Episode 33: It's All Led to This! The World Tournament Awaits!

All around the city of London in Great Britain, excitement was buzzing through the air as the time for the Pokémon World Tournament was finally here. It was the biggest tournament for Pokémon battles on the planet, and the one that determined who would become the next World Champion: a status that few Trainers had that could only be earned through winning the World Tournament itself. It promised to bring fame to anyone that competed for the title, and like every year it was to be watched over by previous World Champions.

"It's good to see you all again!" Wallace said as all the Champions gathered into the room.

"We were just on the plane to get here a few hours ago, Wallace," Steven Stone said.

"It has been a while since all the World Champions were in one place," Cynthia mused.

"We've all gotta have a battle then, ASAP!" Iris cheered.

"As much as I'd like to battle, we've gotta see who the new World Champion will be first," Blue said, crossing his arms and smirking. "And I call dibs on battling them first."

"There are so many stars shining today," Diantha mused. "It's sure to be a wonderful show."

"As long as they believe in their Pokémon and the bond they share, the true Champion will reveal themselves in time," Alder said.

"And let's make sure they have a Champion Time doing so!" Leon exclaimed, striking a pose.

"We've still got time until the competition begins," Lance said. "And whoever does win, they're sure to be worthy of joining us as Champions."

All eyes were on this competition, and as Dylan, Ashton, and Kris all approached the registration building, it would soon become an event they wouldn't soon forget.

[***]

Pokémon World Adventure Theme 3

"Pokémon Masters!"

(Variant of "Beyblade Burst Turbo" English Theme)

A swell of music starts up before a spotlight shines down, showing Dylan standing in the middle of an empty stadium with a determined look on his face.

I hear the world calling out for a hero

Change the game, throw the ball and join the fight

Two more spotlights shine down on either side of him, with Ashton on his right and Kris on his left, both girls looking determined as well.

It's our time, come on, let's go

Pokémon collide!

The three all give each other a nod before looking forward as Trainers start piling into the stadium.

Stand your ground, it's a new generation

Stakes are high, only legends will survive

Two more spotlights shine down, one of them having a man in a spiffy suit with sunglasses while the other has a man wearing a Rayquaza-styled outfit. Miror B. then suddenly get in-between the two as he dramatically points at the heroes.

Won't give up, call 'em out into battle

Pokémon Masters!

Everyone pulls out a Poké Ball and throws out their Pokémon, causing a huge blast of energy to engulf the screen.

Gonna take the victory! (Let's go!)

I'm bursting out and synergized

Azrael then cuts across the screen scattering Spikes over the arena as he flies around.

The warrior will take the lead

Pokémon Masters!

Phantasm and Halley then appear, the two casting both Moonblast and Shadow Ball as the Gengar goes Mega.

Collide with the energy (let's go!)

Trainers conquer to survive

Regulus then switches from Speed From to Attack From as he uses Psycho Boost, with Orochi giving a roar as he uses Hyper Beam.

Be a part of the legacy

Pokémon Masters!

Ashton then points froward as Vulcan's flames turn blue, using his advanced version of Eruption to engulf the screen in flames.

It comes down to the final moment (let's go!)

I feel the stadium in motion

Let them know who we are…

Pokémon will fight

The scene then cuts dramatically to Ashton, Dylan, and Kris all standing together wearing new outfits, with Aurora, Orochi, and Suicune all standing guard as Tabita, Aliana, and their mysterious boss all stand threateningly at the top of the stadium.

Transcend, it's a new competition

A champion sticks to the mission

Keep on raising the bar….

Pokémon Masters!

We see various people the trio have met across the series as they cheer on the heroes, with the three smiling as they command their Pokémon to take down the bad guys.

Gonna take the victory! (Let's go!)

I'm bursting out and synergized

Poli'ahu dances around as she uses Aurora veil, before her eyes flash as he body melts away into Inari, the Zoroark using Bitter Malice to tear up the battlefield.

The warrior will take the lead

Pokémon Masters!

The shadow energy then fades into sparkles as Delphi twirls her wand, winking at the camera as she poses with a Mystical Fire in hand.

Collide with the energy (let's go!)

Trainers conquer to survive

Vex then lets out a Boomburst, with Mercury jumping of his back to smash into the ground with a Plasma Fist.

Be a part of the legacy

Pokémon Masters!

Dylan clutches his necklace as Aurora goes into her Ancient Mega form as she charges up an Aura Sphere, tossing it into the camera as it turns into the "Pokémon World Adventures" logo with everyone posing underneath it.

[***]

"Here we are, the Pokémon World Tournament," Dylan said as the gang walked into the registration building. "It's been a long journey, but we finally did it."

"I'm so excited for everyone to see me kick butt!" Ashton said, punching the air. "I heard that all the past Champions are going to be here as well. I want Cynthia and Steven Stone to see me win this."

"Not if I win," Dylan said, crossing his arms and smirking. "I'm your biggest challenge, since we're both evenly matched."

"It's true. Ashton has an all-out attack strategy, while Dylan uses his unspoken bond between his Pokémon to give on-the-fly strategies," Kris pointed out. "And since I've never seen you two battle, it's hard to say who could win."

"We made a promise to wait until this moment to battle each other," Ashton explained. "So once we meet in the finals, there's no turning back!"

The trio went over to one of the registration windows where an attendant was waiting for them. "Welcome! Please show your eight official World Tournament Badges to register for the Pokémon World Tournament, please!"

Dylan went first, pulling out his badge case to show to the attendant. He reminisced on each badge he'd earned: the Casino Badge from Grimsley in Vegas, the Cruise Badge from the International Police member Anabel, the Acceleration Badge from Marley in Sydney, the Tour Badge from Ziggy in the London Underground, the Pharaoh Badge from Khalid in Egypt, the Spotlight Badge from Elesa in Rio, the Ferrum Badge from his mentor Nia in Tokyo, and finally the Achroma Badge from Colress in New York City.

"We did well to earn these," Aurora said as the attendant handed back their badge case along with a card that recognized them as a competitor in the competition.

"Now it's my turn!" Ashton said, handing over her badge case.

The attendant opened it up and looked confused. "Mam, you only have seven badges here. You need eight to enter the tournament."

"What!? But I did eight Gym Challenges!" Ashton exclaimed. "There was Leaf, Wes, Annie, Brandon, Lucia, Silver, Zinnia, and Guzma. That's eight right there."

"Wait, didn't Guzma give you that bandana that Vulcan wears instead of a badge?" Kris recalled.

Ashton slapped her forehead. "Ugh, of course! He didn't have the badges made yet, so Guzma gave me that as an "IOU" note!"

"I'm sorry mam, but I can't accept that bandana as a badge. Rules are rules," the attendant shook her head.

"Then take this!" a voice shouted as a gang of hoodlums burst into the room, playing loud music out of a boom box and throwing out hand signs. Guzma laughed as Team Skull entered the building. "That's right, punks, Team Skull is here, and we're here to say that we're a official Gym Challenge giver now!"

"He means we have badges now," Plumeria said, rolling her eyes and handing one over to Ashton. "There you go. Enjoy or whatever."

Ashton looked at the Skull Badge, which depicted the Team Skull logo on it, before grinning and slapping it into the badge case. "There! Eight badges. Happy now?"

"I'm not sure if this is legal or not…" the attendant said, before shuttering at the glare Team Skull was sending here. "But this looks to be an official badge, and the Gym Leader is here to verify it, so who am I to judge? You're in!"

"Aw yeah!" Ashton cheered. "Thanks for having my back, Guzma."

"Heh, no problem," Guzma chuckled. "Me and my boys are here to cheer you on, girl. You've got that destructive passion that I've only seen in myself. If being a Champion doesn't work out, you can always come and join my crew."

"Please don't," Grunt A sighed.

"Yeah, we already have Plumeria as a big, strong girl to boss us around. We don't need another one," Grunt B added.

"See you guys later," Plumeria sighed as Team Skull left the building.

With their registration done, all the trio had left to do was wait for tomorrow when the Pokémon World Tournament would truly begin. Checking into their hotel room, they were surprised to find packages waiting for then. Curious, Dylan picked up a note on top of the package to find out what these presents were about.

"It's from Elesa," Dylan read. "She got in contact with one of her designers and had them make Sygna Suits for all three of us."

"Oh right, those costumes I've heard about before," Kris said, pulling up her Pokégear. "They're a special kind of outfit that gives the wearer a stronger connection to their Pokémon."

"So it heightens the bond between Trainer and Pokémon…" Ashton mused. "Well, why don't we see what she made us? I just hope it's nothing too girly for my tastes…"

The three opened up their packages and then went to their own rooms to change into their Sygna Suits. Kris came out first, wearing a blue and white sleeveless dress that had slits on either side of the skirt, a crystal choker, frilly bracelets, heeled sandals, and a white laurel headpiece. "It's not my usual kind of dress, but I like it," Kris nodded. "I feel like I'm more in tune with Suicune now."

Ashton came out next, the blonde wearing a black battle kimono with blue and purple-pink accents, ninja shoes, bracers on her arms, a ninja mask over her mouth, and her hair was tied up in a messy ponytail with a purple-pink hair tie. "I feel like I'm back home in Ancient Johto," Aston mused. She struck a ninja pose. "And I'm pretty sure I can unleash Orochi's full Alpha potential now!"

Dylan came out lass, his Sygna Suit a mix of the ancient past and the far future: lime green and golden armor protected his chest, waist, feet, and lower arms, with his legs and arms covered in a light blue tech mesh, with a purple visor replacing his glasses that had a black wireframe coming off the top in the shape of Lucario ears while the visor was secured in the back with lime green dreds like Lucario. "The bond between Aurora and I got a lot stronger, I can feel it," Dylan said with confidence.

"I feel it too," Aurora nodded, a paw going over his Mega Stone. "I feel as if we will unlock another secret of the Ancient Stone in due time. But for now, let us rest. We have the tournament to compete in tomorrow."


Author's Note

Kris' Sygna Suit is taken directly from the Pokémon Masters game. My co-author and I designed the Sygna Suits for Dylan and Ashton, which you can see in the new cover art for this story.

Next time will be the first two matches of the World Tournament! Stay tuned!