Chapter 4: Rival Troubles

We now join Ash and friends on Legend Island, the host of the World Cup. Now that they've arrived, they're heading for Legend Village to register and scope out the competition. As usual, Ash is trying to get there first only to get tired out halfway there. So, of course this led to a gang-bang roast from The Rival Squad™.

"You haven't changed much, have you Ash?" asks Paul. "You're still pathetic and naive."

"I think I'm going to like you." says Trip.

"Yeah, Ash," says Gary, "You look like a Magikarp that splashed too far and landed on a bed of spikes, Especially since you got stung by all those Beedrill."

"I didn't get stung by any Beedrill, but when did I get these bites."

You see, Gary secretly unleashed a bunch of Beedrill on Ash while he was sleeping, and Ash didn't even wake up.

"Oh, you didn't? Well, I just assumed you did." says Gary sheepishly.

"Now, come on, everyone! Ash isn't that bad." says Morrison. "It's not his fault he was born so ugly."

"Hey!"

"Look up ahead!" says Tyson, "It's Legend Village!"

"Race you, everyone!" exclaims Ash.

"Get back here!" yells everyone.

Legend Village, a haven for Pokemon and trainer alike. It may be small, but everything you can think of relating to Pokémon can be found here. There are great training areas and good food to boot. Plus, everyone around you is a world class trainer. Then, there're the forests and rivers that run through and by the village. Basically, there's a habitat for every type and kind of Pokémon, making it a microcosm of many regions. When everyone arrives, they're shocked at all the strong-looking trainers, including some they already knew. There was Tobias, some Elite Four members, including but not limited to Lorelei, Bruno, Will, Drake, Sydney, Flint, Lucian, and Marshall. Plus, some champions and ex-champions like Steven, Wallace, Cynthia, and Alder are there. It was like the world stopped turning for this tournament.

Then, somebody came from behind the group.

"Hey, Ash, is that you?!"

"Hmm? Lance!"

"I see. You've been invited as well? Not much of a surprise considering the hassle you gave me. I hope there's no bad blood."

"No, of course not."

"That's good. I hope to see you for a rematch in the tournament, then."

"You bet!"

After Lance leaves, Paul says, "So that's who you lost to Ash. I bet he knocked you out with one Pokémon."

"No, Paul, it was really close."

"Yeah, as close as Kanto is to Unova." Trip says.

"Haha! You, me, and Gary have to get together some time and think of a bunch of Ash jokes." says Paul.

"Paul, if you're so great, how come you lost to this screw up?" Jeanette said.

"Yeah! Wait, hey!" yells Ash.

"Guys, guys. Don't be chopping Ash down like this. That's my job!" exclaimed Gary.

"Arceus, why did you have to make me friends with these people?" Ash said.

"Well, you guys should probably go register," says Miror B. "I have to get going anyway. If I don't come back soon, the champion will have my butt mounted on top of his fireplace. See you!"

"Bye!" says everyone.

So, now everyone goes to register. They wait a while in line and then go to have a bite at Snorlax and Slaking's™. After a filling meal, they decide to train a little in a few one on ones. Ash's Pikachu and Tyson's Meowth have a huge battle. Thunderbolts and Iron Tails fly everywhere. But, Pikachu comes out on top. Paul's Ursaring and Harrison's Blaziken duke it out. After a Fighting-move slug fest, they knock each other out with Hammer Arm and Sky Uppercut. Jeanette's Bellsprout defeats Gary's Rhyhorn by grabbing its tail and flipping it over and over. Morrison's Metagross and Trip's Serperior clash. Serperior's fast, but Psychic's faster. Morrison wins. Ritchie and Sparky take on Ash's Charizard. Poor Sparky gets 3rd degree burns.

Then, just as they're about to leave for their cabins, they see an explosion come from behind them. They rush over to see two pairs of trainers fighting one on one. The first pair was Tobias and his Darkrai fighting an ancient-looking man and a Lucario. The other pair was a young man with white hair and an odd machine on his arm with a Typhlosion and Miror B. with his Ludicolo. The old man ordered his Lucario to use Extreemspeed plus Aura Sphere. The Lucario seemed to disappear, and before Darkrai could find it, he got an Aura Sphere to the back, causing it to faint.

"You did well, but not well enough, boy! You must be one with your Pokemon! See what it sees and hear what it hears! Look at me! I'm blind yet I can still battle!"

"You're right, Shunsui. I failed to truly connect with Darkrai. You're as wise as they say. No wonder you were the former world champion."

"Yes, former! But, I will regain my lost glory! It will be a long and arduous road, for Allister is strong, but I shall defeat him!"

"Whoa! You're the former world champ?" asks Ash.

"Hmm? Yes, I am. And who might you be?"

"I'm Ash Ketchum from Pallet Town!"

"And I am Shunsui Namikaze of Celestic Town."

"So, you were the former champ? How'd you lose?" asks Gary.

"I lost because I fought a man better than myself in the art of battle. Allister may be the greatest trainer to have ever lived."

"So, that's the champ. Just who exactly is he?" asked Ash.

"Flint is not very old, only 23 if I remember. He was born an orphan, befriended a Pokémon and became quite good at battling. He traveled far and wide and defeated the required 5 leagues to challenge me."

"So, you can do that to challenge a World Champion, too?"

"Yes, but it was unprecedented. He was the first to have ever done so. I was the very first to hold the position, and no one else had challenged me by means of that method, and I held the title for 60 years."

"That long!?"

"Yes, and now I wish to take back my title."

"Well, good luck."

"And to you as well."

Then, after Shunsui gimps away, they see that Miror. B's match is over. His Ludicolo and the other trainer's Typhlosion have knocked each other out.

"Hey, Miror B., who's that you're battling?" asked Ash.

"More like losing to." Gary said.

"I will break your thumbs, boy! Oh, Ash! This is that Wes I was telling you about."

"That'd be me. So, Miror, you got way better since we last met at Deep Coliseum."

"Yes, my new training is much better, and my groove is much funkier. You've improved yourself."

"Uh huh. So who's this?"

"I'm Ash."

"And I'm Gary."

"I'm Wes."

"So you're from the Orre region, Wes? What's that like?" asks Ash.

"Orre is, for the most part, a huge desert with a little fertile land in the west. I was originally part of a team of people who took trainers' Pokémon, but I realized it was wrong and took their Snag Machine. Then, I met a girl who could see these things called Shadow Pokémon, and the rest is history."

"Yeah, he beat me and the rest of Cipher a couple years ago."

"Wow! You saved a whole region? You must be really strong."

"Guilty as charged."

"I hope I get to battle you."

"Same here."

"Well," Miror says, "I would say 'Let the music play!' but it's getting kind of late. Goodnight, everybody!"

"Goodnight!" says everyone.

So, everyone goes to their cabins they've been given and goes to sleep. But, Ash ponders to himself a little before dosing off.

Man, there are so many strong trainers here. My own rivals and friends, the Elite Fours and Champions, the old world champion, Wes, the vassals, and this mysterious Allister. I hope I can keep up. He looks over to Pikachu. Goodnight, buddy.

Meanwhile, at the champ's HQ:

"I'm burning with excitement, Crawford. The anticipation's killing me. The tournament starts tomorrow, and I can't wait to see the competition."

"I've been told that all those that have been invited, even Gideon's friend Jeanette, are quite adept."

"Good. Well, I'm goin' to bed. Night, Crawford."

"Goodnight."

What's in store for Ash in the tournament, and who will he face? Find out next time.