Greetings everyone. Mgunnels3 here, and welcome back to Ash's Unova Journey, my version. Let's get this filler chapter going, shall we?
Chapter 38: Friends and Rivals
"Human Speech"
"Pokemon Speech"
The battle club's last battle for the top 50 is now underway as it was Brock against Luke, as both trainers had one Pokemon left in this two vs. two battle. It was Crobat versus Golett.
"Crobat, use Air slash," Brock commands his Poison/Flying Pokemon, who launches a flurry of slashes at the ghost/ground type.
"Golett, use Shadow Punch. Cancel it out," Luke commanded his Pokemon, who launched a ghost-like punch hitting Crobat hard, and sending it toward the ground. "Now use Thunderpunch before it can recover," Luke commanded his Pokemon as its arms lit up with electricity and launched it at Crobat.
"Use acrobatics, Crobat," Brock commands his Pokemon, who dodged it and landed hits in all directions on Golett. Who saw an opening and landed a strong Thunder punch at Crobat, knocking it out?
"Crobat is unable to battle Golett. Wins moving on to the top 50 is Luke," The Announcer announced as Luke celebrated as he gave Brock a tough fight. On the other hand, Brock was hurt but was glad he took part in this and ran over to his Crobat.
"You did good, Crobat. We'll get better next time," Brock said as Crobat nodded. As Luke walks over to Brock. "Congratulations, Luke, and good luck in the tournament," Brock said, holding a hand out for a handshake that Luke accepted.
"Thanks, Brock, you gave me a good battle, and I hope we can battle again," Luke said as the two left for the crowd of trainers.
"Man, Brock got knocked out. The competition has gotten tougher now," Misty said to Ash, who nodded.
"Yeah, it is, but hopefully, we can make it for him," Ash said and was interrupted by the Announcer.
"With that, now is the time for the next set of battles," The Announcer said as the screen cleared. Trainer slots were being shown one at a time. "Ash vs. Virgil is our first match, Luke vs. Bianca is the second match," the Announcer was announcing Stephan's Cameron's battles which aren't facing each other. Still, if Ash wins his battles, he will meet them in the top 16 and top 8 battles, and Trip was at the end of the first half.
"Now for the second half, trainers are Misty vs. Burgh," many other trainers were being called, and Cillian's battle until the last battle of the remaining 25 trainers was revealed. "Georgia vs. Iris" was the final battle to be announced. This was what brought many of the trainers and the audience in awe. It was the granddaughters of two members of the elite six facing each other.
"A reminder that we are still using two Pokemon in these battles, folks, and we'll start our battles tomorrow with Ash and Virgil," The Announcer said as today's events were over.
"I'm surprised that many people are more excited for the last match than the rest of the tournament," Cillian said to Ash, who nodded.
"Given who their grandfathers are, I'm sure that this is going to be a big rivalry between those two," Ash said to Cillian as he noticed that Iris and Georgia were talking to each other and walked over to see what was going on.
"I'm surprised that we will face each other this early, Georgia, and did you see their reactions to that? I'm looking forward to seeing how far our training goes," Iris says with a friendly tone as Georgia nods and crosses her arms.
"We'll see, Iris. At least I'm not hiding who I am from the crowd, Mrs co-gym leader," Georgia said to Iris, who was caught off guard, as did Ash upon hearing this as he walked over to Georgia. "Don't worry about me keeping it a secret from the crowd, but it's hard with my friends, as you can see with Ash," Georgia told Iris, who sighed at this.
"Look, I just wanted to battle here without representing the Opulocid Gym. As for myself, aren't you doing that with the Mahogany Gym, Georgia," Iris pleads her case to Georgia, who humphed.
"That's because Georgia hasn't been added as it but just the successor when that day comes, Iris," Ash said to Iris as Georgia sighed and was a bit angry that Ash stuck his nose in this situation.
"Oh, she knows Ash? I'm just surprised that she is hiding that, but aside from us, we'll keep it a secret until this is over or when we next see each other after this," Georgia said to Iris, who nodded at this. "Like Ash, you and I are also rivals and best friends. I don't expect you to go easy on me tomorrow, Iris. Talk to you later, Ash, as I have a bone to pick with you for saying that," Georgia said as she left.
"Sorry, Iris, I didn't mean to make her make it like that. I was just worried that she was going to start an argument or something, but I should have known by the way you two were talking," Ash apologized to Iris, who shook her head.
"It's fine, Ash. You and I know her enough that she can fly off the handle at times, but she is my gym leader rival if you want to put it like that," Iris said to Ash as the two were heading out along with Cillian, Misty, and Brock.
"You know how Georgia and I met if you heard me talking day one, but how do you and her know each other, Iris?" Ash asked Iris, who nodded at this and smiled.
"Georgia and I met during one of the summers as kids. I was a gym leader in training, and she was also learning from her grandfather. Pyrce was visiting Opilucid City, and we were watching them battle, and we became friends. We promised each other that one day we would battle," Iris said to Ash and looked down. "But the last time we saw each other, she sounded like she had taken her responsibilities as the successor a bit too much, and we ended up more of rivals than best friends."
"Pryce was a champion at one point in his life and is close to retiring as a gym leader, so I can see why she has a lot on her plate. I know Drayden isn't doing that anytime soon," Ash said to Iris, who nodded.
"Given that he is your family friend and the mayor, I can see why you would say that. I hope we can still be friends after tomorrow's battle," Iris said as she was starting to see Ash as a friend now and less as an annoyance, still a kid to her but not as much as before.
"Knowing her, she still sees you as a friend in battle friendship does come second, but we can still value it. Just focus on your battle, and don't let her get to you," Ash said to Iris, who nodded at this.
Meanwhile, as the group was having dinner, Ash had his Pokemon out, especially with Fraxure and Scraggy, as Trip looked at Fraxure as if something was on his mind. "Say, Ash? When did you get Fraxure, if you don't mind me asking?" Trip asked Ash.
"Almost five or six months ago, Scraggy became her twin brother. I received her egg from the daycare near Striaton City. Why do you ask Trip? If I remember correctly, when we were looking at this list of missing Pokemon, I noticed that you've been to yourself about something. Mind talking about it?" Ash questioned Trip, who sighed at Ash and knew he had to explain what was happening.
"One of my family's Pokemon was taken days after I started Journey. That is why. As for Pokemon, I know that you would ask me. That it's why I am asking you about Fraxure. A Haxorous male was the Pokemon that my family owned and was going to be my Pokemon once I returned home once I got Servine as a starter," Trip told Ash, who was taken aback by this. Ash looked at Misty and Brock, who were thinking the same thing.
"I think he might be Fraxure and Scraggy's father, Trip," Ash said to Trip, who was surprised by this.
"Why do you think that, Ash?" Trip asked Ash, who sighed.
"We had a run-in with a Haxorous lately, and a former Pokemon who was taken by Team Rocket mentioned that one of the Haxorous was taken days after we arrived and had kids," Ash said to Trip. Who was surprised by this as he took a good look at Fraxure? And noticed that she did indeed look like his family's Pokemon.
"You know what, Ash? I do think that she might be his daughter. She looks like him, from what my mom told me when he was a young Fraxure," Trip smiled at this and then turned to Ash. "Take good care of them, Ash? While their father is legally my Pokemon. These two are yours. I'd rather they are with someone I trust," Trip told Ash, who nodded at this.
Ash walked over to Fraxure and Scraggy, who heard this but were OK. Ash gave the two a petting on their heads as they wagged their tails at this. "We'll get him back, Trip. Don't worry about it. Until then, we should focus on the tournament. I know losing a Pokemon like that is rough. I saw it happen as a trainer, and it's not easy, but there is always a way to get them back," Ash said to Trip, who smiled and nodded.
"Yeah, I hear you are against one of your friends tomorrow. I hope you are ready for him tomorrow cause it seems like he is strong," Trip said to Ash.
"I still deciding on what Pokemon I'm using tomorrow, and I have until tonight to decide, but I'm looking forward to this," Ash told Trip, who was curious but let it go.
Everyone was finishing eating as Ash was walking out in the town. He noticed Virgil talking to his Pokemon about choosing tomorrow's battle. Umbreon had an egg next to him and Vaporeon. Ash walked over to him.
"Trouble figuring out who to choose tomorrow as well, Virgil?" Ash asked Virgil, who turned to Ash and nodded as Umbreon walked over to Ash and nuzzled Ash's leg. Umbreon trusted Ash enough to be around him ever since Umbreon was an Eevee. "Hey boy, good to see you again, and I take that egg is yours?" Ash asked as Umbreon nodded at this.
"One of two eggs, Ash; the other is being taken care of back home by my Flareon. Umbreon's mate Vaporeon had it just a few days ago coming here. But yeah, I'm at a loss for who to choose as well, but I will think about it as we have till tomorrow morning when our match happens," Virgil told Ash, who was scratching Umbreon's left ear as he was kicking his legs to this seeing this he knew who to choose for tomorrow. "I heard about a little disagreement between you and Georgia. Please don't blame her, Ash. She's been like this since we were kids, as long as I've known her, that is?" Virgil said to Ash.
"You, Me, Cameron, Stephan, and now her on our Journey here in Unova. I'm sure that is no coincidence, don't you think?" Ash said as Virgil nodded at this.
"Yeah, I mean, the rest of us had our trainers license but had not started our Journey yet. I guess it's fate that we meet here, but this is just the start of our Journey, and who knows what else is in store for us down the road," Virgil said as the two shared a laugh.
"It's been what six years since we last saw each other, Virgil? As well as you and Stephan? Man has the years passed," Ash asked Virgil, who nodded in agreement.
"Friends turned rivals, you can say, Ash, but I hope that this won't end like Georgia and Iris, like the way things have been happening between them," Virgil told Ash.
"They'll still be friends regardless of what happens, Virgil. And yeah, that is what it seems to be. Our friends in the past are now rivals, but I won't let it affect that," Ash said as he had an idea of who to use tomorrow. "I gotta make a phone call. See you tomorrow at the stadium, Virgil," Ash said to Virgil, who nodded as Ash left to get one of his Pokemon from Professor oak'sOaks lab.
The next day, the battle club top 50 round was about to begin. Ash and Virgil were now ready and raring to go.
"Now our first battle in the top 50 battles will now begin. Will our first two contestants head to the trainer's boxes," The Announcer asked Ash and Virgil, who walked out. "Our first trainer is a boy who has been showing why his many league battles aren't all talk and goal to be a Pokemon master, Ash Ketchem," the Announcer said. As Ash arrived at the trainer's box, the crowd was cheering.
"The next trainer is one of the Pokemon rescuers who serves with the league and helps injured Pokemon, and the master of the Eeveelutions from Udella town gave it up for Virgil," the Announcer said as Virgil arrived at the trainer's box with his Umbreon by his side. Cameron, Stephan, Georgia, Misty, Brock, and everyone one of Ash's friends were watching on the sidelines. "Now, will both trainers let out their Pokemon?"
"Litwick, come on out, "Ash sent out his fire/ghost type.
"Vaporeon, stand ready for battle," Virgil sent out his water Eeveelution.
"Ash, no matter what happens, let's have a good battle," Virgil told Ash.
"Feeling the same, Virgil," Ash said, knowing that while Litwick had a few moves to give him the advantage, Virgil won't make this battle easy.
The first match of the battle club's top 50 round is now in full swing. Ash and Virgil, friends now as rivals, face each other as the battle club continues.
Stay Tuned.
Done. This was almost done, so I decided to get this chapter out. I wanted to expand on Iris's and Georgia's rivalry but make it different. While the thing with Trip, let's say it will be tackled much later in the story when that five-parter of the team rocket arc comes after the PWT ends. It's Ash vs. Virgil next. See you in a week, everyone, and see you in Johto this week for those who read that story as well.