So, now that Max has all eight of his Unova badges, we were on route to the Vertress Conference. During our journey we stopped at various Pokemon Center, mostly for their T.V. We had so many Grand Festivals to observe and friends to cheer for. Not to mention, the Sinnoh Pokemon League. We began with Kanto, where Dawn won the Kanto Grand Festival. We cheered especially loud for Quilava who had evolved into Typhlosion. During the video call to congratulate her she told us that she had finally accepted Hermione's invitation to the Poké Chic campaign and to learn under her as a Pokemon Stylist. Paul, on his part, won against the Kanto Battle Frontier and was invited to the Sevii Island Battle Frontier, but he decided to try and face the Lily of the Valley Conference again.
Talking about the Lily of the Valley Conference, Nando won it, with Barry coming as the runner-up. However, Nando lost the Sinnoh Grand Festival, coming second after May. May was meeting us at Vertress City with her parents to cheer for Max, during the video call in which she informed us of that, she also told us that she had decided to give Kanto another go. Drew was also joining her there and traveling with her after winning the Hoenn Grand Festival. They were also being joined by Zoey, who had come in second at the Hoenn Grand Festival. Another old friend of Ash's previous group was Harley, who won the Johto Grand Conference and retired to be a Pokemon Stylist.
On our way to the Vertress Conference, we met with Virgirl and his Team Eevee. He, alongside his older brother, Davy, and his father, Jeff, were Pokemon Rangers and big fans of Ash. Ash was also quite interested on Virgirl, who had decided on becoming an Eevee specialist. He has every single Eeveelution with the exception of Sylveon, but he already had an Eevee that might take that position soon. Max was excited to realize that Virgirl was joining him in the Vertress Conference, with Trip, Stephan, Bianca, and Cameron.
So many friends and rivals... we were all very proud of him.
Right at the get-go he ended up facing against Trip.
"Interesting choice," Cilan commented as Max released his Alola Raichu. "He should have known by now that Trip would use his Serperior. So, why choose Alola Raichu?"
"Because Max does not have anyone on his team that can match Raichu's speed. Max's Serperior can't match that speed yet," I replied. "And the pokemon that can take those hits, his tank, is very vulnerable to Grass-type pokemon."
"Gigalith is not a pokemon I would use against Serperior," Norman agreed, crossing his arms over his chest. "Alola Raichu's levitation will be a great advantage, even with the type-disadvantage."
"Good luck sweetie!" Caroline cheered loudly.
I winced as Alola Raichu immediately took a big hit. The levitation was useless as Serperior rapidly leapt into the air and struck with a Dragon Tail, sending Alola Raichu crashing down on the ground hard. Max encourages Alola Raichu to get up, and he slowly does, but falls right back into the same position after taking a blow from Serperior's Energy Ball. Serperior then launches a barrage of Dragon Tails, and with all the damage Alola Raichu has taken, he is not able to dodge all of them and gets hit again, and again, and again.
"Oh, Max," May murmured sadly.
"Trip is not letting up!" Iris growled.
"Stop talking like this is over!" Ash snapped. "I trained him, he'll win! I've faced worse odds before! We all did!"
"Follow up with Wrap!" Trip commanded, squeezing Alola Raichu hard with his tail.
"Do not give up!" Max shouted. "Use Thunderbolt!"
"Stick your tail into the field!" Trip countered, Serperior did as commanded and had the Thunderbolt being absorbed by the field.
"Copy cat!" Pikachu jumped from Ash's shoulder to his lap. "That's our move!"
"I would like to see the copyright then," my Lucario teased him.
"Hey!" Pikachu whined.
"I am blaming his corruption on you," I muttered to Ash.
"And I am blaming you," Ash teased me. "After all, you were the one who decided to follow me."
"Damn it... you are right," I sighed defeated.
After much struggling, Alola Raichu eventually passed out. Knowing this is his chance, Trip commanded Serperior to smash Alola Raichu into the ground. However, Alola Raichu regained consciousness in the process. "Use Iron Tail to cushion your landing!" Max commanded, Alola Raichu pulled it off, freeing himself from Serperior's grasp and returning to the sky. Raichu then attempted to attack Serperior with another Iron Tail, but Serperior overpowered him with Dragon Tail.
"The battle is over!" Trip announced feeling confident that he will emerge victorious.
"Never celebrate victory before it happens," Norman shook his head. "It was his mistake when he tried to finish the battle by smashing Alola Raichu into the ground, he believed that Alola Raichu was done for and that mistake allowed Max to free his pokemon."
"He will regret it soon enough," Ash hummed with a smirk. "After all, I know that smile," he commented, pointing at Max's smile. "He has an idea."
And an idea he had. Max commanded Alola Raichu to use a combination of Iron Tail and Electro Ball, in return, Trip commanded Serperior to intercept with Dragon Tail. As both pokemon executed their attacks, a huge explosion billowed. After the smoke cleared up, Alola Raichu looks extremely weak, but after a quick look at Serperior, he levitated towards Max in joy. After seeing this response, Trip's confused look turned into a shocked one when he saw that his Serperior had been defeated.
"Wohoo!" Iris jumped on her feet in celebration.
"You go Max!" May shouted.
"Well done sweetie!" Caroline celebrated.
"A hard start, but he had managed," Norman commented, clapping proudly. "I can't believe how much they've grown. My daughter a two time Top Coordinator and now my son challenging the Unova Pokemon League. Time flies."
"That it does," I murmured, not believing that almost a year has passed since we've been traveling thorugh Sinnoh.
Virgil, Bianca, and Cameron had also won their battles against Ultimo, Mikael, and Kendrick, respectively, advancing them to the second round with Max. That night, at the Pokemon Center, I spied Trip and Ash talking. Ash was trying to cheer Trip up and invited him to go to Pallet Town for Professor Oak's summer camp. The Professor always needs an extra set of hands, in return, Trip will get to have some one-on-one lessons with Professor Oak. Not to mention, that Ash always does a summer boot camp in Pallet Town, one that I heard Ash tell Trip he was welcomed to join. I did not hear Trip's answer, but I wouldn't be too surprise if he ended up booking a plane ticket to Kanto.
The next day, the main event of the Vertress Conference began, with competitors now proceeding to two-on-two battles. Max easily won his battle with the aid of Gigalith and his Seismitoad, a good change compared to the previous round. Stephan and Virgirl also advanced on their rounds. At the moment, we were all at the stadium cheering for Bianca and Cameron, who were facing each other. The one who wins will be joining the Top 32.
I almost laughed at poor Cameron, who looked so nervous not knowing which one of his pokemon to start with. He ended up smacking himself with his headband to give himself an idea. After that he sent out his Samurott. In response to this, Bianca chose Escavalier.
Samurott starts off with a Hydro Cannon, but Escavalier dodged and used Iron Defense. Samurott tried for another Hydro Cannon, but Escavalier does the same thing. Samurott then uses a Razor Shell, but Escavalier yet again dodges and uses Iron Defense.
"She can't keep on doing this," Ash commented. "You can't win on defense alone... unless, you are trying to use your opponent's moves against them. But her defense is quite passive."
"Why am I not surprised that Ash has a way of winning battles by just being on defense?" Iris whispered to Max, making him chuckle.
"You should have knonw him before he became The Saint," May whispered conspiratorially. "He was a offense junkie then. All his pokemon only knew attack moves."
"No! Really?!" Iris looked shocked.
"We do not speak of my dark past anymore!" Ash tried to sound authoritatively, but he only managed to sound as if he was whining.
"Escavalier, use Fury Attack!" Bianca commanded, finally going on the offensive.
But Samurott demonstrated her defensive skills and countered with Razor Shell, finally striking Escavalier on the head.
"Using offense as a defense... that sounds like something Ash would do," Pikachu chuckled.
"As if you are any better partner," Ash teased back, sharing a smile with his starter.
Unluckily, for Samurott and Cameron, Escavalier's maximized defense rendered the damage minor. I could see that Cameron was begining to worry that Escavalier's defense will be too tough to handle, when he again began smacking himself with his headband for an idea.
"He finally realized it," Norman commneted with a smirk, when Cameron commanded Samurott to use a double Razor Shell.
"Realized what?" Iris asked confused.
"Even the strongest defense is susceptible to internal damage," Cilan replied, as we watched Escavalier dodge the first one, but take a direct hit from the second one and began shivering. After a short while, Escavalier, despite having maximized its defense, fainted.
"Great job Samurott!" Cameron praised his pokemon, as Bianca recalled Escavalier. "You broke through a tough barrier incredibly!"
Next, Bianca called out her Emboar, taking us all by surprise. Which I do not know why it keeps on happening, Ash is not the only trainer that gives zero craps for type-advantage. Samurott started off with a combination of Aqua Jet and Hydro Cannon, which both land and caused Emboar massive damage. Just when it looked like Cameron was about to win the battle in a clean sweep, Bianca quickly turned things around by having Emboar use Attract, infatuating Samurott right on cue. Knowing this is her chance, Bianca had Emboar go in for a combination of Arm Thrust and Hammer Arm, which both landed and knocked Samurott out despite her type advantage.
"Attract, one of the most feared moves," Ash murmured. "For some reason we never expect a male pokemon to use it, which has us all fall for it. I tried to teach it to Pikachu... he refused..."
"I have my male pride!" Pikachu protested. "Also, Blackie would castrate me if I tried to charm another lady..."
"Whipped," Ash teased his starter with a smirk.
"As if you are any better," I teased Ash, making him blush and the rest of our group laugh.
Cameron recalled Samurott and picked Riolu as his second pokemon.
"Nice!" Ash cheered, looking as thrilled as Lucario and I felt. "I will finally get to see Riolu battle!"
Bianca looked as if she felt quite complicated, mostly not liking the idea of battling such an adorable pokemon like Riolu. But one should never underestimate the adorableness of Riolu! They are powerful pokemon with a lot of potential! However, she was able to pull herself together and get ready to battle.
"Use Arm Thrust!" Bianca commanded.
"Dodge it!" Cameron countered.
Emboar went in for a Hammer Arm, but Riolu shut Emboar's attack off with Circle Throw.
"Nice form and technique," my Lucario praised. "He has talent."
Emboar manages to get up, but is immediately hit by two of Riolu's Force Palms in a row, landing on his stomach. However, this gave him an opening to grab Riolu's leg and chuck him across the battlefield. After recovering, Riolu dodged Emboar's Flamethrower and used Copycat to fire Emboar's Flamethrower right back at him.
Emboar was beginning to look like he's on the brink of defeat, Cameron took advantage of that. "Riolu! Use Vacuum Wave!" The attack landed and created a violent explosion.
When the smoke cleared up, it revealed Emboar to have fainted, making Cameron the winner of this battle.
Bianca recalled Emboar and started to cry because of her loss, while Cameron and Riolu celebrated their victory.
"Amazing battle!" Max exclaimed excitedly. "I can't wait to battle again! Top 32, here I come!"
