Ash woke up with a stretch. His eyes adjusted to his surroundings as the sun began to rise. Being in Vertress was nice, albeit rather too in the open for him. He agreed to come here after all, so if anyone were to blame for him constantly being on edge then it was himself.
Yesterday was also a rough day for him. When he went for lunch he ran into some old familiar faces.
Ash had gotten some sushi at a local sushi cart near the Marshal stadium. He was sitting on a bench, lost in his own little world with Raichu by his side. He stuffed a Magikarp roll into his mouth when he froze. The spines on Raichu's back stood on end as they both heard familiar voices.
"I'm just saying Brock, it's really surprising seeing yourself behave yourself!"
"Well, dating the Nurse Joy from Vermillion City has me behaving more proper," the breeder stated with a shy grin.
Ash started to panic as they neared. Arceus was everyone from his past here? Brock, May, Dawn, Max, Misty, Iris, and Cilan were all in one pack. He internally sighed but packed up his lunch. Raichu stood up and stood a little closer to Ash. His timing, as always in social situations, was pretty awful. He stood up in time to accidentally bump into Cilan. The green haired man stumbled and shot a cross look at Ash.
"Hey watch it man!" Max piped up first. Cilan, more passive yet level headed, brushed himself. "It's okay, I'm sure he didn't mean it. Right, mister?"
Ash nodded, trying to come up with a fake voice. "Really meant nothing by it, sir. Just trying to go train with my Raichu here. I apologize for bumping into you."
Ash was sincere, and Cilan seemed satisfied enough to smile and turn. However, Iris and Max were quick to defend Cilan further. Ash noticed Iris had been holding Cilan's hand as they made their way to the main arena.
"Who do you think you are? We need a better apology than that!" Max said.
Iris nodded in agreement, "Why not have waited to leave so you didn't bump into him?" Iris sounded very accusatory in her voice. Ash internally groaned. He forgot how hotheaded and childish Max and Iris were.
"You guys please, he apologized and I accepted it. Can we please move on?" Cilan stated.
"Seriously, I didn't mean to." Ash really felt uncomfortable now. He wanted to leave and get away.
Max gave a huff. "Fine mister, just hope we don't run into each other again!" Iris and Max turned to walk away. Brock and Dawn were trotting back, not even realizing that they had separated from their flock.
"Is everything okay?" Brock asked. Dawn just stared into Ash's eyes, as if she could read into his soul.
"Just a little mishap. Good luck to those of you competing." Ash turned and walked away, his face bright red. Thankfully no one seemed to recognize him. His fake voice he used seemed to have worked, although Dawn was unsettling him.
Ash shivered and stood up. Wanting the cobwebs of yesterday to dissipate, he began his work for the day. He was hellbent on getting his team ready for tomorrow.
As quickly as yesterday came and went, it was finally the day for the tournament to begin. Scott, Cynthia, Alder, Lance, Steven Stone, and a mysterious trainer that only went by "Blue" stood on the formal platform where Charles Goodshow stood in between them all.
"Hello! My name is Charles Goodshow, the head of the Pokemon League Committee! Thank you everyone, contestants and visitors, for joining us!" He paused as a chorus of applause rang out from the five arenas. He smiled and continued: "With me up here are the five champions! They will also be participating in this event! Scott, the founder and owner of the Battle Frontier, is also here! Some of his friends are going to be competing! We truly have a special line of battlers coming in!"
The champions and Scott waved and stood, earning a chorus of applause and screams, as some shouts of "Cynthia marry me!" and "Steven have my kids" were heard, causing some blushes of embarrassment.
"NOW! ARE WE READY TO START?!" Goodshow spoke out. Everyone cheered in response. The battlers were all in the main stadium, while the visitors were in the four surrounding arenas, each of which were named after Unova's Elite Four.
"Now, we have 256 contestants in our competition! We have decided that to start, it will be small batches of matches that will be just one contest! It will be two on two matches!"
Ash gave a grin. "Now, when you find your opponent, you will scan your lanyard's QR codes to register for the match. Choose your opponent wisely. Once everyone is paired up we will begin on the times for matches! You have ten minutes!"
Suddenly, the Champion's arena was a frat house. People were running up to each other to scan. Ten minutes was a short time, but Ash knew that Charles needed to keep the morning going quickly. Ash was getting ready to stand up and begin his search when he heard a whiney voice call his name.
"Arceus," he cursed as he saw Max run up to him. Ash still didn't know how no one knew it was him, although scars and long hair, as well as time, seemed to do the trick enough. "Hey...I don't think I ever caught your name?" Ash said as Max began to fumble for his Pokedex. Ash internally sighed and grabbed Dexter.
"My name is Max Maple, son of-"
"Norman Maple, fifth gym leader of the Hoenn region, specializes in Normal types. Quite a back breaker for young trainers from what I have heard." Ash stated, hoping to keep their conversation short.
Max grew red. "Y-yes! Since he is here and I'm his son, I'm going to honor him!" Max flashed the QR code on the back of his lanyard. Ash rotated his lanyard so his QR code showed as well.
"My name is Tom," Ash still felt silly for using his alias Tom Ato. The two scanned their QR codes and Max took off. Raichu looked up at his trainer. "Don't worry, I will only need to use one Pokemon to defeat him."
After several more minutes, Goodshow once again took to the microphone. "Welcome back! Now that everyone is registered and paired, we are going to begin sorting matches. However, we will have our first match in the Champions stadium in one hour! The pairing of Tom Ato and Max Maple will be our first match, so everyone who is not those two please find seating, get refreshments, do what you need to do. Remember, the winner of this competition will be crowned 'Pokemon Master'! Go out and fight with your best!" Goodshow raised a fist and gave a wink, that Ash knew that it was for him. Scott must have revealed his identity to Goodshow and the Champions. Although, Ash was very curious to who this "Blue" was, who seemed to arrive out of nowhere.
To be fair, Ash had come from nowhere as well.
The break had ended, and the stadium was ready to collapse with energy. It was at max capacity, and the other four stadiums were nearing max capacity as well. The four surrounding stadiums had large screens broadcasting the battle. Goodshow, Scott, and the Champions were in the stadium sitting in the front row. Their make shift platform was taken down to make room for the battlefield. It was beyond basic, just a square on a dirt patch with two trainer boxes on either end.
Max walked out of his tunnel as a thunder of applause came out. Most knew of Max Maple, the son of Norman who was runner up in the Hoenn Conference and the winner of the Silver Conference. He stood in his trainer box, tossing a Pokeball in the air nonchalantly.
Ash walked out, and his cheers were not as loud as Max's. But, he still got his chorus sung. He saw Paul in the front, he was near Dawn, Brock, and their group.
Wait, was Paul's arm around Dawn?
Ash gave a smirk, "Arceus Paul, really?" He whispered. However, the Champions and Goodshow gave a round of applause, and Scott gave him a knowing nod.
Ash knew he was about to put this whole tournament on notice. Ash stood in his trainer box. A referee stood in the referee box, Raichu by his side.
"This is a two on two match between Max Maple of Petalburg City in Hoenn, and Tom Ato of Tohjo Falls! The battle will conclude when both of one trainers Pokemon are ruled unable to battle. Are we ready?"
Max and Ash both nodded. In the stands, Brock gave a confused look. "Tom Ato? Why is that name familiar?" He said to no one. Misty thought the same thing.
"Okay, trainers call forth your pokemon!" The referee waved her flags down for the battle to begin.
"Camerupt, let's go!" Max said and opened his Pokeball. The fire camel emerged, letting out a very loud roar. Ash merely shrugged and tossed out a random Pokeball. He only planned on using one Pokemon anyways until it went to full six on six battles.
Ash gave a smirk as the small bug emerged. Max balked upon seeing a Ninjask.
"Camerupt and Ninjask, battle begin!"
"Camerupt let's finish this in one move: use Eruption!" Max felt beyond cocky. He knew he could win with just Eruption.
Ash merely yawned. "Ninjask, you know what to do." Ninjask nodded. Camerupt's back turned a bright red until it exploded as giant fireballs began to rain down onto the opposing side. Ninjask simply just used Protect and the attack harmlessly bounced of the green bubble.
"Ninjask, use Swords Dance!" Ash ordered out. Ninjask nodded as his talons began to extend and he waved them around. His attack power greatly increased. "Camerupt use Flamethrower!"
Max did not want to get humiliated by a lowly Ninjask. Camerupt fired a scorching stream of flames at Ninjas who merely flew out of the way. Ninjask's speed was increasing as well the more he moved.
"Max, be careful, my Ninjask has Speed Boost, and my attack power is up as well. Don't be hasty!" Ash warned. He wanted a good battle, but knew this would be a cake walk.
"I don't need your help! Camerupt use Eruption again!" Max barked. As Camerupt charged it's attack, Ash ordered his move.
"Ninjask, let's end this: use Return into X-Scissor!" Ninjask nodded and in a flash, he rammed into Camerupt in a pink light. The fire type roared in pain, and was pushed back considerably. Ninjask seemed to disappear and then reappeared next to Camerupt and ended the battle with a strong X-Scissor onto the head of Camerupt.
"Camerupt is unable to battle, Ninjask wins!" The crowd gasped in shock. To them, Ash was a very serious trainer. His Ninjask was able to just end that Camerupt.
"Come on, send out your next one!" Ash goated, Max was in shock as he returned his Camerupt. "You must be cheating! No way!" Max yelled.
"Don't be hasty kid. Show me some true power!" Ash knew what he was doing. He knew Max was going to send out his Gardevoir, his ace in the hole. Gardevoir stood no chance against his Ninjask, but Ash wouldn't use any Bug type moves.
In the stands, everyone could hear the exchange. Brock stroked his chin. This Tom person sounded familiar and even his name.
"This guy is serious, you can feel the power radiate off of him." Brock stated. Paul, who was at the end of the group. "I know this guy, he isn't even trying." Brock raised an eyebrow at this, he had some questions for Paul. Paul knew that eventually Ash's identity would be revealed at this tournament but he had fun toying with Ash's old friends. Iris and Cilan were too drawn in, and Dawn sat quietly thinking.
Max cried out "Go Gardevoir!" The elegant psychic type landed on the field and saw the small bug type. She could just feel the power radiate off of it.
"Gardevoir don't worry, we will beat him and his little Ninjask!" Gardevoir nodded.
"Be careful, this Ninjask soundly defeated your Camerupt. Do not underestimate any of your opponents, Max." Ash had a cold tone that caused a lot of shivers, but he was right. This was not just a battle, but an education moment.
"Ninjask, please end this with Aerial Ace!"
Ninjask seemed to not even move. Yet, after a second Gardevoir fell with a giant slash across her back. Ash was shocked to see her get up, albeit barely.
"I'm surprised Max, your Gardevoir must have as much gumption as you do!" Max didn't know what 'gumption' meant, but he knew he had a chance to do anything in this battle.
"Gardevoir, teleport then use Psychic!" Max cried in desperation. Ash tutted. "My Ninjask will be faster than that. My friend, please just end this battle."
Before Gardevoir could do anything, Ninjask had used a simple Slash attack, which knocked out the Gardevoir.
"Gardevoir is unable to battle. Max Maple is out of usable Pokemon, making Tom Ato the winner!" The referee signaled.
Max returned his Gardevoir, choking back tears as he ran out. Ash pet his Ninjask as it rested on his shoulder. After a few seconds of stunned silence, Ash thought that the stadium would collapse with how much noise was produced.
"That Ninjask is something different, that speed is off the charts!" Cilan gasped. Iris nodded in agreement. May stood up, "He did not have to do that to Max! He was too rough!" She ran off to go give Ash a piece of her mind. Brock sat there. Iris, Cilan, and Misty went after May.
Brock looked at Paul, "That's Ash, isn't it?"
AN: Dun dun DUNNNN! Brock has figured it out! I'm sorry for the very long wait. This chapter sets up a lot of things. Ash's power is known to everyone, identities are learned, and yes Ash has more Pokemon than what he caught.
I do apologize, again, for the long wait. But this story is not dead. I will be updating more frequently than previously now that I have graduated college. I hope as well to have longer chapters. Read, review, and enjoy!