The Battle Tournament is underway. Terra made a brave attempt in her battle against Jason, but Jason was just too strong for her. Now, it's time for the second round.

"Welcome back, trainers. We are now going to begin with the second round of the tournament." Jean announced.

"Here are the matches." The pairings have been set for the second round. They were all set, and one match was set for it to be Jason vs. Cletus.

"It looks like I'm going up against Jason this time." Cletus said.

"Well, you're a gym leader, so maybe you can give him a challenge." Davis said.

"It wont be easy. He truly is a fierce trainer." Cletus said as he knows this won't be an easy battle for him. "Regardless, I'll battle as best as I can."

I want to be the very best

Like no one ever was

To catch them is my real test

To train them is my cause

(Pokemon!)

Every challenge along the way

With courage I will face

I will battle every day to claim my rightful place

(Yeah!)

Pokemon

Gotta catch'em all

Oh, so true

Our courage will pull us through

You teach me, I'll teach you

Po-ke-mon

Pokémon

(Davis' voice): Turn Up the Heat

"The first match of the second is set to be with it being Onix vs. Slotter!" The mayor claimed. The second round started with Davis being in the first match. He and Slotter are battling hard against their opponent and Onix.

"I'm worried. Isn't that cute Slotter at a disadvantage against such a big pokemon?" Marinette questioned.

"Not really since water-types are strong against rock-types. Plus, size isn't everything." Alya explained.

"Slotter, Aqua Jet!" Davis called. Slotter flew straight at Onix and smashed eighth against it. "Now use Water Gun!" Slotter blasted Onix and was able to win the battle. Onix went down with Slotter landing on Onix with a flexing pose.

"Onix is unable to battle! Slotter wins!" The ref claimed.

"And Davis will be moving to the semi-finals!" The mayor announced.

"Oh yeah!" Davis called. Slotter ran to Davis with Davis lifting Slotter up. "That's what I'm talking about. Who's a tough water-type."

"Slotter!" Slotter claimed with it flexing its muscles.

"Nice going, Davis!" Terra called.

"He won that one pretty easily." Erik claimed.

"But he did rather well as he is now in the semi-finals of the tournament." Cletus said as his friends were glad to see he's doing well.

"Give me a break." All of them looked to Jason talking. "It was a water-type vs. a rock-type. Even a moron like him could win that battle. It's noting to get so excited about."

"What's so wrong with wanting to support our friend?" Terra questioned.

"Yeah. Why do you got to sound like a jerk all the time." Imperialdramon said.

"Jason, why is it so hard for you to show some respect for others?" Cletus asked.

"Respect has to be earned, not given, or at least give me a reason as to why I should respect." Jason claimed. He put an end to the talk and just walked off.

"He's a bag full of sunshine, isn't he?" Erik said.

"Cletus, don't lose to this guy." Terra said.

"I can't make any promises, but I'll try my best." Cletus said as he will be in for a tough battle.

"It's now time we start the next battle. We have Jason vs. Cletus." The mayor announced as the next battle was underway. The two stood facing each other and were ready for battle.

"You're a gym leader, so maybe you might provide a challenge." Jason said.

"I'll try not to disappoint." Cletus claimed. "Let's get this battle started. Herdier, let's go!" He called a she chose his pokemon.

"Herdier!"

"Torkoal, time for battle!" Jason called.

"Torkoal!"

"Check it out. Jason has a Torkoal." Davis said. Terra used her pokedex to learn more about it.

"Torkoal, the Coal Pokemon. A fire-type. Torkoal use coal for energy, which they burn inside their shell."

"Herdier, let's be careful with this one." Cletus said as he knew to expect fiercer attacks. "Start this battle with Shadow Ball!"

"Herdier!" Herdier formed a dark ball and launched it right at Torkoal.

"Iron Defense!" Jason called. Torkoal ducked inside its shell and raised its defense power as the Shadow Ball blasted against it.

"We're not done! Herdier, Take Down!" Cletus called. Herdier charged right at Torkoal to smash against it.

"Iron Defense again!" Jason called. Torkoal hardened its sell again. Herdier smashed against Torkoal, but Torkoal hardly felt anything as it remained in its shell. "Now use Rapid Spin!"

"Torkoal!" Torkoal started spinning and smashed itself against Herdier with some damage obviously dealt.

"Ouch. That looked like it hurt, and yet Torkoal hardly took any damage." The mayor said.

"iron Defense raises defensive power. Using it twice like that had to have really increased it and will make it difficult to deal some damage." Jean claimed.

"Torkoal, Will-O-Wisp!" Torkoal unleashed ghostly flames and shot them right at Herdier.

"Counter that with Shadow Ball!" Cletus called. Herdier formed another dark orb and fired it with it blasting against the flames. "Now use Take Down!"

"Iron Defense!" Jason called. Torkoal ducked inside its shell once again with Herdier charging right at it. Herdier smashed against Torkoal, but Herdier was the one that took some damage.

"Torkoal uses Iron Defense for the third time." Jean said. "Not only is Torkoal's defense power nearly maxed, but Herdier seems to have taken damage instead of Torkoal.

"Ouch! That had have felt like running into a brick wall." Terra said.

"And I think Jason is ready to end this." Davis said.

"Now use Overheat!" Jason said. Torkoal unleashed an intense blast of fire and it hit Herdier perfectly. It caused a fierce explosion to go off and Herdier was knocked out from that with Davis' prediction coming true.

"Herdier is unable to battle! Torkoal wins! The referee announced.

"And it's over in one fierce blow with Jason moving to the semi-finals." The mayor said.

"That last attack was Overheat. It's a powerful fire-type move, but it grows weaker with each use." Jean explained. "That's why you have to make the first shot count."

"Herdier, return. You did your best." Cletus said as he brought Herdier back in its pokeball. Jason did the same with Torkoal, but he didn't seem pleased.

"I expected more out of a gym leader." Jason said and just walked off.

"We now have our two semi-finalists. Let's see who else will be advancing." Jean said as they had to advance with the tournament. The last two battles of the second round went rather quickly with a Sticklur beating an Audino, and a Scizor beating an Armorse.

"Well, that is that. The second round is done and we can now move to the semi-finals." The mayor claimed.

"We'll take a break and be back to start the next battle." Jean said.

...

Later

"Here you go, Cletus. You're Herdier is doing much better." Nurse Joy said as she gave back Herdier's pokeball.

"Thank you." Cletus said as he took his pokeball back.

"I can't believe Jason beat you too." Terra said. "His attacks are brutal and hard."

"Jason might be harsh, but he's certainly a good trainer." Cletus said. "He seems to know how to bring out their power and turn the tide in his favor. His conviction over power is strong."

"I don't care how much he thinks his way is right." Davis said. "I know it's wrong since he doesn't care about being friends with his pokemon. Why else would he just let some of them go?"

"We've dealt with a couple people like him before, but that just makes it more frustrating when they win." Imperialdramon claimed. "They believe power is everything and them winning just helps prove them right."

"I know it's frustrating, but don't let it get to you. Remember what Specter said about not caring what Jason thinks, and keep your focus on the battle." Cletus reminded. Davis surely remembered and had to keep that up.

"Is this a bad time?" All of them looked and saw Adrien was joining them.

"Hey, Adrien. Is something up?" Davis said.

"No. I just want to say that I'm excited to see you battle, Davis." Adrien said. "I wish I could have entered this tournament."

"Why didn't you? You've got Panthark." Davis said.

"True, but Panthark is all I got." Adrien claimed. "I don't have any other pokemon. I wish I had more and can battle like you guys, but my father would never allow it. He says I should have pokemon that best represents me." Davis felt rather bad for Adrien. It's clear he wants to be like any other trainer, but his father simply wouldn't allow it.

"Adrien, you've got to stand up to him." Davis said. "The only one who is really stopping you is you. If you don't agree with your father's decisions, just say something."

"It's not that easy, Davis." Adrien said. As much as he wishes to, he just can't seem to disobey his father. As they were all talking, Erik hung back and continued to watch things unfold.

"This is getting interesting." Erik said.

"I'm surprised to see you're still here. I thought you would be out wooing girls again." Erik turned around and saw Jean was there. "How come you're still here?"

"The tournament looks more interesting than I thought. I might as well see how it ends." Erik claimed, but Jean could see through those lies.

"Nice try, Erik. That last battle of yours really got to you." Jean said. "It's getting you more interested in battling since Davis actually beat you."

"What? That's not it." Erik claimed as he tried to be cool.

"Erik, it's okay." Jean said. "You've been overconfident and smug before, but battling Davis has gotten you excited to battle once again, and take it serious." Erik was embarrassed to admit it, but his uncle was right. "If that's the case, and you think your "so good", maybe you should consider challenging the gyms yourself."

"Me? Challenging the gyms?" Erik questioned as that might be good for him. His defeat has him doing some soul searching, and battling gyms might do him some good.

...

The Tournament

The tournament went on. Jason and Davis were battling hard against their opponents for only one result.

"Chamleaf, Razor Leaf!" Davis called. Chamleaf attacked and was able to defeat a Groundgle.

"Rhydon, Take Down!" Jason ordered as he beat his opponent's Morphoris.

"We now have our two finalists! Jason and Davis will now face each other in the finals to see who will win our tournament!" The mayor announced. Now that Davis knows he's going agains Jason in the finals, he has no intention of losing to him. It's also a chance to get some payback. Upon the announcement, Davis glared right at Jason with determination.

"I'm going to win this time." Davis claimed.

The Battle Tournament will soon come to a close as the finals have been set to be between Davis and Jason. Who will win the battle this time? Find out next time.

To Be Continued...