"Wait, you want a recap of what's happening?" Wally asked out loud. "Alright. So back in Hoenn, Ash was forced to absorb the Red Orb by the leader of the Villainous Team Magma, Maxie. Then in Sootopolis he was freed from its power and control over Groudon, or so we thought. Turns out some of the Red Orb is still in him, along with the spirit of Groudon, and whenever he uses his aura powers it hurts him a lot." Wally explained. "Ash informed us that there's a way to cure him at the Tree of Life just past Rota, but we ran into a problem. In order to go to the tree, we need permission from Rita's Royal Family. So me, Ash, and Brendan, along with our friends Drew, May, and Roxy entered a tournament where the prize is a ceremony with the royal family." Wally continued. "We're now into round three with only eight contestants left, including, Ash, Brendan, Roxy, and Drew. But there's someone they need to watch out for. I've been calling them the ninja, their voice is disguised, and we can't see their face, but they've already taken out both me and May. Now if all four of our friends win their matches, we're guaranteed the prize, I just hope they can manage it." Wally finished monologuing.

Ash Round 3

"Alright come on out Swablu!" Ash called out.

"Too easy, come on out Gligar!" Ash's opponent said.

"Swablu use Peck!"

"Gligar use Poison Sting!"

Swablu flew straight at the bouncing Gligar, going in for a nose dive to avoid the poisoned stingers, striking Gligar to the ground.

"Swablu use Peck again!"

"Gligar use Pursuit!"

Gligar swiped Swablu's wing as it was hit once more.

"Now Swablu use Mirror Move!" Ash called out.

"Gligar dodge it!"

Gligar tried its best to hop out of the way, only for Swablu to knock out the ground types tail beneath it.

"Now Swablu finish with Dragon Pulse!" Ash called out.

"That's a new one." Brendan said, surprised at Swablu's new power.

Gligar fell to the ground in defeat with Swablu proudly perched on it.

Brendan Round 3

"Come on out Shiftry!" Brendan called out.

"Let's go Ludicolo!" His opponent, a very rotund man said.

"Shiftry use Razor Wind!"

"Ludicolo use Ice Punch!"

Ludicollo danced forward, keeping his pace despite the strong winds, striking its fist into Shiftry, sending Brendan's Pokemon stumbling backwards.

"Shiftry use Extrasensory!"

"Ludicolo use Ice Punch!"

Shiftry tossed some of the torn up arena at Ludicolo, halting it's progress and causing severe damage.

"Shiftry use Razor Wind to get air born!" Brendan called out.

"Ludicollo stop them with Ice Punch!"

Shiftry launched it's attack at the ground, allowing it to seemingly fly about in the air above Ludicolo.

"I figured that Ice Punch was your best option once you didn't switch to a ranged attack." Brendan said. "Now Shiftry use Leaf Storm!"

"Ludicolo, knock them out of the sky with Hydro Pump!"

Shiftry flapped its fans, sending a barrage of leaves at Ludicolo, keeping the kappa like Pokemon from launching a counter attack long enough to be defeated.

"Alright Brendan!" Wally cheered.

Drew Round 3

"You may have beaten two of my acquaintances, but you won't defeat me." Drew said. "Absol come out!"

"Let's go Houndoom!" The ninja said.

"Absol use Water Pulse!"

"Houndoom use Overheat!"

The water pulse evaporated as a wave of heat blasted back Absol.

"Try stopping this, Absol use Iron Tail!"

"Houndoom use Counter!"

Absol slammed it's tail down on Houndoom, only for the hound Pokemon to flick its tail, sending Absol crashing backwards.

"Houndoom use Thunder Fang!"

"Absol use Flash!"

Houndoom lunged at Absol, only for the dark type to disappear in an instant.

"Houndoom use Overheat!"

"Absol use Razor Wind to counter it!"

"Ash, what are you thinking?" Brendan asked, as they watched the battle unfold.

"Something is familiar about this trainer, I just can't put my finger on it." Ash said, deep in thought.

The blast of heat sent Absol tumbling back once more, now stuck in a prone position.

"Houndoom use Crunch!"

Houndoom clamped its jaw down on Absol, winning the match for the mysterious ninja.

"It's okay, we still have two more competitors in the next round, and Roxy hasn't even competed yet." May said hope filled.

Roxy Round 3

"Come on out Alakazam!" Roxy called out.

"Let's go Gardevoir!" Roxy's opponent proclaimed.

"Gardevoir, that's what Kirlia will become, right?" Wally asked.

"Yeah, that's the fully evolved form of Ralts." May said, looking at her Pokedex. "You have one?"

"Yeah, Ash and Brendan helped me catch it." Wally said.

"That's pretty cool." May said.

"Alakazam use Shadow Ball!"

"Gardevoir use Light Screen!"

Gardevoir put up a barrier that absorbed a fair amount of Alakazam's attack as the two psychic Pokemon rushed around the battlefield.

"Alakazam use Thunderbolt!"

"Gardevoir use Psychic!"

The blast of electricity shot around the arena, zapping the ring of the colosseum from the psychic attack.

"Alakazam use Shadow Ball!"

"Gardevoir use Double Team!"

A swarm of Gardevoir appeared, easily dodging the Shadow Ball as they closed in on Alakazam.

"Gardevoir use Shock Wave!"

"Alakazam use Teleport!"

Alakazam disappeared just as the electricity pulsed into the center of the Gardevoir's and then back out at all of them.

"Now Alakazam end this with one more Thunderbolt!" Roxy called out.

Alakazam pointed his spoon forward, sending a bolt of electricity from it at the sole remaining Gardevoir, knocking it out.

"Seriously, Aerodactyl, and an Alakazam? How did she loose to me?" Brendan asked in terror.

"Don't let her hear that." Ash joked. "Looks like the final pairing are up."

Ash and Brendan looked at the standing to see that Roxy would be fighting the mysterious ninja in the semifinals, meaning that they were up first.

"Brendan, I need to do this." Ash warned.

"I know, but that doesn't mean I won't be trying to win." Brendan said. "Either way, we will get that meeting."

Ash vs Brendan Round 4

"Marshtomp I choose you!"

"Come on out Grovyle!"

Marshtomp and Grovyle took to the arena, knowing this was no ordinary training battle, this was a full on fight.

"Marshtomp use Muddy Water!"

"Grovyle use Dig!"

Grovyle dove underground, quickly avoiding the crashing wave of water that covered the arena.

"Come on, ground is our element, you know you can't hide down there from Marshtomp." Brendan gloated. "Marshtomp get ready with an Ice Beam!"

"Grovyle use Double Team!"

The ground erupted as six Grovyle leapt out of the ground, surrounding Marshtomp now from the air.

"Marshtomp hit the one right in front of you!"

"Grovyle use Fury Cutter!"

The six Grovyle dove forward, as one disappeared from the ice beam. Upon striking Marshtomp, five x's appeared from an after attack as the Grovyles leapt back.

"I don't think that was Fury Cutter." Drew said in surprise.

"But why didn't he use Leaf Blade?" Wally asked.

"Marshtomp use Rollout!"

"Grovyle dodge it!"

The Grovyle leapt into the air as mud splattered about, causing them all to disappear.

"Wait, where's the real Grovyle?" Brendan asked. "Where's the hole he dug?"

Brendan had played right into a trap, by obscuring the very hole Grovyle had dug, he could no longer see where the grass type would emerge, and with the mud resettling, Marshtomp couldn't sense it either.

"Now Grovyle use Leaf Blade!"

Grovyle leapt into the air, completely covered in mud, striking Marshtomp and knocking it out with a single hit.

"Great work Brendan." Ash said.

"Yeah, now win this and get that meeting, we're all cheering for you." Brendan said. "At least almost all of us."

"Let's see if Roxy fairs any better." Ash said, as the two walked out of the arena.

Roxy Round 4

"Come on out Vileplume!" Roxy said.

"Let's go Ponyta!" The ninja said.

"Vileplume use Petal Dance!"

"Ponyta use Fire Blast!"

The Ponyta rushed forward, sending out a fiery explosion of an attack, and stopping Vileplume's entirely.

"Vileplume use Sludge Bomb!"

"Ponyta use Fire Blast!"

"They really aren't letting up." Brendan said, as the Ponyta fired off another attack. "They must want the prize more than any of us."

"I don't think that's it." Ash said. "They didn't fight like this before, and this much power isn't necessary."

"What are you saying?" Brendan asked.

"I'm saying I think I know who our mysterious ninja is, and why they're attacking Roxy so harshly." Ash said with an annoyed tone.

"Vileplume look out!" Roxy called out.

"Ponyta use Fire Blast!" The ninja exclaimed, not caring that Vileplume was already barely moving.

Fire engulfed the grass type, Vileplume and Roxy never even having had an opening to get an attack in.

"Good luck Ash." Brendan said, as it was now up to him.

Ash's Current Team and their moves

Pikachu: Thunderbolt - Quick Attack - Shock Wave - Iron Tail

Grovyle: Double Team - Leaf Blade - Dig - X Scissor

Milotic: Attract - Dragon Breath - Water Pulse - Ice Beam

Swablu: Peck - Mirror Move - Dragon Pulse - Heal Bell

Cyndaquil: Flamethrower - Smokescreen - Flame Wheel - Swift