Chapter 4
Painville- Yeah, that's one of the reasons why I didn't want to include Journey along with me not watching it yet. The OCs meant to be the, let's just say goalkeepers, for now, gym leader-type challenges that the teams have to face. If I make them a worthy enough challenge for the World Monarch, how can I justify someone like Virgil from the Black and White portion of the anime or Kenny from Diamond and Pearl to beat them? Granted, that's the whole team effort thing that comes in, but there's still the problem of if I make the OCs strong enough to give Ash a hard time how can anyone else beat them? It's why I asked people if they want Journey to be included.
Also, yeah it does make sense that Iris should be the champ of Unova. She likely went collecting badges during XY and then likely did the normal and then the champion tournament in Sun and Moon. Or maybe she did all that in Sun and Moon because she was on a journey while Ash was in Kalos. Either way, I suppose I should be fortunate I didn't say anything about her not being the champion or not. It'll be confirmed in this chapter. Or the very first if people want Journeys to be included.
Reader-
Okay, I haven't yet decided how the teams are going to be composed of fully yet or how many there will be, but I do know that some will have characters from different regions in the same teams. For example, Carlita from the Victini movies will be on the same team as Paul and Nando will be on the same team as Virgil. Those are some of the few that will no doubt be put into teams with each other. The rest is up to me and the audience if they want certain people to put together.
Also, yes. Certain tournament stadiums will have the energy to allow Dynamax. Some, however, won't for various reasons.
I'll explain the tournament details further in the next few chapters.
TheOfficialLieDetector- Correct. Alolan characters won't appear as much, but when they do they'll likely have major roles in the chapters they appear.
Okay, after some thought, I decided to make a poll for people to decide if Ash should be the Monarch or not. It'll be up for some time and it'll likely stay up until the posting of Chapter 10. That should be enough time for people to decide if Ash would be the World Monarch or not.
Ketchum Residence
"Oh man, this tournament sounds so awesome." Said Max as he read the pamphlet that the Pokemon League agent gave him and everyone else at Ash's celebratory party before leaving. He told them that additional information will be sent to them in the following weeks so they best check their emails and their mailboxes as soon as possible so as to contemplate that information as best they can.
Alexa, meanwhile, stayed to interview Ash along with Rhonda, much to Ash's dismay at being interviewed by two reporters at the same time. One reporter he was fine with and the other was a friend, but he didn't want to interview either of them right now. He wanted to know more about the tournament that he was going to participate in with most of his friends and former traveling companions. Unfortunately, this was the price of becoming a champion. Interviews. Lots and lots of interviews. So many that sometimes it wasn't worth being a champion. Sometimes.
Thus, with their mutual friend occupied, Max and the others promised Ash to read their pamphlets and then later tell him about what they uncovered about the tournament, its rules, and how to win it. Needless to say, Max was getting more and more fascinated with the tournament as he read more about it and its rules and regulations.
"I must concur." Said Clement as he read a pamphlet as well as some additional information that the Pokemon Agent gave him when he requested it. Just like Max, Clemont was fascinated with the tournament along with Iris and Brock as they all sat in the living room, reading their pamphlets. "According to the pamphlet, the tournament will have multiple teams with varying degrees of members. So long as each team has at least three battlers, one coordinator, and one performer, then they can have as many members as they like and the Pokemon League will act accordingly to deal with this."
"Really?" Asked Bonnie as she, Misty, and May watched the boys and Iris read the pamphlets. Dawn, Cilan, and Serena were with Delia and Mimey preparing temporary bedding for everyone present. Though the house wasn't made to have this many people sleeping over at once, Delia had done it several times before. When asked about this, Delia simply giggled and explained that her son wasn't the only one that had adventures, albeit not ones as exciting as his. "There won't be any protests at one team outnumbering the others? Like a super mega team?"
"No, and that's because there won't be any official battles between the teams that will determine if they advance or not. Besides the contest and performer portions of course." Said Brock, causing a gasp to come from May.
"Really? No eliminations of teams or anything of the sort?" Asked May in surprise. This really sounds like a unique tournament the more she learns about it.
"Oh yeah." Said Iris, the Unova champion as she looked at May. She didn't know much about the girl aside from the fact that she traveled with Ash in the Hoenn region with her brother Max and Brock, but she knew enough that she can consider her a friend. Sort of. "The tournament isn't about teams fighting teams. It's about beating the Gatekeepers and acquiring their gate cards."
"Gatekeepers?" Asked May in confusion.
"Gate cards?" Asked Bonnie as well.
"Yes." Said Brock before explaining. "Think of them like Gym Leaders and Gym Badges respectively. This tournament has you going around and facing the Gatekeepers, who are scattered all over the regions. So, a team has to go to confront the Gatekeeper in their respective region and facility. Once there, they challenge them to a team battle against them. The rules vary between the individual Gatekeepers, but you basically have to defeat them in a Pokemon battle and that's the main goal. After that, you get a point for getting your gate card and you can freely proceed to another Gatekeeper."
"A point? What do you mean Brock?" Asked May in slight confusion. "There's more than just winning?"
"Yes, actually." Said Brock before explaining further. "To retrieve the Gate Card from a Gatekeeper, a team has to win two of the three qualifiers to get the card. The battle portion is your standard Gym battle, the contest portion, and then the performer portion. By winning at least two of these qualifiers, a team can acquire their Gate Card and are free to proceed to any other region to acquire their next one."
"So, you just need to win two out of the three portions to advance." Said May as she understood this tournament a bit more. "What happens if you win all three in each of these qualifiers in a region?"
"Nothing from what I've seen." Said Clemont as he adjusted his glasses. "It seems that there are no additional rewards for winning all three qualifiers. At least shown here. It's very likely that the three qualifiers are there not only to test the trainers and their teamwork but also to have some competition between the teams. To see if they're actually doing what they're supposed to be doing concerning the purpose of the tournament."
"Which is learning about each other and working together as a team." Said Max as he finished reading the pamphlet. "Even if a team manages to get the battle portion correct, in that they have to work together to defeat the Gatekeeper, that doesn't mean they accomplished all the aspects of being part of a team."
"Really?" Asked Misty as she heard this. "Explain."
"You see." Said Max as he adjusted his glasses. "Being part of a team isn't just about working together to accomplish a singular goal, it's also about getting to know each other as individuals. Helping each other out when the going gets tough and also helping each other out with one's individual goals. It's like the times we all traveled together with Ash. May and Dawn didn't need to be there to support Ash or help him when he was down, but they were there. And the same with Ash when they were down. That's what a team is supposed to do along with other important things. At least teams for this tournament."
"Okay, I'm starting to get it." Said Misty as she nodded at this information. Truth be told, it sounded very much like when she and Brock traveled with Ash during the initial part of his journey and she very much liked that idea. The lessons she learned and the friends she picked up along the way really made her think that the League was making a good decision with this."
"Oh boy, this tournament sounds more and more appealing as I learn more about it." Said Bonnie in excitement as she jumped up and down. "I can't wait for it to start! When's it going to start!?"
"According to the pamphlet, it'll start two months from now." Said Brock. "The reason being is to not only allow people to prepare for it and finish whatever duties they have to attend the tournament, but also to allow them to acquire some more Pokemon for it as well."
"Oh boy! That's around the time I begin my journey!" Squealed Bonnie in excitement. She then grabbed her bag and looked at her Dedenne. "We're going to have a blast in this tournament, right Dedenne? I hope Serena and Ash can let me travel with them if they decide to participate."
"Well, if you want, you can travel with me and my brother." Said May as she looked at the easily excitable Bonnie with a smile. She and Max already discussed joining this tournament and they both decided to join it. Not only for the experience they'll gain, but also because it gave them an excuse to travel with each other and their old friends again. May especially want to travel with Ash again. Same with Max although for different reasons. "Serena has told me all about you and I think having you along won't be any trouble. Right, Max?"
"Sure, the more the merrier." Said Max, happy that he was going to travel with his sister on a journey again. He remembered the last journey he was on and he was thrilled to be part of another one with his sister. Only this time he'll be a Pokemon Trainer like Ash and May. He already figured out who he wanted as a starter and who was going to be his first catch. Provided he can find her of course.
"Is that okay, Clemont?" Asked Bonnie as she looked at her brother, who just smiled.
"Of course." Said Clemont as he looked back at his sister. "Any friend of Ash is someone I'm willing to take care of my little sister. I may not have the time to do this tournament, but I'll make sure to watch you participate whenever I can, sis. Just make sure to catch some good Pokemon from the various regions. I'm sure Dedenne will like some new friends."
"You got it big brother!" Yelled Bonnie before going over to May and giving her a big hug. "This is going to be a blast!" Chuckling a bit, May looked at Clemont and gave him a nod, promising to keep her safe along with her own brother. It was at this time that Ash arrived at his family home, finally done with the interview.
"Finally, it's all done." Said Ash, relief in his voice. He loved Alexa and respected Rhonda somewhat, but man did doing interviews take a lot out of you. Especially when they ask so many questions. Looking at some of his friends, Ash gave a smile. "So, what did I miss? Anything good or bad about this tournament?" Brock and everyone just chuckled before Brock explained what they knew about the tournament so far.
Later
May
After a few hours, the sleeping arrangements were made and everyone said their good nights to one another. Though some of them could have stayed in the local inn in Pallet Town, everyone wanted to be around Ash for a little while longer before they all had to leave. Thus, the very cramped sleeping arrangements.
Brock, Cilan, and Clemont were sleeping in the living room while Max was sleeping with Ash and Pikachu in his room. All the girls were sleeping in the single guest room in the house. It was a little extra work, but they made it work. They'll have to be careful when walking and waking up however so as to not step on one another.
Looking up at the ceiling, May Maple was currently wondering about the new tournament she heard about and a certain black-haired champion.
She always admired Ash. Always have since the day he came into her life. The way he went so far to save his Pikachu to all t the countless times he's been there to save not only her but Brock and her brother. Not to mention countless other Pokemon and people. And then there were times that he had been there when she was at her lowest. He may not have been a coordinator, but the lessons she learned from him have helped her become the coordinator she was today. She valued her friendship with Ash and wouldn't trade it for anything with the exception of one thing. To advance that friendship into something more.
Much to her embarrassment, May had developed quite a crush on Ash Ketchum. How couldn't she? Not only was he compassionate to both humans and Pokemon, but he always did whatever he could to help them out even if it inconvenienced him significantly. Those traits made her admire him, but when they kept appearing and appearing as well as happening to her as well it was then that she developed a crush. And that crush only got stronger and stronger as she continued to travel with him. Perhaps that crush cultivated into actual deep feelings for Ash during their debacle against that Phantom character and the Sea Temple. To have him risk his life to save a temple that he just saw just because it was home to water Pokemon and then save a Pokemon May was attached to, those acts caused her crush to evolve into secretive feelings that May didn't realize what they were until it was far too late to act on them.
Even when she met him again in Sinnoh, she didn't realize them and would have continued to not realize them until Harley, of all people, made her realize that she loved Ash when she defended him during an argument with a Coordinator that actually despised Ash despite never meeting him. Eventually, after a talk with her mother and Solidad did May realized her deep feelings for Ash. Something she found both joy in and fear.
Joy in that she had feelings for someone so wonderful and someone that her parents would approve of after all that they learned from him and what he did for their children. She also, however, held great fears that her feelings won't be realized and that Ash would either find love with another girl or, perhaps more likely, be completely oblivious to her feelings and simply live like he normally does. Go out on another journey, leaving her behind as just another chapter in his life, never knowing about her feelings for him. That thought scared her and made her realize that, if she didn't want to lose Ash to another girl or become just a friend to Ash, she needed to confess to him before she lost her chance forever potentially.
Fortunately, as if Arceus himself was smiling upon her, she had a chance to not only travel with Ash once again but also be given a chance to confess her feelings towards him while also giving her a chance to also follow her dream of being a Top coordinator. This tournament is her chance and she wasn't going to throw it away.
No doubt Ash will ask her to join him on his team for the tournament or, if she asked, accept to join her team. Provided they can choose who they want on their teams of course. Smiling at the thought of traveling with Ash again soon, May began thinking of ways to gather up the courage to not only confess to Ash but also think of how to help him in this tournament in all aspects of it.
Unbeknownst to her, Dawn and Serena were having similar thoughts to her. Just like her, they also developed feelings for Ash, Serena earlier than Dawn and May, and were trying to figure out how to confess to him while also trying to think of ways to help him in the battle portions of the tournament. They were good in both Contests and Performances, but battling wasn't their forte and they wanted to help him in that aspect of the tournament. Especially Serena. Thus, all three girls decided to train themselves and their Pokemon for battle to varying degrees of intensity as some were better at battling than others.
With those thoughts, they all went to sleep, eager to tell Ash how they felt.
Meanwhile
Pokemon League Headquarters
"I don't know. I know it's what Mr. Goodshow wants if he ever goes missing before this whole thing occurs, but I'm not so sure." Said a Pokemon League director as he looked at his fellow directors of the Pokemon League. At the main headquarters of the Pokemon League, the board of directors in charge of the entire League was conversing with one another regarding the missing Charles Goodshow and who would replace him for their upcoming tournament. Fortunately, Goodshow thought ahead and already had a person in mind. However, it was that person that made some on the board of directors a little uneasy. "I know Goodshow desires Glacies to have more say in the world, but having one of their own be acting president until he's found is a bit going too far."
"I would agree." Said another director as he brought out a folder. "But the person he desires for that role is actually quite well versed in the inner workings of the League, its procedures, as well as its general workings in the various regions. Not to mention, this person has been trained by Goodshow himself for the role of a potential successor or, at the very least, has a position within the board. This person, I'd say, has more than adequate skills and experience to justify giving him the acting President of the Pokemon League. At least until Goodshow is found."
"I agree as well." Said a woman as she inputted her own opinion on the matter. "Besides, if nothing else, this can really help show that Glacies, despite not having their own league, is not what it used it be and that nothing is wrong with integrating them back into the wider world. Or the opposite as well depending on how he fares in the role." Hearing the arguments, the first director sighed.
"Very well." Said the man. "Where is he?"
"He's currently in the Unova Region." Said a second woman as she adjusted her glasses. "He's advertising the tournament with several of his people in the region."
"Well then notify him regarding his new position and tell him that it was at the request of the president himself." Said the man. "No, doubt he'll try to shrink away from his newfound responsibilities unless told it was at the request of Goodshow. He doesn't seem to like doing anything unless it's at Goodshow's request."
"You only say that because he refused to help you out with something." Said another woman. "Something you refuse to tell us." Upon hearing that, the first man coughed a bit before saying that it was something unimportant and that the individual in question left a bad first impression by refusing to do even a simple task. With that, the meeting between them ended and they all went on their business with some hoping that they weren't making a terrible mistake in regards to how is temporarily replacing Goodshow as president of the Pokemon League.