.
"No time. I won't be outperformed." Drew said.
Drew Round 1
"Flygon come out." Drew said, lightly tossing the Pokeball.
"Let's go Muk!"
"Flygon use Sandstorm!"
"Muk use Sludge Bomb!"
Drew's Flygon stuck to the air, avoiding the Muk's attack as sand whipped around the arena.
"Flygon use Flamethrower!"
"Muk use Minimize!"
Muk condensed it's body only to get blasted in full by the flamethrower attack.
"Now use Steel Wing!"
"Muk use Body Slam!"
Flygon dove straight at Muk, swooping up at the last moment as the poison type was tossed into the air.
"Now Flygon use Dragon Breath!"
Flygon released a stream of blues flames, defeating the Muk and winning the round.
"Alright, that's three of us so far." Brendan said.
Roxy Round 1
"Come on out Aerodactyl!" Roxy said. She was wearing a djinn like outfit.
"That's a surprising one." Ash said.
"Let's go Flaaffy!" Her opponent called out, wearing what looked like a horse costume.
"Aerodactyl use Ancient Power!"
"Flaaffy use Thunder Wave!"
A shield of electricity formed around the Flaaffy as Aerodactyl's rocks harmlessly bounced off of it.
"Alright, let's go for more power! Use Aerial Ace!"
"Flaaffy use Iron Tail!"
Aerodactyl swooped low before disappearing to the naked eye, appearing moments later behind Flaaffy as the electric type was knocked into the air.
"Now the battles on my turf." Roxy said. "Use Ancient Power!"
"Flaaffy use Thundershock!"
Flaaffy struggled to move about in the air as it was bombarded with rocks that seemed to only get stronger with each hit.
"Okay both of this girls are frightening." Brendan said, as Aerodactyl moved in closer.
"Aerodactyl use Crunch!"
"Flaaffy use Cotton Spore!"
It was too little too late for defense as Aerodactyl crunched down on the Flaaffy, giving Roxy a win.
Brendan round 1
"Okay, we've got this." Brendan said. "Aggron come on out!"
"Let's go Tyranitar! Brendan's opponent said, he was wearing an executioner outfit.
"Aggron use Double Edge!"
"Tyranitar use Giga Impact!"
The two heavily armored Pokémon slammed into each other, digging their feet into the ground.
"Strange Double Edge should have hurt Aggron but it seems fine." Drew commented.
"I have a feeling both wanted the other close." Ash said.
"Aggron use Iron Tail!"
"Tyranitar hold your ground!"
Aggron swung It's tail, knocking Tyranitar off of its feet with a single swoop.
"Tyranitar use Outrage!"
"Aggron use another Iron Tail!"
Tyranitar clamped it's jaw down on Aggron's leg as it was struck by the steel types tail, sending both hurdling across the arena.
"Aggron use Earthquake!"
"Tyranitar use your Earthquake!"
The two shockwaves collided, before Aggron's won out, launching Tyranitar into the air and defeated.
"Way to go Aggron!" Brendan cheered.
Ash round 2
"Cyndaquil come on out!" Ash called.
"Let's go Beedrill, use Double Team!" Ash's opponent said, wasting no time at all.
"Cyndaquil use Flamethrower!" Ash called out.
The flame on Cyndaquil's back lit ablaze as a powerful stream of fire engulfed the swarm of Beedrill with ease.
"Beedrill no!" Their trainer cried out, seeing their Pokémon having been defeated in a single hit.
"I have a feeling there was some pent up anger against Beedrill's that Cyndaquil had just then." Brendan admitted.
"Yep." Wally said in stunned shock.
Drew Round 2
"Come on out Roselia." Drew said.
"I choose you Jynx!" Drew's opponent called out.
"Roselia use Sludge Bomb!"
"Jynx use Ice Punch!
Roselia's attack was frozen on impact, shattering across Jynx and causing minimal damage.
"Okay, lets try Petal Dance!"
"Jynx use Shadow Ball!"
Roselia spun around creating a tornado of petals keeping Jynx from getting any closer, while also causing some chip damage.
"Roselia use Sunny Day!"
"Jynx use Psychic!"
Roselia was lifted into the air as the arena was bathed in sunlight.
"Roselia use Solar Beam!" Drew called out.
"Jynx use Ice Beam!"
Roselia aligned their roses, firing a beam of light at Jynx, absorbing the ice beam entirely and blasting away the ice type.
"Never underestimate a coordinator." Ash said to Brendan. "We know how to win a fight, and look good doing it."
"Apparently." Brendan admitted.
May Round 3
May's opponent was the strange trainer in a bodysuit that had defeated Wally just the round prior, so far they seemed to be the biggest competition.
"Since you used the ground type Camerupt, I'll use Snorunt!" May called out.
"Come out Magby!"
The battlefield looked huge with the two small Pokemon facing off.
"Snorunt use Hail!"
"Magby use Fire Punch!"
Hail began falling on the arena as Magby rushed forward, his attack keeping most of the ice from hurting him.
"Now Snorunt use Blizzard!"
"Magby use Smokescreen!"
Smoke filled the arena as the hail storm kicked up.
"Now Magby use Thunder Punch!"
"Snorunt use Bite!"
A zap was heard as May's Snorunt was launched out of the smoke cloud, quickly followed by the Magby.
"Magby use Fire Punch!"
"Snorunt dodge it!"
Snorunt was stuck on its back and helpless as the fire attack struck them dead center, knocking May out of the competition.
"Sorry Ash." May said to herself as she recalled Snorunt. "You did great though."
Roxy Round 2
"Alright, show them true fear." Roxy said, as Misdreavus came out from her shadow.
"Don't let their tricks fool you Slowbro!" Her opponent said with confidence.
"Misdreavus use Shadow Sneak!"
"Slowbro use Amnesia!"
Misdreavus disappeared into Roxy's shadow once more before popping up right behind Slowbro, knocking it around slightly.
"Misdreavus use Shadow Ball!"
"Slowbro use Curse!"
Misdreavus's attack struck the still recovering Slowbro with no resistance.
"I wonder what his plan is with all these stat buffs?" Brendan asked out loud.
"Not sure." Drew said looking at the battle unfold.
"Misdreavus use Will-o-Wisp!"
"Slowbro use Withdraw!"
Slowbro positioned it's shelled tail up front as it was burned from all sides.
"I have a feeling this Slowbro doesn't actually know any attacks." Ash said with a laugh.
"Slowbro use Rain Dance!" Roxy's opponent called out, only for a buzzer to go off.
"Challenger Dexter is disqualified for not having an attacking move." The queen declared.
"Well that works." Roxy said, with a skip in her step as Misdreavus disappeared once more.
"Do you think she's even caught that Misdreavus?" Wally wondered.
Brendan Round 2
"Come on out Arcanine!" Brendan called out.
"Let's go Mightyena!" Brendan's opponent said.
"Okay first with Aggron, now Arcanine, this is getting weird how similar Brendan's opponents are." Ash commented.
"Arcanine use Fire Blast!"
"Mightyena use Bite!"
Arcanine leapt into the air, firing off a powerful blast of flames, engulfing the Mightyena in them.
"Though the power level this time is more in Brendan's favor." Drew commented.
"Arcanine use Extremespeed!"
"Mightyena use Fire Fang!"
The fire from Mightyena's attack seemed to be drawn into Arcanine as it slammed into the smaller canine.
"Now Arcanine end it with another Fire Blast!" Brendan called out.
The fire attack seemed even bigger than last time as it struck Mightyena knocking it out and ending the second round of fighting.
Author Note
Sorry to end it here, but this chapter is getting long. The tournament and story arc will continue next time. Also two of Brendan's Pokemon showed off abilities, I need to remember to use them a bit more.
Brendan's Current Team and their moves
Marshtomp: Ice Beam - Rollout - Muddy Water - Mud Shot
Shiftry: Razor Wind - Faint Attack - Leaf Storm - Extrasensory
Aggron: Double Edge - Earthquake - Rock Tomb - Metal Claw
Rhydon: Mega Horn - Crush Claw - Aqua Tail - Rock Blast
Arcanine: Extremespeed - Fire Blast - Dig
