"Here we are, Vermillion City, the main port of the Kanto region." Ash said. "From here we should be able to get a ferry to Cinnabar Island, and the way to Brendan's next Battle Frontier match."
"Yeah, we've been here before." Brendan admitted.
"Really, when?" Ash asked.
"We took the wrong plane to get here, and had to find a way to Pallet Town from here." Wally pointed out.
"So I'll go look at the dock schedules, why don't you two go and explore and then we'll meet back up at the Pokemon Center later on." Ash said.
"Sounds good to me." Brendan said. "Let's see if we can find someone willing to battle against Hitmonlee."
"Electric type gym, south west quadrant of the city." Ash said.
"Thanks Ash." Brendan said, rushing off.
At the docks
"Okay, let's see. The next boat heading towards Cinnabar is leaving in a few days. Should give me time to figure out a new appeal and compete in the contest here." Ash said, looking at the contest schedule as well. "And from there, it'll take us a few days to get to Cinnabar proper, and find where in that area is the next frontier brain."
"Oh you seem to know how to figure out the boat schedule." A girl with long blonde hair that seemed to have paint in it said.
"Uhh, yeah a bit, are you trying to find your boat?" Ash asked.
"Yes, but it says it won't be here for another month!" The girl said. "I bought a ticket for today and everything!"
"Here let me see." Ash said, being handed the ticket. "You aren't from Kanto are you?"
"What gave it away?" The girl asked.
"Because this ticket is for next month, see." Ash said. "The 10th day of the 9th month."
"That's backwards, its the 9th day of the 10th month!" The girl argued.
"Its how the date is done here in Kanto, along with Johto, and Hoenn." Ash admitted. "First day, then month, and then the year."
"Poo." The girl said pouting. "And I really wanted to go home. I know, how about we have a battle since neither of our boats will be here soon!"
"Wait, I was planning on practicing appeals, not battle strategies." Ash admitted.
"Why not both?" The girl asked. "My names Mina by the way."
"Ash." Ash responded. "But I'm not sure how an appeal will work in a battle."
"Well it's just using moves in different ways right, that's like a battle." Mina said. "Come on it'll be fun."
"Okay, I guess it can't hurt." Ash said, as the two walked away, not noticing the man in a lab coat walking by off of a boat.
In a field outside of town
"Alright Swablu take the stage!" Ash said.
"A special call out! I love it! Let me try! Mr. Mime paint it up!" Mina said. "Wait no, that was bad. Slather them with color! No that was even worse!"
"Relax, it took a while to come up with mine." Ash said.
"You're right." Mina said, taking a deep breath. "Okay Mr. Mime, lets go!"
"Swablu use Heat Wave!"
"Mr. Mime use Light Screen!"
Mr. Mime put up a yellowish barrier that blocked Swablu's attack with ease, minimizing the overall damage.
"I thought you were wanting to practice appeals?" Mina asked.
"I know, it's hard to think during a battle though!" Ash said.
"That's why I sent out Mr. Mime though silly. I'll just set up defenses, you figure out combinations!" Mina said with a giggle.
"Right, okay." Ash said. "Swablu use Heat Wave and Dragon Pulse!"
"Mr. Mime use Reflect!"
The heat wave combined with the dragon pulse to create a figure that looked almost like Moltres flying towards Mr. Mime, knocking the psychic types concentration away.
"Okay now maybe try to make it not hit the audience." Mina said, her eyes wide open.
"Think we can try that again, Swablu?" Ash asked.
"Blu Blu." Swablu said, flipping in the air.
"Mr. Mime use Protect!" Mina said, readying for the combination again.
"Swablu use Dragon Pulse and Heat Wave!"
The combination went off in another style, with the giant energy Swablu having flaming wings as it spun around the field, bursting into sparks high into the air, the red sparkles fluttering around the bird Pokemon.
"Wait, what changed?" Mina asked.
"Maybe the order of the attacks?" Ash wondered. "Are you up for one more go?"
"Mr. Mime use Protect again!"
"Swablu use Heat Wave and Dragon Pulse!"
The Moltres like shape came out from Swablu, racing forward and striking the psychic type once more, tackling the psychic type to the ground.
"So apparently the combination changes depending on the order they're being used, from offensive to a way of control." Ash said. "Thanks for helping with this, and I hope you find a way back home."
"Yeah, I think I'll go look at Mount Moon while I'm here." Mina said, returning Mr. Mime. "Good luck in your next contest."
"Thanks." Ash said.
Over at the gym
"Sorry, but the gym leader isn't here." A trainer said.
"Oh I was just hoping to have some training here, I'm not here for a gym badge." Brendan admitted.
"Oh training, we can do that." The trainer admitted. "Electrode come on out!"
"Hitmonlee I choose you!" Brendan called out.
"Electrode use Rollout!"
"Hitmonlee use Rolling Kick!"
Electrode spun at Hitmonlee, only to be hit by Hitmonlee's knee, sending it crashing backwards.
"Electrode use Shock Wave!"
"Hitmonlee use High Jump Kick!"
Hitmonlee jumped out of the way of the attack, leaping high into the air.
"Electrode use Sonicboom!"
Hitmonlee came crashing towards the ground, slamming into Electrode hard.
"Electrode use Rollout!"
"Hitmonlee use Blaze Kick!"
Hitmonlee stuck one leg into the ground, launching the other far out, extending out and striking into Electrode, as the two Pokemon pushed against each other.
"Hitmonlee use Mega Kick!"
"Electrode use Rollout!"
Hitmonlee struck his leg into the ground, sending Electrode crashing off course, knocking it out.
"Well isn't this surprising." Professor Birch said. "I never expected to find you two here this early."
"Dad?!" Brendan said in shock.
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
Hitmonlee: Blaze Kick - Rolling Kick - High Jump Kick - Mega Kick
