Hello, this is Mgunnels3, and welcome back to A Promise Kept Ash's Johto Journey. This chapter will be brief as it introduces the tournament contestants and the setup for the first round. This chapter follows the same format as my Unova story with the battle club tournament. Let's begin this chapter, shall we?
Chapter 28: The Grass tournament begins.
"Human Speech"
"Pokemon Speech"
Our heroes have reached the location of the grass-type tournament. The line for this tournament was shorter than the bug-catching contest but still long enough for a complete tournament. Numerous participants had their grass Pokemon alongside them as they entered the tournament.
Ash and Casey were next to register their Pokemon as the registration lady talked. "Welcome to the tournament. You can register a maximum of one to two Pokemon for this tournament," The registration lady said to Ash and Casey as Casey registered her Bayleef and only Bayleef. On the other hand, Ash registered Bulbasaur and his Bayleef as the last few trainers to participate in this tournament. The registration is now closed, as Ash and Casey had about an hour before the preliminaries began to rest. Ash sent out both Bayleef and Bulbasaur.
"Well, you two, this is the tournament about to begin, and who knows what type of trainers are taking part in this tournament," Ash said to the two of his grass starters. On the other hand, Bulbasaur was stoked to participate in this Bayleef.
"If they provide me a challenge, I can use this and have fun," Bayleef said with a bit of sass.
"Bayleef, remember that tournaments are meant to be enjoyable. Don't let arrogance get the best of you, as it may result in losing the match," Bulbasaur said to Bayleef, who sighed at this and nodded it.
"Wow, Ash, you weren't joking about your Bayleef's self-confidence being a problem with you training her," Casey said to Ash, who nodded at this as Bayleef humphed at this.
"Stay out of this, will you, girl, and what would you know about how I am," Bayleef said.
"Hey, I'm trying to help Ash, and Bulbasaur is right about that attitude, and I need to remind you that I can understand you along with Ash," Casey said to Bayleef as the two looked like they were going to throw down before the tournament begins.
"You have a way with women, eh Ash?" Ash heard a familiar voice and turned to see Rudy from Orange Islands. "Been a long time Ash? It seems like you are taking part in this tournament as well?" Rudy said to Ash.
"Rudy, you're here, huh? Fancy seeing you again after our battle on Trovita Island. I'm hoping to face you again in this tournament as a rival," Ash said to Rudy. Who humphed at this and nodded at this.
"See you around, Ash," Rudy said before he left as Casey and Bayleef had a sweatdrop upon hearing all of this.
"Who was that, Ash? Seem's like you know each other?" Casey asked Ash, who sighed before turning to Casey and Bayleef.
"Yeah, what does he know about females? He seems like the type similar to Brock, and creepy the way he said that about both of us," Bayleef said.
"You're not wrong about that, Bayleef? That is Rudy. He's a member of the Orange Crew back in the Orange Islands. When I met him, he was hitting on Misty mainly because we saved his little sister from a whirlpool. During most of the battle, he was more focused on Misty and had a unique way of battling using music and dancing. Still, it works, I will admit," Ash explains to Casey and Bayleef, who are surprised by this and how not far Bayleef is from him as they hear another voice talking.
"Seem like you have some empathy with your Pokemon even after our last battle, huh, young man?" A female voice. Ash turned around to see another familiar face, Erika, along with a new Pokemon that Ash looked up to, and it was a Bellossom, the evolved form of Gloom.
"Ah, Erika, nice to see you again. I see that your Gloom has evolved. Here's hoping we can have a battle without it being interrupted?" Ash said to Erika, who nodded at this as Bellossom gave a little twirl before smiling at Ash Bayleef was annoyed at her.
"I hope so too, Ash. Since our gym battle was interrupted by Team Rocket and Bellossom here does owe you for saving her from the burning of the gym, which has recovered," Erika said to Ash. Who nodded at this? Erika let Ash and Casey be but noticed that Bayleef was annoyed by her or her Bellossom and sighed at Bayleef.
"Bayleef, easy will you please yes, I saved her Bellossom, but like you, it was the cause of Team Rocket, given what happened?" Ash said as Bayleef calmed down, remembering what happened to her brother and what Team Rocket did to him. "For whom you are wondering, that is one of the gym leaders back in Kanto who also runs a perfume shop. She specializes in grass types." Ash explained what happened at the gym, leaving out the cross-dressing part. Ash was interrupted by the announcer.
"Will the contestants come out to the battlefield so we can begin?"
"Well, it's time. Casey, let's get going, shall we?" Ash said as Casey nodded at this. Bayleef and Bulbasaur followed suit as they walked to the battlefield with trainers.
Ash recognized another trainer, Jannet Fisher, who Ash battled in the Indigo League's fourth round with a Victribel next to her Bellsprout, had evolved. Aside from her, Ash, at the moment, didn't recognize many of the trainers in the competition.
"Welcome, trainers worldwide, as the annual grass-type tournament is about to begin," the announcer said. The trainers and the crowd were excited about this. "Today, we have 128 trainers, and by the end of the next few days, we will have a tournament winner. We have trainers from all different regions, from Kanto to Hoenn. Pokemon from either of those three regions is allowed in this tournament if it's a grass-type."
Ash was now curious about those trainers from the Hoenn region. He had heard of that region but had never seen any Pokemon from that region.
"The tournament rules are that you can use up to two Pokemon. But you have to tell the ref how many Pokemon at the start of the match and how you have so both sides can use that many Pokemon," the announcer said.
Ash now knew why he was told about the amount of Pokemon allowed to be used. Only some have more than one Pokemon on their team.
"With that said, here are the first matches," the announcer said as it seemed like Ash and Casey were in separate tournament brackets. And will have to reach the finals to face each other in battle. However, Ash noticed who he was up against in the first battle. It was Rudy, and Jannet was in the match after him as he was in the first match.
"Man, that early for me facing both of them; I wasn't expecting that," Ash said to himself.
"I'm surprised as much as you, Ash? But you know I have only one grass-type on my team, so don't think I'll go easy on you since you helped Executor in the gym battle," Rudy said to Ash, who nodded.
"The first battle will start in an hour as Ash vs. Rudy will be the first battle until then. Trainers get your Pokemon ready for your matches, and we'll begin the tournament in an hour," the announcer said. Everyone headed into the locker room for each bracket. Ash noticed more trainers here and knew he couldn't be overconfident about this tournament. One of the trainers in his bracket was indeed Erika as well.
Bayleef now saw the trainers she and Bulbasaur were up against, and she knew that her arrogance wouldn't win any battles in this tournament. Ash rubbed the back of Bayleef's head, calming her as she enjoyed it.
The hour was coming to a close as both Ash and Rudy walked towards the battlefield. "The first battle is about to begin. First is a trainer from Pallet Town whose goal is to be a Pokemon master. Give it up for Ash Ketchem from Pallet Town," the announcer said as the crowd cheered as Misty and Brock watched from the stands.
"Now for the other trainer. Don't let his charming demeanor fool you, as he is a well-known member of the Orange crew and looks to make his way through the tournament and win. Give it up for Rudy from Trovita Island," the announcer said as the crowd cheered even louder.
"Now, will the two trainers reveal how many Pokemon they have for this battle?" The ref said as Rudy held out one finger to the referee. "I only have one grass-type on my team. That is okay for Ash?" Rudy said to the ref and Ash, who nodded in response.
"So it will be a one-on-one battle, so will the two trainers let out their first Pokemon," The ref told Ash and Rudy, who took out their Pokeballs.
"Executor comes on out," Rudy sent out his grass/psychic type Pokemon.
"Bayleef, come on out," Ash sent out his pure grass-type starter as the Pokemon stared each other down as the battle began.
With the tournament beginning, things are getting interesting for Ash and Casey as the tournament continues.
Stay tuned.
Done and Done. As said before, this is a short chapter, but it sets up the tournament. More tournament rivals will appear in the following few chapters, but keep in mind Hoenn being mentioned in this chapter. While they are in this tournament, they won't be in the league, and a particular Hoenn contest rival is one of them. That is all I can give you. With that said, the first battle is the next chapter. See you next time.