Hello again, Mgunnels3 here, and let's get this chapter going.
Chapter 32: Gathering all trainers, the Battle Club Begins!
"Human Speech"
"Pokemon Speech"
We join our heroes as they arrive in Nimbasa Town, the battle club site where many trainers throughout Unova and those visiting can participate in this tournament.
"Man, I can't wait to take part in this and see what kind of trainers are participating," Ash said as he was determined to win this since he heard about it through Trip, knowing he would be participating.
"Hey, save that excitement for us too, Ash. We're also taking part in this," Misty said as Brock nodded.
"You seem like you were waiting for this competition, Ash," Brock said as Ash nodded.
"Remember, my family travels through Unova a lot. Surprisingly, we catch the end of the battles but never when it started this and another." Ash was interrupted by a familiar voice.
"No way Ash, you came back to Unova," A boy with a Dewott and a headband around his head ran up to him.
"Speaking of Unova Cameron, long time no see. I'm taken. You started your journey, huh?" Ash asked. This made Misty and Brock curious Cameron nodded.
"A few years later than normal trainers, but I finally got my parents to let me go on my journey," Cameron said, all hyper. He's focused on seeing Ash again.
"Knowing your past and family, I can see why?" Ash said to Cameron, who chuckled at this as Brock interjected.
"So you two know each or something Ash?" Brock asked Ash as Ash rubbed the back of his head.
"Oh right, these are my traveling friends Misty and Brock, gym leaders of Kanto," Ash introduced.
"Nice to meet both of you. I'm Cameron, and this is my main starter Dewott" Cameron said.
"Nice to meet all of you; a friend of Cammeron's, is a friend of mine," Dewott said as Ash noticed the voice was female but let it go for now.
"Cameron and I have known each other since we were kids. We went to the same summer camp a while back. Cameron here is from Castellia City. His family runs one of the big-name buildings in the city; however, he has a lot of trouble understanding or remembering things cause they are always busy," Ash said as Cameron sighed.
"I thought by leaving that my past about that would as well say you already registered for the battle club," Cameron said as Ash, Misty, and Brock shook their heads. Cameron led the line of Trainers filling out for the battle club. "It's going to be bigger than before. I already have registered," Cameron said.
"Really, with your track record Cameron," Ash said with an upset look.
"Yeah, the funny thing is that I arrived after beating Elisa and saw no one there thought I missed. It turns out that I was the first to be registered," Cameron said with a slight chuckle though the group could tell it was a forced one. The group was finally signed in as the group headed to the Pokemon center, which surprisingly wasn't as packed but still had a lot of trainers there.
"Man, it just gets bigger and bigger how many people were entering this," Ash said as he heard a familiar voice.
"300 trainers, a much more perfect recipe than expected," a male's voice called out to Ash's answer.
"Oh, great, Mr. Connoisseurs of Everything is here as well," Misty said as the group turned to their left and saw him, Cillian.
"Yep, Burgh and I are here as we just arrived and already got registered," Cillian told Misty and the others as the group had sweat drops on their faces.
"Well, it's good to see you again and hopefully to battle you two again," Ash said as Cillian nodded in agreement.
"Theirs one more gym leader who should be arriving at some point, and you haven't battled the gym yet, not too much later, that is," Cillian said as Cillian was interrupted by another group of voices, two trainers, a muscular male and a girl with a hat.
"You guys are here as well, huh," Ash said with a happy tone.
"Come on, Ash, Nimbasa City is my hometown, or have you forgotten," the boy of the two said as Ash sighed and nodded.
"I haven't forgotten that, Stephan; it's Georgia here that I'm surprised given that you are from Johto," Ash said to the female of the two named Georgia.
"You haven't changed since the last time we met, Ash," Georgia said. "You'd think someone who has been in as many regions as I have would figure I would travel here as well?" Georgia said to Ash, who sighed.
"More friends of yours, Ash," Misty said as Ash nodded and turned to Misty and Brock.
"Yeah, Stephan here, minus how often people get his name wrong or write he's one of my friends in the camp that I always had competitions when it comes to food or something else, "Ash explained.
"Georgia here is a huge fan of ice types, given she's from Mahogany town," Ash was interrupted by Georgia.
"The known dragon buster and Granddaughter of the gym leader of the Mahogany town gym and next in line to be its gym leader whenever he retires. I'm here to get better and stronger as an ice-type user," Georgia said proudly. It was Stephan's turn to interrupt.
"Says the girl who has a steel type on her team," as she hits him on the head.
"That's not the point of who I am, Stephan," Georgia said to Stephan. The group sighed as she noticed someone else heading their way. "Seems like the reunions aren't done," Georgia pointed out. A young male trainer with a vest and an Umbreon was beside him. "Hey Virgil, you're here too," Georgia called out.
"Huh, hey, I didn't expect you all here too, and is that Ash, man? It's been years," Virgil said as he walked with Umbreon.
"Wow, your Eevee evolved the last time I saw him," Ash said while petting Umbreon's head which was happily welcomed as Umbreon remembered Ash.
"Yeah, he's the same one, and I already have a full Eeveelution team still missing one, but he's still my main Pokémon," Virgil said and then asked.
"I see you have a few friends here, too," Ash chuckled. "Oh right, these are my friends who traveled with me through the beginning of my journey and gym leaders back in Kanto, Brock and Misty," Ash introduced.
"Hi, hello, nice to meet you all," both said after getting introduced.
"Virgil is from Udella Town originally though his family is everywhere here in Unova if I remember correctly," Ash explained as Virgil nodded.
"Yep, you remember that correctly? My family is a family ran Pokémon rescuer. I'm still going on my gym battles, but I won't hesitate to help those Pokémon in need," Virgil said as the group was curious about this.
"Isn't that similar to what Pokémon Rangers do?" Misty asked.
"I can understand why you say that, but we don't have those capture devices, and while we occasionally work with them, we're more for things they can't handle, especially with the amounts of missing Pokémon and attacks," as that caught everyone except Ash, Misty, and Brock. They were already aware of what he meant.
"But I don't think we should worry about that right now," Brock said as the group nodded. The group left someone spoke out to Cillian.
"What a bunch of kids that group is, huh, Cillian?" a long black-haired girl appeared behind Cillian.
"On the contrary, they're friends competing in the competition, Iris?" Cillian said enthusiastically.
"You haven't changed, Cillian, always being weird and trying to make things work," Iris said.
"And you are always judgmental. I understand you battle many trainers when your grandfather isn't working, but you might be impressed with them, especially with the Ash. He's the one who has the Pikachu who kept introducing his friends constantly," Cillian said as Iris moaned.
"You know I don't like making friends with challengers, even if it's a battle competition. Grandpa asked me to participate in this, so cut me some slack," Iris said.
"If I remember correctly, you and Georgia were friends before your new position. You want to reiterate that statement, Irirs?" Cillian said as they stopped Iris and sighed, and nodded.
"I'll catch up with her later after my battle in the tournament is over, and I might give them a chance," Iris said.
"Speaking of, I'm surprised that you were here late. That's not like you," Cillian said.
"I don't want to talk about it. I just made it as the last trainer," Iris said with a sigh and was irritated by the fact that he asked.
"You know that means you are in the first battle right cause of that," Cillian pointed out.
"YOU DON'T THINK THAT I DON'T KNOW THAT I DIDN'T KNOW THAT MY TRAIN THERE WAS GOING TO BE LATE," Iris shouts as she walks to her room.
"She hasn't changed. She could've used one of her Pokemon that can fly to get here instead of using the train. It'll be an interesting tournament," Cillian said with a sweat drop as he left for his room.
The next day, come
A massive crowd of trainers was in the stadium. Amongst the group were Trip and Ash. Both of his friends and traveling companions, Misty and Brock, Cillian, Burgh, and Iris, as Don George goes to make his speech.
"Welcome many trainers and folks to the annual battle club. This year was bigger than expected. Over 300 trainers have participated in this since there are so many. I've changed a rule on how many Pokémon will be used in the tournament." This surprised and curious the crowd.
"The usual 1v1 battles will still be the norm. Still, until the top 100, then it's 2v2. And once we arrive at the top 32, the end of this will be 3v3" As the crowd goes crazy, the trainers are surprised. "Knowing that some trainers are from outside Unova, I'll allow Pokemon outside Unova; it's only fair now. With that said, let's get this started."
The screening board at the top of the stadium shows the first wave of battles of who will be facing who? Iris was first, of course, against a boy, as Ash was also amongst the first set of trainers. The 3rd battle was against a trainer named Tim, as the rest still needed to show the group of his friends though Ash was hyped for this. Luckily he won't face them all in a bracket yet as Iris sighed.
"I figured that I would be up first, and why does this kid have to be in the same group," Iris said as she noticed that as stoked as he was, he had a calm demeanor to him, as she could sense that he had a dragon or two on him which surprised her.
"Now everyone can go to their sides of the stadium, and those who aren't participating in today's match can stay or head back and watch the battles in their rooms" Given that the crowd of trainers was massive, some did aside from Ash and the gang who decided to stay.
"Now for the first battle from Opelucid City. A young female trainer who said to understand dragon Pokémon as a gift Iris." the crowd cheered as Cillian sighed.
"I guess she rather not be called what she is, huh? *Sighs* Same old Iris doesn't want to draw too much attention to herself regardless of her position?" Cillian said to himself as the announcer spoke about the other trainer.
"Now for a trainer who is from here in Nimbasa town. An up-and-coming new trainer Zack," as the crowd cheered louder than before, which didn't bother Iris as she got her Pokeball ready for battle, as did Zack. "Now, trainers, let out your Pokémon," the two nodded.
"Beartic, you're up," Zack said as a massive ice-like bear emerged from its ball. Ash scanned it as he's never seen it before.
"An ice-type figured Flygon, your up," Iris said as she sent out the ground dragon type.
"The first battle between Iris and Zack with the Beartic and Flygon let the battle begin."
With the competition underway, things are about to heat Ash's competition is looking good as the battles and the battle club continue.
Stay tuned
And I will cut it here as the battles should be put in a different chapter of these arcs. Yes, I made many of Ash's rivals' old friends who get the Serena treatment of introduction. Still, it makes things exciting, and yes, I did include everyone's hated rival from Best Wishes. I know I will get a lot of flack for saying this, but he could have been a better character if he had been introduced earlier and wasn't a running gag. Does that excuse the league on his end? No. I have big plans for this arc. Folk's exposition dumps relevant to the characters and all that. Iris's battle continues with Ash's first battle in the next chapter. See you guys then.