AN: I just want to go ahead and make sure all my readers are on the same page with this story. While it won't be anywhere near as few chapters as 'ooooooooh Shiny' it also is going to be moving far faster than other stories in the Pokémon fandom if you watch how it moves. I only intend to do chapters related to the gyms, catching Ash and Jane's team, other important events, the league itself, and an epilogue. All in all, I expect to have a total of twenty-one more chapters, including this one, assuming that some of the league chapters don't get combined.

AN2: Also, the two important(ish) OCs shown in this chapter are focusing on Ash for a reason. I figure anyone getting any amount of Gym badges is a factor that would gat people's attention as we know from the Kanto anime that there were only 256 trainers that competed in the actual Indigo conference tournament. Two hundred and fifty-six out of the thousands of trainers who live in Kanto and the trainers who would have come from other regions to compete. Even if it is only one badge right now it's still enough to get attention if the selection process gets that intense. And trainers that are seen as strong also are expected to have money.

Spot Inspection

Chapter 5

-Ash-

"Come on Ash, you still need to win me some prizes." Jane smirked over her shoulder at him as they walked through the small-town fair, having stopped to enjoy it on their way from Pewter to Cerulean. After the inspection of the Pewter Gym, and Jane subsequently pinning him against the wall, they had travelled with the matter being dropped after Jane declared that she would 'collect' on his punishment at a later date. That date was apparently now and her chosen punishment? He'd barely gotten settled in their room at the inn before she exited the bathroom, swapping out her combat boots and pants for a mini skirt and high heeled boots, declaring that he owed her a date if he was going to make comments on her 'hotness'. Thus, he now found himself being pulled behind the cute bluenette as they wandered the fair, cotton candy in hand, and Jane's eyes set on him her winning a plushy Vulpix.

In short, women made no friggin sense to him.

"Can I at least pick the game?" he asked, not wanting to blow all his money trying to win a prize at a game he sucked at.

"You may peasant." Jane gave a mock haughty sniff even as he saw her eyes glinting mirthfully "Now win your queen a prize."

"Oh, of course your majesty." Ash snarked back, giving a deep bow which blocked him from seeing the faint dusting of pink on her cheeks before he straightened, looking about and deciding on the dart game, being at least decent at that one. "How much for a round?" Ash asked the guy running the stall, feeling a weight as Jane rested her chin on his shoulder lazily.

"Hundred poke." The bored stall owner grunted as Ash tossed down the money and got his three darts, carefully deciding where to aim before throwing his darts, thanking Arceus that having even the faintest bit of psychic power helped him do things like mental calculations faster than normal. "Y-…you win a top shelf prize." The stall owner said weakly at the number of popped balloons, Ash having made a game that was supposed to be incredibly difficult look easy.

"The Shiny Vulpix plush then." Ash grinned, feeling no guilt given how games like these were designed to fleece people out of their money. Taking the prize, he turned back to Jane who stood there, one hand on her cocked hip as she smirked, letting Ash notice she'd worn lipstick for the first time since he'd met her. "Your Vulpix my queen." Ash chuckled, passing over the prize as Jane hugged it tight, not bothering to hide her chuckles even as her Growlithe yipped pleased.

"So," Jane grinned, Vulpix prize tucked under one arm while the other looped around one of his own, "where you takin me next?"

"You're having me pick?" he chuckled, the absurdity of this situation still flummoxing him somewhat.

"It's your punishment remember?" Jane stuck her tongue out at him only to whine when he caught it.

"So, my punishment for saying you're hot is having to go on a date with you?" he leaned in, smirking as he saw her get flustered, "I'll have to remember this 'fine' for later. It does make me wonder what it would cost if I called you 'cute' or…something else." At that, Jane reeled back, face bright cheery red as she flailed, having apparently not expected him to try and turn the tables on her.

"You ass!" Jane started smacking him with the Vulpix plush "You aren't supposed to say something like that!"

"Oh?" Ash grinned, enjoying having the upper hand right now "I thought I was supposed to compliment you if this was a date?"

"Stop it! Stop it! Stop it! Stop it!" Jane continued slapping him with the prize as he laughed, Pikachu and Growlithe just sharing an exasperated look about it all.

"Fine, I'll play nice." He allowed her, finding her 'Hmph' adorable even as she looped her arm back through his, "But let's just see what all's here first. Maybe get something to eat besides cotton candy."

"But it's so gooooood." Jane whined as she stole a bite of his, having already finished her own bundle while he was throwing darts.

"Hey, no stealing. Aren't you supposed to be a cop?" he quipped, moving the sugary treat away from his pouting 'date'.

"Meanie." Jane pouted before she laughed, "And yeah Ash, that sounds good." So, they continued onward, checking out the other games, the stalls selling souvenirs, found out about the various shows that the locals would be putting on, and even heard of a doubles tournament that would take place with first prize being the winning partners each getting an Eevee.

"Alright, I need something in my stomach." Ash shook his head as they made their way to the food stalls, the delicious smells drifting through the air making an effective guide.

"Agreed." Jane groaned as they saw the various food trucks and stalls, "I'll grab us a table if you get the food?"

"Sounds good." Ash grinned, "I'm feeling Sinnoh food, that work for you?"

"Get extra dumplings!" Jane shouted over her shoulder as she went to grab a table while Ash found a decent looking Sinnoh food truck, getting in line while Pikachu napped on his head.

"Hey, is that the boulder badge?" the stall owner asked surprised as Ash's jacket billowed open on a breeze, his first gym badge displayed.

"Yeah." Ash grinned proudly, not all that upset at not having actually battled Brock given he'd had to prove his strength in battle to Jane first as a precaution.

"Nice work!" the cart owner gave him a thumbs up as she made his order, "I was never much of a trainer myself, but my cousin Cynthia took on the gyms back home in Sinnoh a couple years go. I should probably call her to see how that went now I think about it, haven't talked to the family in a while, and Sinnoh news doesn't come down here. Anyway, here's your order and good luck getting more badges."

"Thanks!" Ash smiled as he took the two Styrofoam 'to go' trays heavy with food and turned to try and find Jane, noting several people looking his way, having apparently overheard that he'd managed to get a badge.

"A badge winner huh?" hearing a new voice, Ash glanced over to see a couple girls with painfully bad spray on tans attempting to give him confident smirks, eyeing him up and down "I'm sure a strong trainer like you has the kind of money on hand to show a couple of girls a good time. We'll make it worth your while."

Taking an awkward step back, Ash tried hard not to grimace, "I'm flattered but I'm already here with someone." He kept it short and simple, hoping the gold diggers would leave it at that and let him pass. Unfortunately for him they just moved closer, undeterred in the slightest and he couldn't really just have Pikachu zap him or he'd be the one held in the wrong.

"Oh, don't worry." Spay tanned blonde smirked at him with what she probably thought was a winning smile "I'm sure we can easily outdo any silly little girl you already came here with." As her friend, spray tanned redhead, nodded in smug agreement.

"Yo Ash, what's the hold up?" like a savior sent by Arceus themself, he looked over to see Jane sauntering over, his travelling companion quickly noting the awkward atmosphere, his 'save me' eyes, Pikachu growling at the two spray tanned irritants, and the irritants in question.

"We're just about to take those meals from our new date." Blonde gave Jane a condescending smirk as she tried to grab one of the trays, giving an offended gasp when he took them out of their reach.

"I already told you I was here with someone." Ash repeated firmly as he moved next to Jane, handing over her meal as she took it, eyes narrowed at the two nuisances.

"So, back off. He's my date." Jane declared, latching onto his arm and glaring at the girls to back down.

"You wanna play little girl?" spray-tan blonde smirked condescendingly, tapping a pokeball on her hip "The tournament is still taking entries. Why don't we put a little wader down there? I'm sure you won't mind losing your 'boyfriend's time or money when we win."

"You know, kicking your ass and getting an Eevee sounds like a great way to end our date. Work for you Ash?" Jane shot him a look, her expression showing she wanted to stomp these two into the dirt. He wasn't all that pleased with them himself, so he nodded back as the two irritants walked off laughing smugly as they signed up for the tournament. "Let's eat and then go sign up as well." Jane smirked at him, "If there's anyone in the tournament worth a damn it can count as your skill verification for the next gym in case they fail like the last one."

"Jane," Ash smirked as he opened the tray, steam rising in front of his face "it would be my genuine pleasure."

"First match of the tournament!" the local mayor was acting as referee as the residents all cheered "In the red corner we have Jane Auburn of the Indigo Village and Ash Ketchum of Pallet town!" Ash and Jane waved to the cheering crowd, "And in the Green corner we have Adam Green and John Red, both of them from Pallet town as well!" stepping to the other side of the field, Ash saw the other two trainers who started the same day he and Gary did, the pricks having always been Gary's lackeys even if he only tolerated their presence. "All trainers may choose one Pokémon which is the only one they may use for the duration of the tournament! Now, trainers, send out your selections!"

"Go Slakoth!" Ash sent out his starter who flexed happily.

"Growlithe, let's do this!" Jane called as her eager fire type yipped.

"Ivysaur, let's crush this wimp." John sneered as the trainer with flaming red hair sent out his grass starter.

"Charmander, destroy this loser!" Adam huffed, the idiot with a forest green buzzcut tossing out the fire type.

"Which one you want Jane?" Ash was distinctly unimpressed by the 'insults' used, a sentiment Jane and their Pokémon apparently shared if the yawns were any indication.

"I'll take the Charmander I suppose." Jane snorted "Hopefully their fire resistance will give me at least some challenge."

"Don't look down on us bitch!" John yelled angrily even as the Mayor gave the signal to begin. Before said politician could scold the other trainer for his language, there were kids at this tournament, Ash took action.

"Slakoth, Ice Punch." Ash's voice was cold as he glared at John, not approving of someone insulting his friend like that. Slakoth agreed as his starter moved faster than most people had probably ever seen a Slakoth go, uppercutting the grass/poison Pokémon with frosted claws.

"Wait what?!" John gaped at the sudden speed shown.

"Don't let up." Ash gave his next order, "Grab those vines and swing him into Charmander."

"Slakoth!" his starter grunted, swinging around the decently heavy frog like Pokémon into the first stage fire starter, knocking them both down hard.

"Now body slam." Ash noticed Ivysaur seemed unused to its own body, probably having only just recently evolved and wasn't used to its new size and weight yet. Charmander just wasn't used to having a larger Pokémon sitting on it. Either way, both were taken out by his cheerful starter which leapt up high before coming down with its full weight on them.

"…John Green and Adam Red's Pokémon are unable to battle!" the mayor declares after a moment of shock, "Ash Ketchum and Jane Auburn move on to the next round!"

"Slakoth!" his starter cheered before shining white, growing and growing before the light fades to show a massive Vigoroth, "VIGOROTH!" the much larger starter roared out.

"Alright Ash, you had your fun in the first round but let me handle this one now." Jane ordered him as they got ready for the final match of the tournament, their opponents being spray-tan blonde and spray-tan red who's real names he didn't feel bothered to learn. The other competitors in the tournament having been even weaker than John and Adam, not doing much more than giving Vigoroth a good opportunity to get used to his new larger body. Jane had already said that beating two trainers who'd already earned a badge at once was enough to warrant him getting his water badge if Cerulean failed, so he wasn't concerned on that front.

"Trying to take all the fun for yourself?" Ash grinned as he pet Vigoroth's head, his starter enjoying the attention.

"Oh Sugar," Jane smirked as she sauntered over to him "you got to defend my honor earlier. Now it's my turn." As she spoke, Jane drew a finger under his chin, managing to get him to be the flustered one on the backfoot this time. Smirking, Jane blew him a little kiss before heading to the field.

"…That was hot." Ash muttered before gulping and following his partner, seeing the two spray tanned annoyances having already sent out their Pokémon, a Nidorina and a Clefairy. Sending out Vigoroth, Ash watched Jane, curious as to how she'd handle this.

"Begin!" the mayor declares as Jane puts her plan into action.

"Psychic fang on Nidorina, then throw her into Clefairy." Jane smirked, showing the powerful psychic move for the first time in the tournament as Growlithe easily took down the spoiled Nidorina and then used the poison type as a weapon to take down the fairy Pokémon, the spray tan duo clearly having focused more on appearance than actual training.

"W-winner!" the mayor wasn't expecting the finals to go that fast as the locals cheer and the spray-tanned twits fall to their knees, sobbing in embarrassment as they hold each other.

"So, how was that for a date?" Ash turned to Jane with a grin as Vigoroth and Growlithe went back into their pokeballs and the mayor went to collect their new Eevee.

"Hmmm, I think there's one more thing it needs to top everything off." Jane smirked and, before he could ask what it was, she had her arms around his neck as she kissed him, blue lips pressed against his own while one of her ankles rose up into the air.

He wasn't expecting it.

But by Arceus was he not going to complain.