Here begins the tournament, after some more explanation. Enjoy!
For reference: Black's Pokemon used in this chapter: Jeremy (Crustle), Talonflame, Peter(Sigilyph), Bo(Emboar)
"How many trainers do I have to battle right of the bat, N?" I asked. The noise of the trainers and there coaches chatting made it hard to hear.
"You're worrying about that already? Just look out the window and enjoy the view, Black." I quickly looked through the airplane window and then back at N.
"There. I looked. Now answer my question," I demanded. N rolled his eyes and flicked his hair, mussing up his green hair even more than it already was. I wondered how he could do that without his hat falling off.
"Fine. Tomorrow starts the preliminaries. This whole tournament is elimination, so you can't lose once. If you continuously win then you could battle three times today and twice tomorrow."
"What's the format?" I asked. I figured it started three on three in a single battle, but I wanted to be sure.
"The oddest I've ever seen," N replied, "In the preliminaries it's two on two, single battle; in the quarterfinals it's… odd."
"Don't you dare leave me hanging, N."
"You can use as many pokémon as you want, but only one at a time. The first to knock out one of their opponents pokémon wins."
"I've never heard of that."
"That's why they used it, Black."
"What are the semi-finals and the championship round?"
"Normal six on six single battles."
"At least there's something familiar," I sighed, and the plane started it's descent.
I walked through the tournament lodging complex with N. "This were we part ways," he said as we came to a split in the hallway. "I have to go to the coaches lodgings, and you have to go to the trainers quarters."
"I'll Xtranceiver you later bro," I said, and I walked off to my room assignment to find out who I was bunking with.
The room was sparse, painted royal blue with two bunk beds, one labeled "Boys", and one "Girls". Sitting on the bottom boys bunk was a male (duh) teenager with spiky-ish hair and a black parka. "Hi, I'm Black," I introduced myself. He stood up and held out his hand.
"Hi, I'm Blue," he said. We shook hands. I climbed up to the top bunk and sat there, waiting for the girls. The door opened, and a girl in large white hat, red shirt, pink hoodie, and yellow and black short-shorts walked in. Blue nodded to her.
"Hello Crys."
"Hi Blue," she responded.
"You two know each other?" I asked.
"Me and Blue were part of the gathering of trainers who fought the masked man in Johto. Who are you?" The girl asked me.
"I'm Black. Nice to meet you," I said.
"Ditto," she replied. The door opened, revealing the final occupant of this room.
"Hello everybody!" Iris yelled. I groaned. "Hey, it's Black!" Iris yelled, "Long time no see!" Blue and Crys looked stunned by all the noise.
"Hi, Iris," I managed.
"Black, didja see? We're in the same preliminary group! I'll be able to crush you quickly!" she proclaimed. I did see that, but I hadn't imaged she would be staying in my room. Me and her were in preliminary group E. Blue was in H and Crys in C. I had checked the eight groups on the plane. The winners of the groups were the only ones in the quarterfinals.
"Can we just go to sleep now?" I groaned. Crys kicked an empty pokéball at the light switch, and the room quieted.
I woke to a harsh light and bird pokémon chirping. Wherever this island was, it was noisy in the morning. I slid out of bed. The other trainers were blinking and sitting up. As soon as Iris realized she could make noise, she did.
"Wow it's a great day can't wait to win all my battles no way I'm gonna lose OMG I want breakfast lets go!" She ran out of the room. I rolled my eyes. Blue and Crys just looked dazed. As I was walking down the hallway my Xtranciever beeped. I saw the green haired face of N.
"Sup bro?" he asked, "Meet me at breakfast!"
"N…" I started to say, but he had already hung up. I sighed and entered the cafeteria.
Over waffles, N and I discussed my strategy. I could see many other trainer and coach pairs doing the same thing.
"I already know what two pokémon you should use today, Black."
"How could you know already?"
"This combo doesn't give away too much information about you, and is good for getting a win. Hopefully, you'll only have to use the first pokémon, Jeremy the Crustle."
"Who's my opponent?" I asked. A lot could depend on this, so I wanted to know.
"A trainer from Sinnoh named Diamond. His coach is named Pearl, and Diamond is also a coach for Dawn Berlitz."
"I know her," I noted. I had battled her before, and I felt confident that I could beat her. First, however, I had to beat this Diamond trainer.
"Arena Q's third match today is… Black vs. Diamond!" the announcer announced. "Begin!"
"Go, Jeremy!" I yelled, flinging the pokéball. Out of the bright white light came the stone home pokémon, Crustle. The opposing trainer took out his pokéball.
"You can do it Tru!" he proclaimed. His pokémon was a Torterra.
"Use your sturdy/shell smash combo, Black," N said through my earpiece.
"Right," I responded. The plan was to use shell smash to raise my stats, and then take the next attack with my sturdy ability. After that, I would use my superior stats to sweep. "Use shell smash!" I commanded. Jeremy smashed its own shell to bits, increasing its speed and attack power.
"Tru, use earthquake!" Diamond ordered his pokémon. The stadium rumbled with the power. However, my Crustle was still left standing. Its sturdy ability worked! The other trainer looked at me with newfound respect. I was going to win!
"Use x-scissor!" I yelled. Jeremy leapt at the Torterra and slashed his claws against its head, dealing a lot of damage.
"Finish him with earthquake!" Diamond commanded.
"Hide in the tree, Jeremy!" Jeremy scurried up the Torterra's head and body and hid in the tree on its back, safe at the epicenter of the quake. "Now, catapult yourself up and come down on its head with a x-scissor!" Jeremy/Crustle jumped out of the tree and scored a direct hit on Torterra's head, knocking it out. Diamond recalled his Torterra into his pokéball. He took out his second pokéball and threw it.
"Go, Reg!" he yelled. A massive pokémon came out of the pokéball, but it was moving slowly.
"Get it while it's in slow start mode, Black!" N commanded me.
"Right," I affirmed, "Use rock slide, Jeremy!" The Crustle flung the broken pieces of its shell at the Regigigas' head.
"Use earthquake, Reg!" Diamond yelled. However, the falling rocks caused the Regigigas to flinch. "No!"
"Yes! Now, finish him with x-scissor!" Jeremy/Crustle slashed the Regigigas, knocking it out. I had won the first preliminary round.
Was this one long enough? :) The next chapter will come within 2-3 days.