After meeting Ginger, one of the Elite Four, our heroes have learned about an annual tournament being held in Calforn City. The winner gets the chance to battle against one of the Elite Four. As you can imagine, they're rather excited.

"Oh yeah! I'm ready to battle!" Davis said as they stood out of the stadium.

"You're not the only one, but you need to control your excitement." Tetsu said.

"Quite a turnout." Cletus said as they noticed all the people. "A chance to battle against one of the Elite Four, at the very least get to see one, is something a lot of people would show up for."

"And we're going to be the one to battle and win." Imperialdramon said.

"You can say that again." Davis said as he was sure of himself.

"And you just jinxed yourself into losing." All of them had a look and was met with their old friend and Davis' rival: Shade.

A new adventure, another day

One more challenge that comes our way

Its up to me and you

I know what we've got to do

We are together now

Friends forever now

Whatever comes our way, we won't run away

Standing tall

And one for all

It's our destiny

Pokemon

(Davis' voice) Assembling Junior Elites

"Hey, Shade! It's been quite a long time!" Davis said.

"Good to see you guys again. I had a feeling that once you heard one of the Elite Four would be in this, you would be here as well." Shade said. "I take it you're going to be competing, Davis."

"Not just, Davis. Cletus and I will be competing too. So you better not count us out just yet." Tetsu said.

"Anyone would love to have the chance to battle one of the Elite Four." Cletus said.

"You can say that again. This is a good chance to improve your skills and battling one of the Elite Four with the chance of winning is a great way to show those skills." All of them took a look and was met with someone they haven't seen in a long time.

"Nathan!" Davis said. Nathan was an inspiring trainer aiming for the Pokemon League just like Davis is. "It's been a long time."

"It really has. It's great to see you again." Nathan said.

"Last time we battled, it didn't go so well for me. It's going to be different this time." Davis said as he was getting more and more excited to battle.

"We're having quite a turnout here. Speaking of which, where's Flint? No way he would want to miss this tournament." Tetsu said.

"Maybe he's already inside. It's going to start soon. We should all get going as well." Cletus said. All of them agreed with that and went on inside with all of them ready to do some battling. They all moved into the stadium and Cletus was right. Flint was already there as one of the trainers ready to battle.

"Hey, Flint!" Davis greeted. "Glad to see you could make it!"

"Yeah. I'm not missing this." Flint said, but Tetsu and Cletus noticed that Flint doesn't seem as eccentric as he usually is.

"Flint seems rather calm and serious. That's odd." Tetsu said.

"I sure hope everything is okay." Cletus said.

"Get ready. It's starting." Nathan said as all of them were getting pumped for this. The tournament was officially starting as none other than Vanessa stepped out.

"Welcome, everyone! Thank you for joining us for our city's annual Junior Battle Master's Tournament!" Vanessa announced. "I'll be acting as your MC for this! I'm this lovely city's gym leader, but I'm here to give you all the fun and excitement you're waiting for!"

"Awesome! Vanessa's the MC!" Davis said.

"That woman can do anything." Tetsu said.

"We have quite a turnout this time, and I can understand why." Vanessa said. "The winner of the tournament will have the chance to battle one of the Elite Four, so let's welcome her! Ginger!" In a puff of smoke, Ginger appeared and waved out to the crowd with all of them cheering. Seeing one of the Elite Four is always a spectacle. "Ginger, thank you for coming out here."

"It is my pleasure. I'm hoping to see great battles." Ginger said as she went to join Vanessa.

"We have many great trainers here with many great battles to come." Vanessa said. "I'm sure none of you want to wait, so I won't keep you waiting! Let's get started by showing you the matches!" She announced with all of them liking that. "We have a total of sixteen trainers. That means we have plenty of battles to get to. Let's see who is battling who!" All of them looked to the monitor as they saw the matches being set. The sixteen trainers were set and paired up for their battles.

"Check it out, Flint! You're battling in the first match!" Cletus said.

"Yes! That works great for me!" Flint said.

"And it looks like I'm battling Nathan in the fifth match, right after yours, Davis." Tetsu said.

"This is sure to be interesting." Nathan said.

"Time to get started! Will our first two trainers, step forward and we can begin!" Vanessa said as the tournament was underway. Since Flint was in the first battle, he went out with his opponent being a girl who was dressed rather fancy in an elegant blue dress. "In our first battle, we have Flint, who was born right here in Calforn City. His opponent will be the lovely Claudia."

"According to Flint's records, he's your son. Is that true, Vanessa?" Ginger asked.

"It is, but I'm afraid I can't play favorites." Vanessa said.

"That guy is her son?! No way!" Shade said.

"It is. Flint wants to be a great trainer and gym leader like his mother. That's why he only uses fire-types." Davis said. "Can't wait to see what he does with this battle. I'm sure he's getting fired up."

"So, you're Vanessa's son?" Claudia said as she unfolded a fan. "Not very impressive. I was expecting someone with more class and style."

"I might not be on my mother's level, but I'm just as tough." Flint said.

"Each and every battle will be one-on-one. Please bring out your pokemon." Vanessa said.

"Talonflame, let's turn up the heat!" Flint called.

"Kirlia, let's go!" Claudia called.

"Talonflame!"

"Kirlia!"

"Awesome! Flint's got himself a Talonflame!" Davis said as he reached for his pokedex and learned more about both pokemon.

"Talonflame, the Scorching Pokemon. A fire and flying-type, and the evolve form of Fletchinder. It's unburnable feathers can be used for fireproof material. It's capable of igniting sparks between the spaces of its feathers."

"Kirlia, the Emotion Pokemon. A psychic and fairy-type. Kirlia hold the ability to distort space so they can see into the future."

"Now, let the battle begin!" Vanessa announced.

"Kirlia, end this quickly. Psybeam!" Claudia said. Kirilia launched a multicolored beam from its eyes, but neither Flint or Talonflame seemed concerned.

"Use Fire Blast!" Flint called.

"Talonflame!" Talonflame unleashed a blast of fire that completely blocked out Kirlia's attack.

"Now use Steel Wing at full power!" Flint ordered. Talonflame hardened its wings like steel and flew straight at Kirlia. Talonflame's wings smashed right against Kirlia and did massive damage in one attack that took out Kirlia and ended the battle there.

"Kirlia is unable to battle! Talonflame is the winner!" The ref declared with Claudia not feeling so fabulous or elegant now.

"In just one hit?! Incredible!" Vanessa said.

"That goes to show you that steel-type attacks are quite effective against fairy-types." Ginger claimed.

"Nice job, Talonflame." Flint said as he brought Talonflame back to it's pokeball and just left things at that.

"That's weird. I thought he would more excited about his win." Tetsu said.

"Something is wrong." Cletus said as Flint's friends were still going on. No matter, the tournament must go on. Flint hung back and watched the rest of the tournament go on. He looks like he's a man on a mission. The other two matches went on where a Solrock beats a Butterfree and a Sneasel beats a Vigoroth. Then, Davis' match came around. He used Galvantula while their opponent was using her Grapploct.

"Davis seems to be struggling against this one." Ginger said. "Mallory's Grapploct is putting up quite a fight. What do you think, Vanessa?"

"I've battled Davis myself. He might have a surprise or two up his sleeve." Vanessa said.

"Grapploct, Octolock!" Grapploct leaped right at Galvantula and intended to get its arms around it.

"Electro Web!" Davis ordered and Galvantula timed it well. Galvantula launched an electrical web that Grapploct jumped straight into. "Poison Jab!" Galvantula thrusted its mandibles forward with them energized by poison. Galvantula thrusted them against Grapploct and Grapploct was knocked right out of the battle.

"Grapploct is unable to battle! Galvantula is the winner!"

"There you have it! Davis is our fourth trainer advancing!" Vanessa said.

"Nice work, Galvantula. You were awesome." Davis said as he petted Galvantula's head.

"Davis surely has gotten a lot stronger." Shade said.

"That's Davis for you. He always has something up his sleeve." Tetsu said. "If you think he's tough, wait until you see me out there. Nathan, it's our turn. Are you ready?"

"I'm all set to go." Nathan said.

"We're now moving on to the fifth match of the first round, and the two trainers are coming out." Vanessa said. "First, we have Tetsu. He's the gym leader of the Floriba City gym leader. His opponent is Nathan, a young inspiring trainer that brings out the Sinnoh in his trainer."

"Sinnoh in his trainer? What does that mean?" Shade questioned. "Is he really from Sinnoh?"

"Not exactly. Last we saw Nathan, he used the evolved form of the three starter pokemon from Sinnoh." Cletus said. "I wonder what kind of pokemon he'll use this time."

"Trainers, bring out your pokemon!" Vanessa said.

"Kinger, let's do this!" Tetsu called.

"Let's go, Gabite!" Nathan called with both of their pokemon coming out.

"Koki!

"Gabite!"

"He's usuing a Gabite! Another pokemon from Sinnoh!" Cletus said with Davis taking out his pokedex.

"Gabite, the Cave Pokemon. A dragon and ground-type, and the evolve form of Gible. It seeks treasures and stores them in their nests. Their scales can be used for medicine."

"That dent it has in it's dorsal fin also indicates this Gabite is actually a male." Cletus added.

"But aren't ground-types weak against water-types?" Davis questioned.

"Normally, but it's not much of a problem with Gabite being part dragon-type." Cletus said, so the battle could really go either way.

"Let's have some fun! Gabite, start this battle off by using Dragon Pulse!" Nathan ordered as Gabite started this battle by firing a dragon blast.

"Use Metal Claw and deflect it!" Tetsu called. Kingler hardened its claws and was able to deflect the attack like it was nothing. No one expected that. "Now use Bubble Beam!" Kingler aimed its claw and fired a series of bubbles at Gabite.

"Gabite, escape by using Dig!" Nathan ordered. Gabite started digging its way underground and Kingler's attack missed.

"Where is it going to come from?" Tetsu wondered as he and Kingler looked around until Gabite came out from right under Kingler and knocked Kingler into the air.

"Now use Aerial Ace!" Nathan called. Right when Gabite landed on the ground, it took off once again and smashed itself against Kingler.

"That looked like quite an effective combo by using Dig and going straight into Aerial Ace." Vanessa said.

"The way it switched movements, momentum, and force like that is some quick thinking." Ginger said.

"We can still fight back! Bubble Beam!" Tetsu called as he wasn't backing down. Kingler fired a series of bubbles and they blasted against Gabite this time, but Gabite tried blocking them.

"You're gonna have to do better than that." Nathan said. "Gabite, time to use Sand Tomb!" Gabite focus on its power and let it travel through the ground. Sand emerged right from under Kingler and tried squeezing down on Kingler.

"Don't let that stop you! Keep the attacks going with Bubble Beam!" Tetsu called. Kingler fought through the Sand Tomb and kept blasting away.

"Gabite, Dragon Pulse!" Nathan ordered. Gabite fought through the bubbles and unleashed a powerful blast that pushed through the bubbles and blasted against Kingler. It was so powerful that Kingler was knocked right out of the Sand Tomb. Kingler looked like it took some heavy damage, but Kingler is still standing and still able to battle.

"Kingler looks like it's struggling, but still holding strong." Vanessa said.

"You think Tetsu can really beat Nathan? It's not looking good for him out there." Shade said.

"I'm not sure. Nathan's pretty tough himself, and that Gabite is faster than Kingler." Davis said. "Still, I doubt they're going to give up. Kingler's got some good defense."

"That's it, Kingler! We're not giving up!" Tetsu said.

"Sorry, but I'm the one who is going to win this. Gabite, Aerial Ace!" Nathan said.

"Kingler, Crab Hammer!" Tetsu ordered. Both pokemon went at each other with their attacks with both of them aiming to be the winner. This tournament looks like it's off to a strong start.

The first round of the Junio Battle Masters Tournament is underway with some strong trainers already winning and battling. Tetsu and Nathan seem to be having a tough battle themselves, but who will be the one that wins. Who will stand at the top of this tournament? Stay tuned to find out.

To Be Continued...