Greetings, Mgunnels3 here, and welcome back to A Promise Kept Ash's Johto Journey. Let's get this chapter started, shall we?
Chapter 52: Overworked
"Human Speech"
"Pokemon Speech"
The next day comes the second round of the Poke Ringers comes. Ash and Misty were ready to face each other and got their balloons ready for their match against each other.
"Well, Misty, best of luck, and let's have a fun and fair match," Ash said to Misty, who nodded and finished getting the balloon ready.
"Same to you, Ash and Togetic, and I are ready for this match," Misty said to Ash as she hopped in her balloon, as did Ash as they took off to the skies.
"Now, for the first match of the top 32, our trainers not only are friends but are traveling with each other, Ash vs. Misty," the announcer said as Ash and Misty were now in the skies. Pidgeot and Skarmory watched this battle as they figured Togetic would trouble Murkrow, even though Murkrow was faster than Togetic. "Now, will both our contestants let out their Pokemon, and we can get this match started," the announcer said as the balloon with the ring was now airborne.
"Murkrow comes on out," Ash sent out his Pokemon.
"Togetic comes on out," Misty sent out her Pokemon as both Pokemon were out and ready to start this match of the Poke Ringers.
"Now, let this round begin," The announcer said.
"Togetic, use Takedown," Misty commanded her Pokemon, who flew fast with the takedown and caught the ring quickly before Murkrow could act.
"After her, Murkrow," Ash commanded her, who dived right at Togetic at a quick speed.
"Swift now, Togetic," Misty commanded Togetic, who launched the attack at Murkrow, hoping to slow her down. Misty was trying not to use Metronome for fear that it would be a fire attack.
"Faint Attack now," Ash commanded her, who disappeared and was right in front of Togetic, tackling her and grabbing the ring and flying right towards the goal.
"Mirror, Move now, Togetic," Misty commanded her Pokemon, who mimicked Murkrow's Faint Attack and caught up with her.
"Now Solar beam, Togetic," Misty commanded her Pokemon, who fired a Solar beam right a Murkrow, who was surprised upon hearing this move.
"Dodge it, Murkrow," Ash commanded his Pokemon, who barely dodged the Solar beam attack at her. "Your gonna need to do better than that, Misty, to take Murkrow down like that," Ash said to Misty.
"Togetic, use Hidden Power and Swift," Misty commanded her Pokemon, who fired both attacks right at Murkrow, hitting her. Murkrow lost the ring as Togetic grabbed it. Skarmory and Pidgeot watched this and noticed that Murkrow was being pushed past her limits.
"What do you think, Pidgeot, she should take some time off from this, and I should participate?" Skarmory said to Pidgeot, who looked at Skarmory.
"I don't know, Skarmory, as her teacher, I agree that she shouldn't take part in multiple battles like this, and we did put her on the spot like that. I think that she was banking on either you or Charizard to take part in this, not just her," Pidgeot said to Skarmory, who nodded as the two watched Murkrow catch up to Togetic.
"Murkrow, use Steel wing," Ash commanded Murkrow, whose wings glowed and dove right at Togetic and managed to catch up, hitting Togetic and catching the ring once more and heading towards the goal.
"Shadow Ball now," Misty commanded Togetic, who fired it at Murkrow.
"Shadow ball send it to the goal Murkrow and get out of there," Ash commanded Murkrow. She did as told and managed to get the ring to the goal and got hit by the Shadow ball right after the ring was placed on the goalpost.
"Goal, the winner is Murkrow and Ash moving on to the top 16," the announcer said as Murkrow struggled to get back in the air. Ash got to the ground with the balloon and ran over to her, as did Skarmory and Pidgeot. Murkrow passed out in Ash's arms. She seemed like she was overworked.
As the competition continued, Ash and Misty got their Pokemon to the Pokemon Center.
"Murkrow looks like she's going through nights of training for this. You wouldn't have anything to do that, Ash?" Nurse Joy asked Ash, who shook his head.
"No, this is the first time I am aware of this," Ash said.
"He's telling the truth. We rarely are awake a night anyway. If I had to guess, since Murkrow was asked to do this, she's been trying to do extra training on the side?" Misty explained. Nurse Joy nodded and went to tend to Murkrow and Togetic.
Shortly after all this, Ash, Skarmory, and Pidgeot were with Murkrow, who was perched and upset, not as much as Pidgeot was to Murkrow, not mad, just worried.
"Sorry, everyone, I just wanted to win this for the team and myself. I used that as young fletching, but I guess it has caught up to me," Murkrow said.
"Yeah, but you didn't need to overwork yourself, Murkrow. Remember this is about you than your apprentice with Pidgeot," Ash said to Murkrow, who nodded and sighed.
"Sorry, Pidgeot," Murkrow said as Pidgeot put her wing on her back and shook her head, showing it was okay.
"It's fine, Murkrow, just no more of that; please, you had us worried," Pidgeot said as Skarmory looked at Murkrow and sighed.
"I'll take over for you in the next two matches, Murkrow. This is more for you, but I am willing to share with you," Skarmory said to Murkro, who was surprised, given how Skarmory isn't usually okay with being a part of this Tournament.
"But, Skarmory I," Murkrow stood up, only for her to almost fall over as Ash held onto her.
"No, can do Murkrow. Nurse Joy told me you should be out of this for a few days, please," Ash said to Murkrow, who sighed and nodded.
"Word of advice, Murkrow, even half Spearow's like you and I need to know when we are at our limits, please take everyone's advice and rest for us," Skarmory said to Murkrow, who was taken aback and nodded.
The top 32 ended, and the matches in the next round were announced. Daniel Pidgeotto's trainer was Ash's next opponent, and they were surprised.
"Well, that was unexpected, Skarmory. You think you are ready to take part against him?" Ash asked Skarmory, who smirked and nodded.
"Always ready. I will shut him up when it comes to picking on you guys. Until then, let's rest and not try to let what happened here affect us," Skarmory said.
"Ash, if you don't mind, I want to stay here with Murkrow," Pidgeot asked Ash, who nodded.
"Just don't overdo it, Pidgeot, please, and have a good rest, Murkrow," Ash said to Murkrow, smiling and nodding as Ash and Skarmory left as Ash went to tell what happened to his team.
"So this is why you always catch up with me during our training, Murkrow?" Pidgeot asked Murkrow, who looked down. "I know that you are trying your best to learn from me. But it would be best to remember that you must be yourself, not follow in my footsteps," Pidgeot said as Murkrow sighed and looked down.
"I know, but I really can't say why. I've always wanted to prove myself to everyone, and overdoing it has been a thing for me since I was a kid," Murkrow said.
"Still as Vain as the day I met you, Murkrow," Pidgeot said to Murkrow, who was taken aback by this. "However, that is what I enjoy about you. I put up with Charizard during this Journey, but at least I can tolerate more than his hot air at the time," Pidgeot said to Murkrow, who was taken aback by this.
"I do want to apologize to you. We put you on the spot rather than ask you if you wanted to participate in this," Pidgeot apologized, to which Murkrow smiled and shook her head.
"No, I do want to participate in this, but a part of me was hoping that Skarmory would as well," Murkrow said, and this took aback Pidgeot.
"Many flying types have heard of this competition, and I always wanted to, but not like this," Murkrow said as Pidgeot held her wing on Murkrow's back. "Thank you, teacher," Murkrow said to Pidgeot, who smiled and nodded.
Pidgeot noticed that Charizard was watching this, as well as most of the other team members, and smiled, seeing them being concerned about Murkrow Murkrow noticed and sighed and took the hint to rest.
Ash is now up against a rival he met through the trade of one of his Pokemon with the next round done. What does Pidgeotto have in store for them as the Journey continues?
Stay Tuned.
Done and done. Yeah, this chapter is short and might differ from what people wanted, but there's only so much I can write with these types of Tournaments, folks. The Whirl Cup and league will be different, that is for sure, but this is fine for now. Our newest rival, Daniel, is against Ash. See you next time.