Part LII: The Island Contests
Ash, Misty and Brock all sat in the rec area of the Fuchsia City Pokémon Center just like old times, only they were in Kanto and not Sinnoh. It was the day after Ash's battle with Janine and they had all decided to meet up here after breakfast to decide what Ash and Misty were going to do next. The night before, while celebrating with Brock in the Pokémon Center after handing over Ash's Pokémon for healing, their former traveling companion had told them he had a suggestion for where they should go so now they were waiting on Brock to tell them.
After Ash's win over Janine they had returned to the Pokémon Center to get all of Ash's Pokémon healed up, Brock helping but oddly not flirting with Nurse Joy once as he helped which surprised Misty. It was determined that Ash's Pokémon would have to spend the night with Nurse Joy, as would Piplup apparently, so they had the night to themselves to celebrate. They did and Brock cooked them all his specials, including jelly filled donuts which Misty found delicious, to mark the occasion.
Once they were done, Brock had returned to his own apartment above his mentor's clinic and Ash and Misty had retired to their room for the night. With no Pokémon, especially no pissed off Piplup, to get in their way and multiple victories, Ash over Janine and Misty's Wallace Cup win, to celebrate Ash and Misty had had a more private, adult night in before going to sleep in each other's arms.
They had ended up sleeping in after the excitement the day before but Brock had been delayed due to a small emergency requiring an extra set of hands at the clinic so they had been able to enjoy breakfast and sort out their Pokémon before Brock joined them. Ash was sending Torkoal, Emboar and Torterra back to Professor Oak while bringing back Gengar for more bonding with his mischievous ghost and poison type.
They didn't know what their plans were but Ash figured it would be a while before they went to Cinnabar Island for his match with Blaine, though theoretically they could go right away as Blaine's acceptance of Ash's challenge had been an open one for when he reached the island. The only other gym leader left to face, the Viridian one, still hadn't gotten back to Ash so they had some time for Misty to focus on Contests for a bit.
Ash wasn't sure what Pokémon he would need right now but seeing as he hadn't back from the Viridian Gym Leader then he might have to use the Contests for some extra training. If he didn't then a few of his Pokémon wouldn't get any before the Indigo League. 5 in fact and they were his team for Viridian if he did hear back. He'd just have to see what Brock's suggestion was.
"So Brock what is this suggestion that you alluded to last night?" Misty asked bringing up the very topic on Ash's mind. "You said it had something to do with Contests and that you thought would be good for us and our journey but that's it. Spill. What do you know that we don't?"
"Oh right, well I think this just what you two need." Brock said remembering his promise and reaching into a shirt pocket to pull out a folded flyer. "I was told about this a few weeks ago by one of the crewmen who needed my help healing one of his Pokémon that had been poisoned by a Tentacool while they were conducting maintenance of the ship. Afterwards I found a flyer and realized that it was perfect for you two. It leaves tomorrow though so the timing is pretty close."
"What is it?" Ash asked as Misty took the leaflet and opened it to see what Brock had found. "Shame it is so soon, I would have liked to spend more time with you."
"Same but this is a great way for Misty to get her final 2 ribbons and to get to Cinnabar at the same time so it's not something that should be passed up lightly in my opinion." Brock said with a smile. "And it will allow you to have a few side adventures along the way. You are both further ahead of schedule then you realize, I think you could use this to slow down and relax a bit. Plus it has to potential to be quite romantic."
Misty meanwhile had begun reading the flyer. As she processed it her eyes went wide at it what she was seeing. It was just as Brock had said, it was perfect for them. It had everything that they could want.
There were stops for two Contests, side adventures on other islands, a relaxing cruise that let her show off all her cute bikinis and swimsuits to Ash while getting a tan in the process, and it terminated at Cinnabar Island which was just where they needed to end up for Ash's 7th full battle challenge. It was just as Brock had described and the chance to spend all this time on a cruise, as well as various islands, with Ash was definitely romantic and it would slow their pace a bit so they could really recharge on the cruise.
"Brock's right." Misty said looking up at them from the flyer. "This is perfect for us. This is a 6 week long cruise with the explicit purpose of taking coordinators and trainers to two Contests and Cinnabar Island for the gym located there. It has many stops on the way for sightseeing, training, catching of interesting Pokémon that are apparently only found on the islands, and in general enjoying the sun and islands this time of year. It even has a stop for a place called the Battle Palace for those who are currently challenging the Battle Frontier."
"Wow that is useful." Ash agreed with a nod realizing just how good that cruise was for them. "The Battle Palace was probably the oddest of the Frontier locations we went to. It's a 3 on 3 battle with an entire portion of island being the battlefield. You start on a normal battlefield and then it moves around. It was a lot fun and great challenge for me."
"That is odd." Misty said trying to wrap her head around a battle with no real borders. "Sounds hard."
"It was but I won first time and had a great time with Spencer, the Frontier Brain there." Ash said before remembering something about the Battle Frontier that he'd forgotten about. "Brock, if I recall correctly, the Battle Pike is near here. Have you seen it or Lucy since you've been here?"
"Huh, oh yeah she's still around and in the area." Brock confirmed as he had to be careful and not reveal too much about his relationship with Lucy, that was a surprise that she had to be there for when Ash and Misty learned what she was to him. "My place is actually pretty close to the Battle Pike so I've seen her and her followers a few times whenever they need mine and my mentor's help. Usually it's training mishaps as there are only a handful of challengers on the Frontier each year but we've had a few exchanges."
"So she's still running it, good." Ash said. "She was a challenge and really nice, faced me right away just as I wanted."
"Really, was she not supposed to." Misty asked with an arched eyebrow. "If she's a Frontier Brain surely she had to accept your challenge."
"It was supposed to be closed that day but she opened it for us that day." Ash recalled. "Not sure why but she's the Frontier Brain so she can close it whenever she wants I guess. The Battle Pike was probably the most straightforward of the Battle Facilities."
"She was impressed by Ash's dedication and called us friends of the Pike which meant that it was always open for us." Brock explained which was partially true though he'd learned that Lucy had also opened it because he was there as well. "I think she really wanted to see how good Ash was, he'd just beaten 3 Frontier Brains first time by that point so it was her turn. It was a good battle that Ash won and we then left for a few Contests and the Battle Palace that were out on the islands."
"I wonder if they're the same Contests?" Ash asked idly thinking back to that adventure. "Probably but who knows, we've had a few Contests this year that weren't the same as the ones May entered."
"Well the flyer says that they are in Chrysanthemum Town and Gardenia Town, the latter of which is on a different island." Misty said looking at the flyer again. "Do either of them sound familiar?"
"Yeah they do, especially the last one." Ash said as a memory tickled his brain, he was sure that something interesting happened at the Contest that bore the same name as one of the Sinnoh Gym Leaders. "Didn't May win at least one or both of them. She was on a hot streak at the time I think."
"Both." Brock confirmed. "She lost the one before Chrysanthemum to Harley and then won all the remaining Contests that she was in. She beat one of Drew's fangirls in the Chrysanthemum Contest I believe. As for the Gardenia Contest, well that should sound familiar, it was the one I entered."
"You entered a Contest?" Misty asked surprised, Brock had never told her that little fact before. "I didn't know that you had tried your hand at coordinating Brock."
"It was only one Contest, the Gardenia one." Brock said with a shrug. "We ran into a Top Coordinator turned breeder outside called Yuma before the Contest because she loved my Bonsly. She pointed out that breeders and coordinators, while it was obvious to tell the difference between the Pokémon raised by each profession, are pretty similar. She then suggest I try my hand at coordinating because of the similarities."
"And let me guess she was pretty and you agreed." Misty said with a sly smile. "Much to everyone's surprise I bet."
"Pretty much." Brock admitted before glancing around nervously for Croagunk but the Toxic Mouth Pokémon had decided that this memory was allowed to be remembered so he continued. "Almost instantly in fact, before the others could react or stop me. I got registered and entered so that I could compete and impress her."
"What did May think of it?" Misty asked curiously. "You suddenly becoming a rival to her."
"She was surprised at first but became supportive of me during it and looked forward to the challenge." Brock said remembering how his friend had been there for him to help him calm down in his first major competition in a while. "It had been years since I competed in anything so I was really nervous but after some cheering and support from Nurse Joy, Bonsly and I were able put on a good display in the appeals, good enough to advance to the battles."
"Given how often you'd seen May that doesn't surprise me." Misty said. "So how did the battles go? Did you make it to the final?"
"Good." Brock admitted. "I used Marshtomp in them and yes I made it all way to the finals where May and her Eevee beat me on points. it was close and fun but that was all it was, a one-off thing. I, er, was doing it to impress Yuma. I managed as much and she asked me to stay with her after the appeals and be her apprentice."
"Excuse me?" Misty asked her eyes wide. "You would have abandoned Ash, May and Max for her? in the middle of a journey?"
"Well she was a great breeder, Top Coordinator and really pretty so I was tempted." Brock admitted a little embarrassed before once again glancing for Croagunk but his chaperone was being kind today. "And I'd done something like that before when Professor Ivy out in the Orange Islands asked me stay and work with her. That didn't end well and I ended up back in Pallet Town helping out Delia until Ash, Dawn and their new friend Tracey returned from their adventure. Tracey stayed as Professor Oak's assistant and I joined Ash and Dawn in Johto."
"Ah I see." Misty said, she wasn't exactly surprised that Brock would consider staying with a pretty girl as she had felt that he would have done the same if a pretty woman had made him an offer like that out in Sinnoh. "But it didn't work, did it?"
"No it did not." Brock admitted. "I was too impressive in the battles in fact. Yuma felt that I was already a skilled coordinator who didn't need her teaching as she had nothing to teach me. Rather, she took a young girl who was a new trainer and had also made her Contest debut that day under her wing as her protégé. That girl was the person I beat in the quarterfinals but I can't remember her name. Admittedly it was for the best. She chose someone who needed instruction to unlock her full potential so I can't blame her and I got to continue my adventures with Ash."
"I get that." Misty said with a small smile at Brock once again striking out with a woman, he was cursed it seemed to always strike out. "Well I'm glad you did well because it allowed me to meet you and Ash when you came to Sinnoh and helped me on my own journey."
"True that is much better than learning under Yuma." Brock agreed. "It should be a fun Contest for you though, same with Chrysanthemum Island, they're beautiful places and the Contest Halls are open air so a little different out there."
"I can't wait and we get to see some of the other islands so who knows what adventures we will have over the course of the cruise, if we take it that is." Misty said. "With Ash by my side I know that we will have a few wild adventures."
"That is very true." Brock agreed with a chuckle before noticing that Ash was being pretty quiet. "Ash? You alright?"
"Huh?" Ash asked, he'd been in deep thought while Brock recounted his Contest experience to Misty. "Yeah just thinking about something."
"Don't strain yourself babe." Misty teased.
"Never." Ash said with a smile at Misty. "I was just thinking about the rest of the year and how we should definitely do this cruise."
"I agree, it sounds like a lot of fun and gives me the chance to get to get to the last 2 ribbons I need before we reach Cinnabar Island." Misty said with a nod of her head. "And I really want to see the Kanto islands so this is perfect for us."
"Yes that and I get the chance to practice with my remaining Pokémon who are unfortunately not slated for a full battle with a gym leader." Ash said. "Or at least 4 of them unless one of the two Contests use a double battle format now and I can practice with all 5 of them."
"You want to enter both Contests?" Brock asked confused, Ash did the occasional Contest for practice but this seemed out of character for him. "You aren't a coordinator Ash. I know you have a ribbon now and done a few Contests this year but four in a row is odd for you."
"No I'm not a coordinator but I intend to try and use all of my Pokémon that have any battle experience in the Indigo Conference this year." Ash explained as Misty checked the rules in her Contest handbook to see if either Contest utilized a double battle. "I figured out the other day that including my new Pokémon who need multiple full battles or Contests to practice there will be 5 Pokémon left out of a battle roster by the time we get to the plateau. As such I need to get them some experience before the Indigo Conference. I had hoped to hear back from the Viridian Gym Leader by now so that those 5 could be used there but alas I haven't."
"Will there be time for you to go to Viridian City and see him personally?" Brock asked. "I think it's a guy now but I'll ask Forrest for confirmation, he'd know more about that kinda thing these days."
"Maybe." Ash said thinking and mentally mapping their current schedule. "It's been about 4 months or so since the last Conference ended and the cruise, plus time spent on Cinnabar will be another 2 months give or take a week. Add in the Grand Festival that will take up a month when you factor in preparations for it and the fact that it is in the same location as the Indigo Conference up on the plateau so there is no point in leaving after the Grand Festival. In theory that would give us the time to visit Viridian City but there is one factor that we can't predict."
"And that is?" Brock asked curiously impressed by how much Ash was thinking about this, his best friend had really grown up since they had first met all those years ago. "What can't you predict?"
"I could lose a Contest." Misty said looking up from the Contest guide, she knew exactly what Ash was talking about even if they'd never spoken about it until this point. "It has happened before so it can happen again. I've been lucky so far to not run into Kenny, Nando or whoever that other favorite is, I still don't know who she is, but even without it as Ash has proven that I can lose to anyone at any time. if I lose one of these 2 I will have to do another Contest, 2 if I lose both, so it is best to give some leeway just in case. I don't intent on losing but you never know."
"True." Brock said rubbing his chin thinking on his friends' situation in a new light. "I can see that need. Ash, have you asked the Viridian Gym Leader again since the initial request for a full battle?"
"Yes twice." Ash confirmed. "Once during our forced break out in Lavender Town when I was well enough to sort some things out but not well enough to leave and then again while we were in Hoenn. He still hasn't gotten back to me and at this point I am accepting that it probably won't happen. If there's time we can go there again and I can talk to the leader in person and ask but only if there is time."
"I see, that is unfortunate but I know that the gym there hasn't had a stable leader since Giovanni retired before we reached the city over 6 years ago." Brock said. "It seems to have a new leader every few years. Forrest once said that the Pokémon League isn't happy with it and may consider allowing a different city to have an official gym to give more trainers a chance to get 8 badges but I don't know much more than that."
"Well it's not the end of the world if I don't get to face him." As said with a shrug. "7 full battles against 7 different type specialists, many of who use duel types as well as a few that weren't of their type specialty, is still good practice for me. Plus the Contests allow me to practice different ways to bond with my Pokémon due to the appeals and the battles are battles so I get practice in them and you never know what style someone may use that I could adapt to my own for the Indigo Conference."
"All true, I guess I can see you logic there." Brock agreed with a nod. "Misty, are you ok with it? Ash is muscling on your turf with this and could beat you again."
"Oh yes I am fine with it." Misty said with a smile as she put the guide away. "Ash is a good challenge to keep me sharp, he proved that when he beat me in HopHopHop Town. Forced me to adjust my style against him and other similar trainers so that I could get my revenge in the Wallace Cup. Plus it is the best way for him to practice with all his Pokémon and I'd never ask him not to do that."
"Well then it seems to be settled." Brock said with a clap of his hands. "Ash, do you know which Pokémon you will use?"
"I know the 5 who are currently slated for the Viridian Gym and they still are even after these Contests if I do hear back from the leader there." Ash said as he started to get excited at the idea of training. "I have my roster for Blaine set so that shouldn't change. I changed up my rosters for Sabrina, Erika and Janine due to new the Pokémon I acquired and that required fiddling with the roster for Blaine but I shouldn't have any new ones by Blaine so I'll stick with my latest for him. As such, I know the two I will bring in for the Chrysanthemum Contest."
"Three." Misty said with a smile at the slight surprise in Ash's expression at that. "Chrysanthemum changed last year to a duel battle format so that one of the Contests out on the islands had a similar format to the Grand Festival."
"Three it is then." Ash said with a grin. "Even better, now all 5 can get a chance. When is that Contest?"
"10 days from now." Misty said having committed the dates to memory from the flyer. "The cruise leaves tomorrow and makes one stop on the way but it will be docked at Chrysanthemum Town for 4 days to accommodate the Contest and exchange passengers who have only booked passage to there or are leaving from the island for the trip to Gardenia Town or Cinnabar Island."
"Makes sense." Ash said realizing that a full 6-week cruise from Fuchsia City to Cinnabar Island might not be for everyone. "And does the cruise have training facilities?"
"They do." Misty said, looking at the flyer again to confirm that she had read that right. "We will have to book times to use it but that shouldn't be too hard."
"Alright good then let's do it." Ash said pumping his fist in the air. "I know just the 3 Pokémon that I want to use and I can bring them in now. I'll send back Porygon2 until after the Contest so that Professor Oak can study it and its Conversion2 move, he's been begging me to get a look at it since I told him I got one so now is the perfect time."
"Then get that done now and let's head out." Misty said packing away the flyer and getting up, Piplup instantly hopping into her arms so that she could place him on his rightful place atop her head. "We actually have to go and book that cruise all the way to Cinnabar so we should do that now to make sure there is space and then we can spend the rest of the day getting the supplies we need and enjoying our remaining time with Brock."
"Works for me." Brock said with nod. "Once we're done we can head back to mine for dinner, I'll make all your favorites again, and have a good time just like the old days."
Ash just nodded as he leapt up and headed over to see Nurse Joy and explain what he needed, Pikachu at his heel just as excited at Ash at seeing some of his old friends again. Misty just smiled at how her boyfriend got excited over his training. It was so Ash to be excited over this and getting ready for the Contests.
It was going to be a challenge with Ash joining her in the Contest but she knew why he needed to do them and didn't hold it against him. If anything, knowing that he was there and pushing her to be at her best would help her become a more well-rounded coordinator and prepare her for the Grand Festival where she would face serious threats like Nando and Kenny.
As Ash returned, putting three Poke Balls away, Misty and Brock got up and they left the Pokémon Center together. Misty was really looking forward to the cruise. Not only was she going to have Contests to compete in and new islands to see but she was about to spend 6 weeks on one with Ash.
It was going to be a lot of fun and who knew, something interesting could happen when they were making one of their stops, this was a trip with Ash after all, interesting was the norm with him. Misty had no idea how right she would be.
