Chapter 5: It Begins
The time has come. It's the morning of the tournament, and Ash and Gary will be heading for the stadium soon. Everyone else has gone off into town ahead of them.
"Well, Ash, are you ready?"
"Yeah, let's do this!"
So, they leave their cabin to get to the stadium, but they're stopped shortly after by a man trying to get his Slaking to get up. He's a tall, young guy with spiky, black hair.
"Come on, Slaking! We've gotta get to the tournament! You know I don't like having to explain myself to him!"
"You need any help?" asked Ash.
"Hmm? Oh no, I'm fine, but for curiosity's sake, do you happen to have a strong flying type with you?"
"Yeah! Charizard, I choose you!"
"Rawwr!"
"Perfect! Would you mind lifting Slaking out of the way?"
"Sure. Charizard, could you lift up Slaking?"
Charizard lifts up Slaking, which almost gives it a hernia.
"Thank you very much! I'm Gideon. What're your guys' names?"
"I'm Ash."
"And I'm Gary."
"I know who you are Gary Oak."
"You do?"
"Yeah! You're the one who's been annoying Miror so much. I got to thank you for that."
"Wait, so does that mean you're a vassal, too?" asks Ash.
"Yep. I'm the Champ's left-hand man!"
"So, who's the right?" asks Gary.
"That would be my brother, Connor. He's always been just a little better than I. We couldn't be any more different. I'm wild, he's calm. I go for the kill while he thinks up a strategy. But, don't get me wrong. He's an amazing trainer."
"So, that makes Crawford 3rd strongest." said Ash.
"Crawford? Yeah, he's 3rd. Well, thanks again for the assist."
"Don't mention it."
So, Ash and Gary finally set back off for the tournament. When they get there, they realize that it's packed with spectators and trainers. Once they find everyone, the sound seemingly drains out of the stadium.
"Ladies and gentlemen!" shouts the announcer. "Welcome to the World Championship Tournament! Over the next few days, you will be treated to world caliber matches all leading up to the Labyrinth Challenge and a shot for 16 lucky trainers to face the champ! Now, I give you the world champ himself!"
From a VIP box in the stands, a man walks out and is displayed on the jumbotron. He's a tall, wiry man with medium-length dark brown hair and really green eyes. He has a lackadaisical feel about him and seems to have a perpetual smile glued onto his face.
"Thank you all for coming, trainer and spectator alike! I'm Allister, your World Champion! Sixteen of you will get a shot at both me and my title, and the other 496 will get nothing more than the experience! I wish I could battle you all, but sadly, I can't! Corporates upstairs won't let me. Anyway, good luck, and have some fun! The matches will begin shortly."
"So, that's the champ." said Ash.
"Come on, Ash, they're about to show the matches!" yells Gary.
"Coming!"
"Here we go!" yells the announcer. The computer shows a myriad of pictures flying around until they finally settle into a bracket.
"It looks like the first match will be between Harrison and Ash Ketchum!"
"Harrison, it looks like Charizard and Blaziken will get that rematch after all." says Ash.
"Good, I was hoping for that." says Harrison.
Everyone finds out who they'll be battling. Gary's going up against Trip. Paul's taking on some guy named Silver. Jeanette's up against Tobias. Morrison's facing Glacia, Richie's fighting Agatha, and Tyson's fighting Sydney. But, now we join Ash and Harrison on the field of battle.
"Okay, trainers, this is a six on six battle with substitutions allowed. The battle's over when… whatever, you know this already. Start the battle already!"
"Alright, Sceptile, I choose you!"
"A Pokemon from Hoenn?! Good. Kecleon, let's go!"
"Kecleon? That brings back memories. Let's do this, Harrison!"
Ash orders Sceptile to use Quick Attack, but Kecleon camouflages itself and avoids it. Before Sceptile can find it, it launches a Psybeam.
"Tile!"
"Sceptile, look for the red stripe!"
Sceptile scans the area, spots the stripe and zooms toward it with a Leaf Blade.
"Counter it with Ice Punch, Kecleon!"
"Sceptile, jump in the air!"
Sceptile jumps in the air just before the Ice Punch connects.
"Now, use Sunny Day."
Sceptile blinds Kecleon with the sun to keep Kecleon from countering.
"Now, finish it with Solarbeam!"
"Kec!"
"No, Kecleon!"
"Kecleon's unable to battle!"
"Houndoom, go!"
"Hound!"
"This battle's just starting, Ash. Houndoom, use Smokescreen!"
Houndoom covers the battlefield with smoke, leaving Sceptile blind.
"Use Faint Attack, Houndoom!"
"Where is it?" said Ash.
"Scep!"
"Keep going Houndoom. Spam it!"
Houndoom kept spamming Faint Attack, slowly eating away at Sceptile's health.
"Grr. How do I find Houndoom? Oh! Sceptile, use Leaf Tornado!"
Using Leaf Tornado, Sceptile blows away the smoke, revealing Houndoom.
"Now, use Fury Cutter!"
"Houndoom, Dark Pulse!"
Houndoom bounces Sceptile away with Dark Pulse.
"Now, finish it with Fire Blast!"
"Tile!"
"Sceptile is unable to battle!"
"Good job, Sceptile! Feraligator, I choose you!"
"Gator!"
"Now, use Aqua Tail!"
"Counter it with Dark Pulse!"
Aqua Tail hits Dark Pulse.
"Go, Feraligator! Break through!"
Feraligator breaks through Dark Pulse and hits Houndoom.
"Houndoom is unable to battle!"
"Hmm… Grumpig, let's go!"
"Pig!"
"Use Bounce, Grumpig!"
Grumpig jumps high in the air and comes down hard on Feraligator.
"Feraligator, hold on to it!"
Feraligator grabs Grumpig and holds on tightly.
"Oh, no you don't , Ash. Grumpig, use Psychic!"
Grumpig lifts itself and Feraligator high into the air, but Feraligator holds on.
"Hit it with a Crunch, Feraligator!"
"Pig!"
Grumpig's Psychic is canceled, so they both fall from the great height. Feraligator is unlucky enough to fall on a conveniently placed diamond boulder. Why is there a diamond boulder?
"Both Grumpig and Feraligator are unable to battle!"
"Good job!" Both trainers say to their Pokémon.
"Weavile, go!"
"Garchomp, I choose you!"
"Ok, Harrison, let's do this."
Who will prevail? Harrison or Ash? Find out next time.