"Really? No kidding?!" Asked Dawn.
"No. And then Brock brings out a frying pan and calls it his 'trusty drying pan'!" Misty laughed. Max and Iris giggled along with them while Tracey looked sympathetically at Brock as he relived his embarrassment.
"Can you not keep bringing that up?" He groaned with a hand over his face. As old as it was, Misty never forgot many details about their travels through Kanto and Johto.
Oh come on Brock, it's funny." Dawn said with a smile on her face.
"I've never been a fan of puns, but that's just embarrassing!" Max said with a childish laugh.
"Yeah, yeah, yuck it up." Brock said in annoyance. The six of them were eating breakfast in the Pokémon centre. Misty was enlightening them of the antics for her with Ash and Brock back in Kanto.
"Got any other stories?" Asked Iris.
"Sure. But none that are that funny." Misty chuckled.
"It was years ago. Can't we just forget about it?" Brock asked in a light tone.
"Anyway, what's going on today?" Asked Tracey. Max took out his pokénav and looked up the tournament info.
"Nothing apparently. The next few days is down time for the trainers to prepare for the 4th round." Max said.
"Good news for Ash and Tyler." Beamed Dawn. She was glad the two of them would finally get a break. They've been training really hard, even on tournament days.
"Oh great. Then what are we supposed to do for three days." Iris slouched on the table.
"Well I know Tyler and Ash will be busy training for their battle." Said Brock.
"I'm sure the tournament will keep them busy, even on the off days." Tracey thought aloud.
"Speaking of which, where are they?" Asked Dawn.
Tyler awoke from his sleep in the softest bed he ever laid his back on. He slowly got up and swung his legs over the side. He just sat there for a moment as he relished in the most relaxing awakening he ever had. With a calming yawn and a good stretch he got up and walked over to the computer from across the room.
The previous night Goodshow had announced the beginning of the full battles. For making it to that point, he gave out deluxe hotel rooms to everyone who was still competing. Tyler was all for it to accept the offer. He couldn't afford the room on his own and the Pokémon centre had been really crowded since the kick-off of the tournament.
The room came with a fully stocked kitchen, bathroom, a plasma TV, the world's softest bed, which he'd been well acquainted, and a desk with a computer to check into the tournament's entire database. It seemed as though they gave them a set up so they could hide out in the room for days until their battle. They wanted to have the trainers spend all their time preparing so that they could give the best battles ever. Figures.
The only downside was that the whole room was only 180 square ft. Not very ideal for multiple people so they're going to have to hang out somewhere else. The room may have had all this cool stuff but it didn't change the fact that it was a cramped space. Liked a college room.
He sat down in the office chair in front of the desk. He booted up the computer to search the database for any and all info on his next opponent. His plan was to find out what he could, make his strategy, then give his Pokémon a little more training before the battle. Although now that he thought about it, since the hotel he was in is the same that held the party, he never left last night and left all his Pokémon back at the Pokémon centre, so he'd have to go back for them soon. But for now he logged onto the tournament website and looked up info on the final trainers.
He found out his opponent had frequently used Crobat, Bronzong and Toxicroak in his previous matches. He then looked into their moves and his strategies and started to make a plan.
"Good question. I know they didn't come back last night." Brock said.
"What? Do you know if they're okay?!" Misty asked worried.
"Relax they're fine. Mr. Goodshow gave out hotel rooms to all of the remaining trainers last night." Gary interjected as he sat down at the table with them.
"Really? How do you know this?" Asked Iris.
"Grandpa told me."
"So Tyler and Ash are staying in a hotel." Dawn summed up.
"And probably sleeping in no doubt." Max suspected.
"Well Ash for sure." Said Misty.
"No doubt." Agreed Iris.
"How about after breakfast we go over to see if we can find them." Brock suggested.
"Sure thing! Those boys will probably get so stressed out over their battle if we're not there to take their minds off it." Dawn smiled.
"No thanks. Grandpa is going around and meeting people involved in the tournament planning committee. I'm going to tag along with him." Gary said.
"Sounds boring. I'm going to see what Ash and Tyler are up to." Misty decided.
"Great. Then what do you say we get going." Said Tracey as he stood up.
"Sure." Agreed Max.
Ash had gotten out and was making his way down to the food hall. He had slept in for so long until Pikachu acted, per usual, as his electric alarm clock. After a good zap Ash was up and about and made his way for breakfast. He received a tray of food and made his way towards the tables where he saw Jamie and Tyler talking together.
"How do you not have your Pokémon with you? You're a trainer in a tournament. Wha… what are you doing?!" Jamie asked exasperated.
"I know, I know. I have to go back for them. I'll have to switch some of them out while I'm there." In the middle of his sentence he saw Ash and waved him over.
"Sleep well?" He asked.
"Do you really need to ask that?" Jamie said with a smirk.
"It felt like I was sleeping in marshmallows." Ash sighed.
"You uh… you really need that much food?" Jamie asked, noting Ash's oddly high pile of food. Jamie had gotten his fill the night before so he was eating like a bird this morning but Ash was still going all out with a five course breakfast.
"What can I say, sleep makes me hungry." Ash smiled.
"Unreal." Tyler rolled his eyes like he couldn't believe it.
"So what's your plan for the next couple of days?" Jamie asked them.
Tyler thought for a moment. "I'm going to make a strategy and train my Pokémon for the next battle, but I don't know what I'm going to do other than that." He said.
"Who are you battling next?" Ash asked.
His name is Saturn. I don't know much about him."
"Saturn… Saturn." Ash thought. Where had he heard that name before?
"And I'm battling Paul." Jamie said.
Ash nearly chocked. "You're facing Paul?!"
"I hear he's pretty strong. Be careful against him." Tyler said.
"Yeah, I have some training to do before that."
"What about you Ash?" Tyler asked.
"I'm battling Alder." Ash said worried.
"Alder?!" Tyler asked, wondering if he was serious. "You have to battle Alder?"
"Hoho boy, I do not envy you." Jamie chuckled.
"But, it doesn't matter. Because I'm going to beat him no matter what!" Ash said with a clenched fist.
"Really? How?" Tyler wondered.
"Easy. All I have to do is work the best I can with my Pokémon. We'll train as hard as we can, get totally ready and then we'll beat Alder! Right Pikachu?" He asked. The yellow mouse did an air punch along with him.
"Good luck to you Ash." Tyler said.
"The same for you." He said to them and looked over to Jamie. "Good luck with Paul. He's a tough one, I know."
"No problem. I'll handle it." Jamie said with a look of confidence.
"Well let's eat! Then we'll train. Whadda ya say?" Ash asked his partner.
"Pikaaa!" It cheered.
"There you go, eat up!" Iris pushed a bowl in front of her. "The more you eat, the faster you'll get better." She said with a smile. Dragonite gave her a quizzical look before moving on and eating the food put in front of it.
Iris watched it eat with a soft expression on her face. "You know, I have a Dragonite just like you. But I can tell that you're a more of a free spirit than the one I know." The Dragonite looked up at her as she continued to speak.
"You see my Dragonite can be a bit stubborn. It never listens to me during battle, and is always acting out on its own decisions. It also just has to do everything on its own." Iris said as she recalled all of Dragonite's idiosyncrasies. Dragonite looked at her wondering what she was getting at.
"It won't even accept help from its friends when it needs it. Just be sure you don't be that kind of dragon type, alright?" Iris smiled at it. It gave her and confused look and then turned its attention to the doorway as nurse Joy walked in the room.
"Wow Iris, you're so good with Dragonite." She commented as she saw the girl looking after the dragon Pokémon. Iris had asked to see how Dragonite was doing and even offered to help it if she could.
"Thanks nurse Joy. Dragon types are my specialty." Said the girl from the village of dragons.
"It looks like Dragonite is just about ready to leave. One more night of rest and you'll be good as new." Nurse Joy said after she gave a quick inspection on Dragonite's condition. The injured wing it had when it was brought in was looking much better and Dragonite was almost back up to speed. Iris turned to Dragonite with a thrilled expression on her face.
"You hear that Dragonite? You're going to be okay!" She said overjoyed. Dragonite cracked a smile, happy that it'd finally be cleared to leave the Pokémon centre.
"Please pass the message on to your friend, Dragonite is going to be just fine." She requested.
"Drraaa." Called the dragon as it continued to eat.
"Sure thing!" Iris responded.
"Just let me know if you need anything else." She said in courtesy.
"I will nurse Joy, and thanks."
"Zewiii."
"Hounn."
"Charr."
Dragonite finished off its food just before several cries were heard in the hallway. The three of them looked back through the doorway and saw Tyler's Pokémon gathering around him in the hall.
"Hey guys, sorry I was gone for so long." Tyler apologised as he got down, petting one of Zweilous's heads and gave Houndoom a rub under the chin.
"These guys have been antsy all day. They've been concerned since you didn't come back last night." Brock stood over them.
"I see." He said before turning to his Pokémon. "Sorry if I made you worry." Zweilous howled up at him while Charmeleon just snorted and turned his heady away from him. Tyler gave a light chuckle and stood up to face nurse Joy.
"How are Gallade and Flygon?" He asked.
"They and Charmeleon are all in perfect health." Nurse Joy smiled at him.
"And nurse Joy says Dragonite's going to be all right too!" Iris told him.
"Good, so then everyone's okay." Tyler smiled.
"So do you know who you're facing in the next round?" Brock asked.
"I do, and I need to start training right away. But first I need to swap out some of my Pokémon."
"Good. Then after that we can help you train."
"Alright!" Cheered Iris and Axew.
"We'll do the Pokémon switches first. Then I'll meet you outside." Tyler said. Brock and Iris headed out the front door while nurse Joy returned to her duties. Dragonite had seen everything through the doorway and watched Tyler walk away with an engaged look on its face.