The next few days went by uneventfully. Tyler had his team worn to the bone, training nonstop for his fourth round battle. Ash had spent most of his time by himself, preparing as best he could for his battle with Alder, the Unova region champion. The two of them, and Jamie, were all rivals in the tournament and they were making sure they were ready to face anybody. Even each other.
For once, not much was going around Driftveil city. It seemed as though the tournament was put entirely on hold as everyone readied themselves for round four. Several trainers that were competing were doing their research on their opponents, training in their own undisclosed location or conserving the energy of their Pokémon and giving them the rest. There were only a few scattered people in the city streets, in contrast to the thousands of people that were about during tournament days. It was like the quiet before the storm, a storm that would be unleashed when the toughest trainers in the world engaged in full battle competition.
Despite the lack of activity around town, there was tension in the streets of Driftveil city. Because after today there would be two days of back to back battling with some of the strongest trainers in the world. Each of them working their best to prevail and get one step closer to the Pokémon master title.
And all that money wouldn't hurt either.
Jamie, Tyler and Ash were eating dinner in the cafeteria of the hotel. They weren't eating with their friends because they had been in their rooms all day, making any and all last minute preparations for their battles tomorrow.
"Hey Ash, you all set?" Tyler asked.
"I'm as ready as I'll ever be. All I have to now is give it all I've got."
"What about you?" Jamie asked.
"I'm all set. I have a strategy and I'm confident I can win it." He said.
"Good to hear it. I'll be expecting you in round 5!" Ash told him.
"And how are things going with Paul?" He asked his brother.
"Just fine. I've got my team put together and they're going to give it their best." Jamie told him.
"So sounds like we're all ready." Tyler said.
"Yeah, ready to lose." Jamie said, referring to Ash.
"Hey don't give him a hard time. I'm telling you Ash has a shot to win this." Tyler gave Ash some encouragement.
"I know he has a shot. But it's a really slim one." He said with his finger and thumb close together.
"Well I'd just watch yourself when you're battling Paul." Ash retorted. "He's a really strong trainer with some good strategies. Never let your guard down when you're battling him." He warned.
"Sure thing." He said with a smile and closed eyes. "You just worry about Alder." He said with one eye open at him.
This got Tyler thinking. If he couldn't beat Paul, how would Jamie handle their battle in the 4th round? Jamie was going to have to be at his best to beat Paul.
"So you guys interested in any of the other matches?" Jamie asked.
"I'm going to catch your battle for sure." Ash said. "I know Tobias is battling first. And I'm going to see Morrison's battle too."
"I'm going to be watching your battles and Clare's as well." Tyler said.
"The battles are all going to be really intense. I'm sure any of them would be worth seeing." Jamie shrugged.
"I know. Man I'm so excited that I can hardly take it." Tyler said with his eyes shut.
"Me too. This is going to be so amazing." Said Ash.
"Well I'm going to turn in." Jamie interupted as he got up. "Gonna rest up for tomorrow."
"Really? But it's still early." Ash said.
"Yeah. But tomorrow is a big day. See ya." Jamie finished the conversation and walked away from the table.
"Well what do you say we visit the gang?" Tyler sugested.
"Sure. Let's go over to the Pokémon centre and say hi." Ash agreed. After the two friends finished eating they went back to the Pokémon centre to see the friends they'd neglected over the last few days.
"Ahh… that was good." Sighed May. "Thanks for the meal Brock."
"Sure. Glad you enjoyed it." He said back.
May yawned. "Man, I'm tired. I think I'm going to head off to bed."
"Oh, what time are we heading off to the stadium tomorrow?" Max asked before his sister could walk away.
"I'd say we leave here at about 9:30." Suggested Tracey.
"Sounds good." Said Gary as he got up from his seat.
"You headin' off too?" Asked Brock.
"Yep. G'night." Gary said with a flick of the hand.
"Night Gary." Tracey said to him.
"Man it's been so boring." Iris yawned too. "I can't wait for tomorrow."
"I sure can. I need the rest. I've been making meals out of my ears the way you people eat." Brock mumbled to himself with his back turned.
"Think you're excited? I can only imagine how Ash and Tyler are feeling right now." Misty said.
"They'd better be prepared. The fourth round's going to be tough." Max said.
"Oh! Did you guys know that Paul is facing Jamie in the next round?" Iris said all of a sudden.
"Wha?–… Yeah we know." Dawn said, surprised at her sudden outburst.
"Well how about that he challenged Tyler to a battle?"
"Really?!" Misty asked intrigued.
"Oh yeah, that's right. He battled him two days ago." Tracey remembered.
"No way! And we missed it?" Max asked disappointed.
"It was a good battle, although Tyler eventually lost." Brock told them as he continued the meal clean up.
"Wait, Tyler lost!? No kidding?" Dawn asked in shock. It was hard to believe him actually losing.
"What did I lose?" They all turned to see the person in question step into the Pokémon centre with the raven haired trainer at his side.
"Oh Tyler! Ash!" Misty said in delight.
"We're talking about the battle you had with Paul." Tracey explained.
"You battled Paul?" Ash faced him.
"Yep. I did." He said, avoiding eye contact.
"Yeah, and that he lost too." Max smirked in his seat.
"So Paul got the better of you too huh?" Ash said.
"So he did beat you?" Asked Dawn.
Tyler took a breath and looked at her. "Yeah. I lost." He nodded to her with a sad smile.
"Yeah. Anyway, Jamie is battling him next round and we're wondering what his odds of winning are." Iris said, getting back to her point.
"Well since Paul beat Tyler, his odds of winning aren't looking too good." Dawn said.
"I don't know. He's looked pretty good in his other battles." Argued Tracey.
"Paul is a strong trainer with some good strategies. He's not an easy opponent to beat." Ash said.
"Well none of us know him quite like you do." Brock said.
"Friend of yours?" Tyler asked.
"Paul is a trainer I met when I first went to the Sinnoh region." Ash reminisced. He thought back to his travels through Sinnoh and all the encounters he had with Paul.
"He was the first trainer I battled with in the Sinnoh region. Even from the beginning, he was tough. And throughout our travels we ran into him a bunch of times. He just kept getting stronger and stronger every time I saw him, and I could never seem to get the edge over him." Ash recalled the several losses he was given by Paul's hand.
"So, how'd it end?" He asked.
"Well I had a secret weapon. Paul had released a Pokémon that soon started training with me, a Chimchar. That's where my Infernape came from." Ash explained.
"Oh, I see." Tyler nodded.
"So he's a really experienced Pokémon trainer too." Misty said.
"Paul focuses on power above all else. And he always puts his Pokémon through incredibly tough training to maximise the power of his Pokémon." Brock added.
"So he really pushes his Pokémon that hard?" Asked Max.
"He does. Or at least, the last time we saw him."
"What do you mean?" Wondered Iris.
"Well the thing is, those two didn't really get along at first." Brock confessed with a cringe.
"But Cynthia, the Sinnoh region champion, told us that Ash and Paul held a great deal of respect for each other by the time their Sinnoh league journey was over." Dawn said.
"It's so cool you know the Sinnoh region champion." Max shook his head to himself.
"I was surprised to see her in Unova too. She helped us out a lot and even agreed to a battle with me and Axew." Iris said.
"No kidding." Dawn said surprised.
"The interesting people we run into." Brock nodded to himself.
"So how have you guys been?" Misty turned to the two boys. "Are you all ready for you match tomorrow?"
"You bet!" Ash said with a clenched fist. "I'm ready to give it my all out there.
"Me too. I have a good feeling about my battle." Tyler said.
"Good to hear, and good luck." Tracey flashed a thumbs up.
"We'll be in the stands cheering for both of you." Brock said.
"Yeah. No need to worry." Dawn told them.
"Thanks you guys." Ash looked around to all of them.
"I can already tell, tomorrow will be something to see." Tyler smiled.
"Well it's getting late. We should probably head back now." Tyler suggested. They'd been at the Pokémon centre for hours talking about the tournament and just catching up.
"Good idea. We should go to bed too. We need to be well rested to cheer out hearts out for you two tomorrow." Brock agreed.
"As long as we're not matched up against a hot chick." Tyler said, knowing he would favor the girls. Brock face planted on the floor upon hearing this.
"Well, you got me there." He groaned.
"Well goodnight you guys." Ash said with a wave. He and Tyler bid goodbye to their friends and made their way back to the hotel.
"Alright… time to get a good night's sleep for tomorrow." Ash stretched as he walked.
"Yep, sounds good." Tyler said back. "We're going to need it for tomorrow. We can't afford to not be at our best. I just hope I can handle the pressure." The thought of him battling in the spotlight in front of thousands of spectators made his stomach do backflips and left him with goose bumps. It was a weird combination of nervousness and exhilarating excitement that he'd rarely ever felt before.
"Try not to think about it. Just focus on the battle, and have a blast with your Pokémon." Ash assured him. He flashed him a thumbs up as they reached the front door. Ash proceeded inside while Tyler waited outside, taking a moment to gather his thoughts.
He looked up into the night sky and saw the moon shinning above. He basked in the moonlight for a moment. The full battles started tomorrow. And he was going to compete against some of the best trainers in the world. This is what being a Pokémon trainer is all about. It feels as if everything he had done was to get him to this point. To prove his dominance in the Pokémon world. He'd gotten this far. Just goes to show what a trainer is truly capable of.
Soon he'd be in the center of the battlefield in front of all the fans who support him, and those who stand against him, along with his friends and family watching at home. It was now up to him to make them proud. His friends, his fans, Blackthorn city, and most of all… himself, and his pokémon.
"Huh. If only I lost in round one. It all would've been so much simpler." He said to himself as he turned away from the moon and walked inside.
He leaned back in the lounge chair he had sitting out on the balcony of his room. He had his hands back behind his head and stared up into the night sky as he let all his thoughts flow through his head.
*Paul… I've heard quite a bit about you. That guy who trainers always need to look out for during battle.* Jamie thought to himself. He was looking towards his battle with Paul. It was defiantly going to be a tough one.
*It would seem that Ash has a history with you as well.* He got to his feet and looked out over the balcony at the night shrouded city, focusing on nothing in particular. *And the fact that both of you have made it this far, means that I'm in for a real challenge. And I'm going to have to step up.* He clenched his left fist in front of him. Then he returned it to his side and looked out once more.
*Paul, I need to win in order to continue. And that means, I have to take you down.* He had a focused look on his face and turned around to look back through the glass door inside his room.
*And that means, I've got some work to to.* He turned and walked back inside.
"Come on buddy. We need to get our rest for our battle tomorrow." He said to his yellow partner as they got under the sheets. It was getting pretty late and they had to be ready for what tomorrow would bring.
"Pika-pi." Agreed the mouse as it settled itself on one side of his pillow. Ash pulled the sheets over them and laid back, looking up into nowhere with wonder in his eyes.
"Tomorrow starts the next round. There's going to be trainers with a lot of skill and experience." Pikachu's ears perked up as it caught the excitement building in its trainer's voice. It opened its eyes and saw him roll to his side to face him with a smile on his face.
"The battles are going to be awesome, no doubt. A bunch of the toughest trainers ever, and we get to be a part of it."
"Pika-pikachu!" Pikachu fist pumped.
"I can't wait for our battle to start." He continued with a sad smile on his face. "Even if we have to go against Alder."
"Pi-ka." Pikachu nodded in a somber response.
"But." He said with a vibe of excitement. "We're going to give it our all. And we're going to have the best battle of our lives." He said triumphantly.
"Pi-kachu!" It whole-heartedly agreed.
Ash returned to his back as he continued to speak. "And I'm excited to see Tyler, Jamie, Paul and Morrison, and how good they do." Pikachu nodded to its trainer. It was also excited to see their rivals in action. It then curled up on top of the sheets, settling itself to sleep.
"Sleep well Pikachu." Ash whispered as he gave his partner a rub on the head.
"Tomorrow's going to be a big day."
Okay, so here's the next chapter. Sorry it took so long, but writing has been slow. Like reaaaaaaaallly slow.
But something I want to ask you guys is what your favorite chapter has been so far? I'd rather keep you guys entertained than not so let me know what it is that you like so I can do more chapters like that to keep you interested. Personally, my favorite one to write was 'Tower Tycoon' with Palmer vs. Nitro as it was the first more high calibre battle that I tried to create. But tell me what your favorite chapter was and I'll do more chapters closer along those lines in the future.
And next time we'll kick off round 4!